One

      People are strange. And among those strange humans, there are Texans. While there are other people who live on a variety of lands, Texans are probably the most peculiar when it comes to being partial. No matter what happens to their crops or the grasses, no matter how hot or dry or freezing or wet or cold the weather is, Texans know they live on the edge of heaven.

      That can cause other people to squint their eyes at the Texas land and study it. It could well be that it is the land that makes the Texans just a little bit odd.

      Out in West Texas, north and a little west of Uvalde, it was one of the ranch crew who explained the circumstances at the Bar-Q-Drop. That was the branding iron’s result. A bar with a Q and a drop of something.

      Some said the drop was the miracle of the springs they’d found on that land. Others said it was the blood spilled in the land fights. Another said it was the grief of the Native Americans who’d been pushed out of their lands.

      The crew head’s name was originally Bill, but with one thing or another, he became so stoved up that he could hardly walk and they called him Creep.

      Over all those early years, Creep had been pitched off uncomfortably tied horses and bulls too many times. He could hardly walk, but he could talk. Creep had been around for a long time. So, it was Creep who explained anything from the past.

      In this instance, it was about the budding woman who actually owned the place.

      Creep said that there’s nothing like a female who doesn’t understand what she can safely do. Nor could she realize there were just things she couldn’t do. He said that any of God’s creatures ought to know its limits... right?

      Well, there are occasionally people who haven’t any idea as to the dangerous edge past what they can logically do. There was just such a female at the place out in West Texas, a nuisance child who had turned into a very irritating young woman.

      A clue to her would be her name. It was Chancy Freedman. Yep. That’s the truth!

      It was her daddy that had named her Chancy. At birth, mind you. And he’d been right from the start! How had he known? Why did he allow her to try anything she wanted to tackle? Anybody watching knew her curiosity was too wide.

      It was her daddy, Mel Freedman, that was at the bottom of it all. He just watched her. He’d have to yell at her on occasion. And she’d always try just a little more—until he hollered like a stuck bull.

      Mel’s wife was Chancy’s