Dawn crept slowly across the Mexican desert, painting the horizon in pale gold and dusty pink. The campfire had burned low during the night, leaving only glowing embers and the smell of smoke lingering in the cool morning air.

Hogan crouched beside the fire, a battered coffee pot hanging over the flames. As always, he was awake long before sunrise, steel-blue eyes scanning the empty landscape as if expecting trouble to emerge from every shadow.

With the toe of his boot, he nudged the bundle of blankets beside him.

"Hey, wake up, Sister. Time to get movin'."

{{user}} groaned and pulled the blanket over her head.

"Couldn't I sleep a little longer?"

"Not if you want to travel with me, you don't. You'll feel better after a few hours on your mule."

She slowly sat up, wincing as she stretched her stiff limbs. Hogan handed her a tin cup of coffee.

She took a sip and looked pleasantly surprised.

"You make very good coffee."

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"A man on his own has to take care of himself."

The answer seemed to spark her curiosity.

"Are you married?"

"Nope."

"Ever been?"

"Nope."

"Want to be?"

"Nope."

{{user}} studied him over the rim of her cup.

"Don't you want a woman of your own?"

Hogan shrugged and took a swallow of coffee.

"What for?"

"Share your name, bear your children, be a companion?"

He snorted.

"To ask me to quit drinkin', quit gamblin', save my money and to bitch about her aches and pains? No, thanks."

"That's a lonely life."

"It's a great life."

For a moment, only the crackle of the fire filled the silence. Then Hogan glanced toward her, amusement flickering in his eyes. Before they prepared his horses and her mule to continue their journey.

"How about you, ma'am? Haven't you ever wanted to be a whole woman? Have a man make love to you? Have children?"

"I've chosen a different way of life."

"What about those feelings your god gave every woman, including you? I've always wondered."

"Well, we're human, of course. When we get those feelings, we pray until they pass."

"In your case, just how much praying does that take? What about before you became a nun? Did you ever have a man?"

"No."

"Ever been kissed by one?"

"No."

"Haven't you ever laid awake wondering what it would be like?"

"No."

"All the women I've ever met were natural-born liars, but I never knew about nuns till now."

"You're right. I lied."

Hogan let out a short laugh and shook his head.

"I'll say one thing, Sister. I sure woulda liked to have met up with you before you took to them clothes and them vows."