it was n't as if she had n't thought about that same thing , but hearing the words from colt , from the man she 'd made love to only two weeks earlier - and knowing the other ranch hands were thinking the same thing - stung . lights flood the hall and i take refuge in the shadow of the human id been about to eat . `` do you run this place by yourselves ? '' `` it 's just that making this jump has put me in mind of something that has always puzzled me . 