“You’re all worked up,” Walters said diffidently. “You’ll be sorry for saying such a thing about me when you cool off. I didn’t kill Doc Martin, although he had it coming. A man who steals can’t flourish on any range I have charge of.”
“Doc Martin never stole anything in his life,” the girl cried. “He was a better man than you, any day. You were afraid of him,” she raved. “I know. You hated him because I loved him, and he loved me. Get away from me, you—you toad!”
Walters’ face flamed. He shot a quick sidewise look at Nona and Rock Holloway. But he was cool and patient.
“Hysterics,” he said to Nona. “I guess I’ll have to leave her to you, Miss Parke. See she gets home, will you? Sorry about all this fuss. Couldn’t be helped, the way things stood.”
Rock said nothing. He had declared himself. This was a matter between these others, interesting, dramatic, and with hints of passionate conflict. Rock knew Nona Parke’s side of it. What she had told him about Doc Martin was fresh in his mind. And there was Martin’s attitude and actions toward Elmer Duffy. She, like himself, stood silent, while Alice leaned against the log wall and lashed at her foreman, her breast heaving, a fury blazing in her pansy-blue eyes.
Walters stepped off the porch and mounted his horse. The riders were crossing the flat at a walk. Buck lifted his hat to Nona, flung “So long, boys!” over his shoulder to Rock and Charlie Shaw, and loped away after his men.
A very cool hand, Rock reflected. Smooth and dangerous. He had denied that Dave Wells mentioned anything. Rock felt that to be a lie. It was simpler now that he had established his real identity. But he wasn’t done with Buck Walters yet. No! Rock couldn’t quite say why he had that conviction; but he had it very clear in his mind.
CHAPTER XI—RIDERS ON A RISE
“Is the excitement all over?” Charlie Shaw asked, grinning. “Guess I’ll go put my caballo in the barn. I’ll go back an’ cut my string this afternoon.”
“Round-up over?” Nona asked.