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Updated: June 19, 2025
As for the enemy, of whom Arlie had advised him, surely a public dance was the last place to tempt one who apparently preferred to attack from cover. But his instinct was certain. He did not need to look round to know he was trapped. "I'm unarmed. You'd better come round and shoot me from in front. It will look better at the inquest," he said quietly. "Don't move.
Arlie flung the question at Fraser with a frank directness of sloe-black eyes that had never known coquetry. She was washing handkerchiefs, and her sleeves were rolled to the elbows of the slender, but muscular, coffee-brown arms. "I would." "If you like you may ride out with me to Willow Spring. I have some letters to take to dad." "Suits me down to the ground, ma'am."
As he did so, a man and his partner, so busy in talk with each other that they had not observed who he was, sat down beside him in such position that the young woman was next him. Without having looked directly at either of them, Fraser knew that the girl was Arlie Dillon, and her escort Jed Briscoe.
I'm about ready for a ruction with that young man, anyway. He's too blamed bossy. I ain't wearing his brand. Fact is, I been having notions this valley has been suffering from too much Briscoe. Others are sharing that opinion with me. Ask Dick France. Ask Arlie, for that matter." "I'm afraid I'm off that young lady's list of friends." "Sho! She'll come round. She's some hot-haided.
"Yet it is true. What's more, you knew it all the time." "You ce'tainly jump to conclusions, Miss Arlie." "And you let them arrest you, without telling them the truth! And they came near lynching you! And there's a warrant out now for your arrest for the murder of Faulkner, while all the time I killed him, and you knew it!" He gathered together his lame defense.
"Oh, as your guest!" "Doesn't it please you, Jed?" "Have I said it didn't please me?" he retorted smoothly. "Your looks say it." He let out a sudden furious oath. "Then my looks don't lie any." Fraser was stepping forward, but with a gesture Arlie held him back. This was her battle, not his. "What have you got to say about it?" she demanded. "You had no right to bring him here. Who is he anyhow?"
"Yo'll have company home, honey," he told his daughter, "and yo'll be able to give the boys a hand if they need it. These hill cattle are still some wild, though we've been working them a week. Yo're a heap better cowboy than some that works more steady at the business." Briscoe nodded. "You bet! I ain't forgot that day Arlie rode Big Timber with me two years ago.
Brandt and Hilliard joined him, but the Texan lingered. "I reckon I'll join you later, gentlemen," he said. While their footsteps died away he looked steadily at Arlie. Her eyes met his and held fast. Beneath the olive of her cheeks, a color began to glow. He held out both his hands. The light in his eyes softened, transfigured his hard face. "You can't help it, honey.
After I've told it, you can ask me again if you want me to stop with you. If you don't ask me, I'll ride off with the boy." "All right. Fire ahead, old hoss. I'll ask you fast enough." The Texan told his story from the beginning. Only one thing he omitted that Arlie had told him the name of the Squaw Creek raiders. "There are the facts, Alec. You've got them from beginning to end. It's up to you.
I claim the protection of the valley for him." "He can have it if he's what he says he is. But why ain't he been square with us? Why didn't he tell who he was?" "He told me." "That ain't enough, Arlie. If he did, you kept it quiet. We all had a right to know." "If you had asked him, he would have told you." "I ain't so sure he would. Anyhow, I don't like it.
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