`Stinker is correct,' he said. `Of all the rotten skunks I ever met--an' that's quite a few--yo're the meanest. I oughta blowed yore light out; if yu get in my way again, I'll do it--that star yu disgrace ain't a circumstance to me.' Camort, understanding that he was safe for the time, ventured a threat : `I'll git you both for this.'
Sudden laughed, and looked at the company. `Make a note o' that, gents. If we're found shot from behind, yu'll know who did it.'
`You betcha,' Pilch replied. `An' don't judge this town by that fella, Mister--he warn't no pop'lar selection. If he'd downed Drait by that trick I'd 'a' laid him out too, an' that's whatever.'
`Good for yu,' the puncher smiled, and seeing that his friend now had the use of his eyes again, added, `Comin', Nick?'
When they were in the saddle again, the nester said, `That's the second time in twenty-four hours you've saved my life. Hell, I'll be scared to go about without you soon, but if the ante is too big, I ain't holdin' you.'
`Shucks!' the other said. `Why, that two-bit imitation peace-officer would say I'd run away from him. No, sir, I'm seein' this game through to my last chip.'
`I'm shore obliged,' Drait said, and meant much more.
Chapter IV
A week passed uneventfully. Every morning Mary rode up the valley with her husband for a lesson in shooting, only to come back with a sense of frustration. He was a considerate, attentive companion and nothing more; all her advances failed to penetrate the armour of bluff good-fellowship in which he seemed to have encased himself. At times, she wondered if he suspected her design and was also playing a part--a thought which only stiffened her resolve to punish him. But nevertheless, she enjoyed the jaunts, the valley had an endless variety of interest. So she was conscious of real disappointment when Nick announced he could not accompany her.
`Gotta go into town,' he explained. `O' course, you could take Beau.'
The suggestion was casually made, but there was an expression on his face she could not read. `I shall be quite all right by myself,' she replied.
`I dunno--that end ain't plugged yet,' he said doubtfully. `Have yore gun along.'
She promised, and then remarked, `The sheriff of Midway doesn't think much of you, does he?' This brought the ghost of a grin. `I wouldn't wonder if he's thinkin' quite a lot o' me,' he drawled. `Are you taking Mister Green?'
This time there could be no evasion. `Who's been talkin' outa turn?' he asked.
`I don't know,' she told him, adding softly, `I only want you to be careful.'
In the case of nine men out of ten, her apparent solicitude would have produced some sign, but the nester's face remained unchanged. Muttering something about chattering chumps, he went out. At the corral he met Yorky and gave him instructions, concluding with, `Don't show yoreself 'less you have to; guess there ain't any real risk, but till that far end is corked up ...'
Yorky nodded; he would have liked to ask a question, but had been well-schooled by Sudden, and knew when to keep his mouth shut. As Drait rode away, the boy's approving eyes followed him. Two of a kind--Jim an' him,' he informed the air. `Gosh! Glad I'm on their side.'
Nick found the rest of his outfit busy at the wall, which was now a formidable obstacle. Calling Quilt aside, he explained about Yorky, and added a word of praise. `We'll finish her today, an' she ain't no slouch of a job,' the foreman said. `If yo're needin' Jim....'
`Why should I be?'
`Headin' for town, ain't you?'
`Well?' Sharply.
The sheriff is shootin' off his mouth quite a bit. Shore, he's still crippled, but he has friends.'
Drait frowned. `Who's been yappin' around here?'
`I can tell you one who ain't an' that's the fella what knowed all about it--reckon he was raised among Injuns,' the little man grinned. Was you expectin' to keep it secret?'
`Beats hell how the news gets about in this country,' the nester grumbled.
`Little birds certainly ain't scarce,' Quilt agreed, and when the other was out of hearing, added, `Nick, if you wasn't more generous with yore dollars than yore words nobody'd work for you 'cept damn fools like me.' He pondered a moment. `An' I shore am one; if I hadn't mentioned Jim, mebbe you wouldn't 'a' gone alone; I oughta be booted.'
Mary, riding slowly along the valley, was thinking much the same thing. The rebuff she had received still brought the colour to her cheeks. She had learned from Lindy of the bearding of the sheriff. Brutal, unscrupulous the nester might be, but she had to admit that he had the quality most esteemed in the West--courage. Fight--that was Nature's universal law....
An amused voice broke in on her meditations. `You didn't oughta be all alone this bright mornin'.'
She turned to find Beau Lamond pacing just behind, hat in hand, a confident gleam in his dark eyes. She drew rein. `Did Mister Drait ask you to ride with me?' she enquired. `Why, no, must 'a' forgot,' he smiled.
`On the contrary, he offered me your company, but I told him I preferred my own.'
His conceit would not accept this. `Say, but that was real cute of you,' he complimented.
`Not at all, it was true,' she returned icily, and rode on.
He made no attempt to follow her, save with his furious gaze.
`So that's the way of it, huh?' he growled. `Well, it takes two to make a game, an' I can wait.'
Savagely he wrenched his horse about and spurred to the gate. Smoky read the flushed features aright.
`Sorta took the wrong turnin', Beau?' he queried.
`Mind yore own damn business,' the other snapped.
`Somebody just bin tellin' you that?'
Before the incipient quarrel developed, Quilt crushed it. `Better both try it,' he said sharply. 'Git busy.'
The girl did not look round. Her anger was not all caused by the cowboy's presumption, some of it being due to the unwelcome feeling that she was missing the big, taciturn man who had been her daily companion. Resentfully, she told herself that it was absurd, but nevernheless, the valley did not seem quite the same. She passed the pool, almost without a glance, dismounted and fired twelve shots at the tree, hitting it twice. This would please Nick, at which thought she straightway resolved not to tell him.
On reaching the end, she faced round and sat drinking in the scene. The green oval, with its mirror-like pool and frame of grey, toothed rock, seemed utterly peaceful. The bulge in the cliffs prevented her from seeing the ranch-house, or the entrance where the men would be working. The sun's rays, growing stronger, were licking the diamond drops from the grass. Mary breathed deeply.
`Brownie, it's--just--Eden,' she told her pony.
`Needs an Adam though,' chuckled a gruff voice.
She turned her head; a big man on a horse was just at her shoulder; it was Bardoe. Her cry of astonishment and attempt to back away brought suspicion. Grabbing her rein, he bent and peered closely; recognition dawned in his eyes.
`So it's you? Well by Gawd, that's luck I warn't lookin' for,' he cried. His gaze travelled over the trim figure gloatingly. `I knowed you was a pretty piece, but duds shore do make a difference.'
He leaned nearer and she tried to sway away. `I thought you were killed,' she said.
`Near thing,' he replied, tapping the soiled rag twisted about his head. `Creased me, that's all. I was out for a coupla days, an' them cussed idjuts o' mine had me all ready for plantin'. Funny to come to life in yore coffin. You don't seem overjoyed.'