“I want you to go away,” she said slowly. “You are safe from their anger for this time, but do not stay here and court danger. This is no place for a man like you to live. Go while there is yet time. There is now a blood-feud between you and the Mills. They will mark you for vengeance, and they are wild bad men.”
“And you?” said Cotterell, looking anxiously at her. “I want to see you safely at home. You are ill, I fear.”
“I am all right,” answered Olive wearily. “You must go to the South Fork at once. Take the Kansas City stage this very night and go. There is no time to be lost.”
“I cannot, and will not,” answered Cotterell. “I must take you home first. You look frightfully tired and ill.”
“No, it would be the crudest thing you could do to bring me home. I want to go back to Ezra, I am so tired,” said Olive plaintively.
“Must I let you go all by yourself over this lonely prairie? I cannot bear the thought of it.”
“I have been two days and one night all by myself out on this lonely prairie in order to save you. Please do what I ask. Tie Queen Katharine’s rein to Rebel’s bit, they will then go quietly together.”
“Tell me,” said Cotterell breathlessly, “why have you been out all this time on the prairie alone?”
“I was following the men who had captured you in order to save you if I could.”
“Great Heavens!” he burst out, with his blue eyes aflame. “And you did this heroic act because you——”