And the cold wind blew a dark forbodding air that chill the country folk to the bone and to their souls.

As Matt reached Scarlet, Efptoha moved back from her. Efptoha had that herd of young horses to bring down to the ranch, and that would take him up the mountain for a couple of days. He thoughts moved to what he would need to take. He had noticed that the big cat had been spending more time near the mouth of the canyon. He left the dance and headed back to the bunkhouse. The feeling of dread came back to him about the bunkhouse, so he decided to spend the night in the barn with his horse. At least the horse would let him know if anybody was trying to sneak up on him........

Efptoha slowly entered into the dance hall thru the side door. Hopefully nobody would notice his coming or going. They never did, all part of being who and what he was, just part of the wood work. Scarlet was talking to Robin in the far corner and Sally, like the mink that she was, was slowly stalking them. What ever Robin was telling Scarlet had both of them trouble and worried. Sally got a wicked look in her eyes and turned and left the building toward the parking lot. Robin then left, telling Scarlet that she had a taxi coming. Cory then came in and Scarlet headed toward him. Would Scarlet even talked to him.......

With the girl starting to become more on edge Etphota started moving back. A small twig snap under foot. Fool, how could he be so careless. He took 2 quick steps into the denser trees and reached into his pocket. He quickly pulled a small vial of corn pollen from it. He took a pinch of it, if this person was a Frog-heart it would protect him. If not it did not matter. He quickly move back down the path. Besides maybe all she was doing was hunting a husband or 2. Leaving the small opening he hurried back to the cabin. Just to be on the safe side he would leave protection for Dan (Dan had always been good to Efphota, but Efphota could not take the chance and free him. Beside for now let the silly girl think that she was in charge, there were other matters to attend to). As Efphota got to the door of the cabin, he quickly took a small branch of Ghost Weed from his pouch and placed it above the door. A twig of a nearby Cedar to the right and a branch of Sage Brush to the left, he then made a small line of corn pollen in front of the door. If this girl was more than she seemed this would keep her out and Dan safe. Now back to the dance.

Efphota quietly watched from the shadows as the Wasithu known as Sally pushed the first Wasithu into the shed and lock the door. At least there he would be safe for awhile until he could release him later. But what about the second one. What did the she-devil have planned for him. And what was going on back at the party. Efphota was fairly sure that the woman and the first man had nothing to do with what was going on in the back part of the ranch. She and the second man -- maybe. And what were the 2 law man up to. Were they both clean or were they dirty. And what about the pretty Scarlet, would she even dance w/one sulch as he...........

Efphota slipped quietly behind the couple, as he followed, another man fall in behind the two. Now this was interesting. The two he could understand slipping away, but the third. As he ghosted from shadow to shadow, and from tree to tree they came to a battered shed that had a large smoke stack. What was the stranger doing? Following for what reason? He vanished into the shadows to wait and watch.........

From the shadows Efphota the half-breed Arapahoe Horse Wranger watched all of this take place. He notice both of the law man, the cowboys and the want-a-be being in their element. He wondered had did all of these fit together with what was going on in the back part of the ranch that laid next to the rez. Was it just chance that had brought all of these individuals together this evening. Or was there something more evil afoot........