human
One of them horse-thieves, I guess, ventured, the girl, in a tone of disgust,
gpt
I wisht, Joe, you wouldn't have no truck with 'em.
human
I don't have no dealin's with 'em, except to keep my mouth shut an' haul their stuff out from town--same as all the other ranchers down in here does. A man wouldn't last long down here that didn't--they'd put him out of business. You don't need to fear I'll throw in with 'em. I guess if a man can tend bar for six years an' stay straight--straight enough so the bank ain't afraid to match his pile an' shove the money out through the window to him--there ain't much chance he won't stay straight ranchin'.
gpt
It ain't that, Joe! the girl hastened to assure him,
human
I never would married you if I hadn't know'd you was square. I don't want nothin' to do with them crooks--I've got a feelin' that, somehow, they'll throw it into you.
gpt
About the only ones there is around here is Cass Grimshaw's gang an' outside of runnin' off horses, Cass Grimshaw's on the level--everyone knows that.
human
Well, replied the girl, doubtfully,
gpt
What Cass says goes----
human
Look at comin', yonder! interrupted Jennie, pointing to the lone rider,
gpt
At the mention of the name of Purdy, Cinnabar Joe started perceptibly. His wife noticed the movement, slight as it was--noted also, in one swift sidewise glance, that his face paled slightly under its new-found tan, and that a furtive--almost a hunted look had crept into his eyes. Did her husband fear this man, and if so--why? A sudden nameless fear gripped her heart. She stepped close to Cinnabar Joe's side as though in some unaccountable way he needed her protection, and together they waited for the approaching rider. The man's horse splashed noisily into the creek, lowered his head to drink, but the rider jerked viciously on the reins so that the cruel spade bit pinked the foam at the animal's lips. Spurring the horse up the bank, he stopped before them, grinning.
human
Neighbours! cried the girl, in undisguised disgust,
gpt
Lord! I know'd the bad lands was bad enough--but I didn't think they was that bad. I thought you was plumb out of the country or dead, long before this!
human
Oh, you did, eh? Well, I ain't out of the country--an' I ain't dead--by a hell of a ways! I guess Cinnabar wouldn't sob none if I was dead. You don't seem tickled to death to see an' old pal.
gpt
Sure, you're welcome here, Jack. Anyone is. Anything I can do for you?
human
Saved up enough to start you an outfit of yer own, eh? You ought to done pretty good tendin' bar for six years, with what you got paid, an' what you could knock down. Go to it! I'm for you. The better you do, the better I'll like it.
gpt
What I've saved, I've earnt,
human
Oh, sure--a man earns all he gits--no matter how he gits it. Even if it's shootin' up his old pals an' grabbin' off the reward.
gpt
You go to the house--me an' Cinnabar wants to make medicine.
human
You go to the devil! flashed the girl.
gpt
Who do you think you are anyhow? Tryin' to order me around on my own ranch! If you've got anything to say, just you go ahead an' spit it out--don't mind me.
human
Kind of sassy, ain't you? If you was mine, I'd of took that out of you before this--or I'd of broke you in two.
gpt
If I was yourn! cried the girl contemptuously,
human
I guess Cinnabar won't say that, sneered the man, white with rage,
gpt
Shut up! he said, evenly,
human
I was only jokin'. What do I care what the women say? Come on over here a piece, an' I'll tell you what I want. You asked me if there was anything you could do.
gpt
Say it here,
human
All right. But first let me tell you somethin' fer yer own good. Don't kill me! I've got three pals not so far from here that's in on--well, you know what. I told 'em the whole story--an' if anything happens to me--up you go--see? An' if you try to double-cross me--up you go, too. You git that, do you? Well, here's what you got to do. It ain't much. I've got a boarder fer you. It's a woman. Keep her here fer a week, an' don't let anyone know she's here. Then I'll come an' git her. That's all!
gpt
Who is she, an' what you goin' to do with her?
human
That ain't none of yer damn business! snapped Purdy,
gpt
Joe! Joe! He'll kill you! He's got his guns! she shrieked, and held on the tighter as Cinnabar struggled blindly to free himself. Purdy vaulted into his saddle and dashed across the creek. Upon the opposite side he jerked his horse to a stand, and with a wave of his hand, indicated the coulee down which he had come:
human
She's up there a piece on a cayuse tied to a tree. Go get her--she's had a hard ride.
gpt
The damn fool! I wonder if he knew I was lyin' about tellin' the others. He sure as hell was shootin' to kill--an' he damn near called my bluff!