human
What was it, Peter? Somebody in the Cove? Or was it you--
gpt
No, it wasn't Peter; it was me. Billy Louise informed him calmly and ungrammatically.
human
I shot Surbus, that's all.
gpt
Oh! Why, Miss Louise, you nearly gave me heart failure! How are you? I thought--
human
You thought somebody had gotten into the Cove without your knowing it. Well, someone did. I rode up from below, along the river.
gpt
Oh--er--did you? Pretty rough going, wasn't it? I didn't think it could be done. Come in; Aunt Martha will be--
human
I don't think she'll be overjoyed to see me. Billy Louise stood still beside the gooseberry bush, and she had forgotten to put away her gun.
gpt
I drove up those cattle you had down below. You're awfully careless, Charlie! I should think Peter or Marthy would have told you better. When a man steals cattle by working over the brands, it's very bad form to keep them right on his ranch in plain sight. It--isn't done by the best people, you know.