the admission felt fantastic , like she 'd just released a deep dark secret . `` but if that 's the case , should n't the trap have sprung by now ? '' likely , he 'd scared the hell out of her . how else would they dare to go into distant lands ? she had a pounding headache , and her stump hurt so badly she had trouble concentrating . yep , the bar-h brand was there , front and center , fired into the wood plank years ago by his own hands . 