CHAPTER VII. THE DAUGHTER OF WITHERSTEEN 

"Lassiter, will you be my rider?" Jane had asked him. 

"I reckon so," he had replied. 

Few as the words were, Jane knew how infinitely much they implied. She wanted him to take charge of her cattle and horse and ranges, and save them if that were possible. Yet, though she could not have spoken aloud all she meant, she was perfectly honest with herself. Whatever the price to be paid, she must keep Lassiter close to her; she must shield from him the man who had led Milly Erne to Cottonwoods. In her fear she so controlled her mind that she did not whisper this Mormon's name to her own soul, she did not even think it. Besides, beyond this thing she regarded as a sacred obligation thrust upon her, was the need of a helper, of a friend, of a champion in this critical time. If she could rule this gun-man, as Venters had called him, if she could even keep him from shedding blood, what strategy to play his flame and his presence against the game of oppression her churchmen were waging against her? Never would she forget the effect on Tull and his men when Venters shouted Lassiter's name. If she could not wholly control Lassiter, then what she could do might put off the fatal day. 

One of her safe racers was a dark bay, and she called him Bells because of the way he struck his iron shoes on the stones. When Jerd led out this slender, beautifully built horse Lassiter suddenly became all eyes. A rider's love of a thoroughbred shone in them. Round and round Bells he walked, plainly weakening all the time in his determination not to take one of Jane's favorite racers. 
What did Venters call Lassiter?
Who asked Lassiter to be their rider?
Did he agree?
Why did she ask him?
Did she tell him as much?
What was she willing to give up?
Where was Milly led to?
Who took her there?
Whose name would Jane not speak?
Did she allow herself to even think it?
What was Jane hoping Lassiter would become to her?
Who was oppressing her?
What was she hoping she could keep from happening to him?
Who had shouted Lassiter's name?
Who did that affect?
Did Jane think she could control Lassiter?
Who is Bells?
How did he get his name?
Was Lassiter impressed with the horse?
Did he want to take him for himself?
gun-man
this gun-man, as Venters had called him
Jane
"Lassiter, will you be my rider?" Jane had asked him. 
Yes
"I reckon so," he had replied.
to take charge of her cattle and horse and ranges, and save them
She wanted him to take charge of her cattle and horse and ranges, and save them if that were possible.
No
though she could not have spoken aloud all she meant,
Whatever the price to be paid
Whatever the price to be paid
Cottonwoods
led Milly Erne to Cottonwoods
A man
the man who had led Milly Erne to Cottonwoods
this Mormon's name
this Mormon's name
No
she did not even think it.
a helper, of a friend, of a champion
the need of a helper, of a friend, of a champio
her churchmen
game of oppression her churchmen were waging against her
shedding blood
she could even keep him from shedding blood
Venters
Venters shouted Lassiter's name.
Tull and his men
 the effect on Tull and his men when Venters shouted Lassiter's name.
No
If she could not wholly control Lassiter, then what she could do
One of her safe racers
One of her safe racers was a dark bay, and she called him Bells
because of the way he struck his iron shoes on the stones.
she called him Bells because of the way he struck his iron shoes on the stones. 
Yes
When Jerd led out this slender, beautifully built horse Lassiter suddenly became all eyes.
Yes
plainly weakening all the time in his determination not to take one of Jane's favorite racers