( And is she? She knows, intuitively, the look of her, of these woods: a lone woman, beautiful. Attractive. Compellingly so, once to her husband and to the numerous men who pursued her. )

It will pass. ( She does not look up, hand splayed on her chest, digging in. Claiming her hurts back. ) Ride on, stranger.

( But then, derisively: ) Or buy a horse first.