human
Where did you hang Buck?
gpt
Huh?
human
Where was it you hanged Buck Olney?
gpt
Nowhere. I put the fear of the Lord into him, that's all. How did you hear about it?
human
From you. Billy Louise was maddeningly calm.
gpt
You told me all about it yesterday. And about those cattle in the corral up here. I found them yesterday myself, Ward--only it seems a month ago!--down in the Cove.
human
Did you?
gpt
Yes, and I drove them up to the corral and read the riot act to Marthy and Charlie Fox--
human
Huh! What did they say?
gpt
Oh, they denied it, of course! What are we going to do about it, Ward?
human
Nothing, I guess. What did you want to do?
gpt
I don't know. I don't want to hurt them, and I don't want them to hurt anyone else. Do you know Seabeck? He's an awfully square old fellow. I believe-- An idea formed vaguely in the back of Billy Louise's mind.
human
I believe I could persuade him--
gpt
I believe you could persuade the devil himself, if you took a notion to try, Ward affirmed sincerely, when she hesitated.
human
What do you want to persuade him into?
gpt
Oh, nothing, I guess! How do you feel, Ward? We've got to stick to the job of getting you fit to leave here and go on down to the ranch with me. When do you think you could manage to ride?
human
I think I could manage it now, he said doggedly, because of his great longing.
gpt
I set my own leg--
human
Yes, and I'm willing to admit you're a wonder, and have gotten the stoics beaten at their own game. Still, there's a limit to what the human body will stand. I'm going down to tend the horses, and if you think you can walk without hurting your leg, I'll hunt some forked sticks for crutches. We'll see how you make out with them, first, before we talk about riding twenty miles on horseback. Besides, you'd catch more cold if you went out to-day.