“I weel not be,” he said confidently.
Outside was the sound of voices. Valerie turned startled eyes to Gale. The Mexican laughed and then Gale understood why he had talked so loud and confidently. He had talked to cover the sound of approaching horses and he had succeeded. His friends had returned and they were trapped.
Gale’s mind worked with lightning rapidity. If their plans had worked only two outlaws were to return here. The other three would be busy taking cattle across the border into Mexico. But even two----
“What will we do, Gale?” Valerie’s voice was steady. The emergency had brought back her courage.
Gale thrust her revolver into Val’s hand and snatched up the rifle. She brought the shells from her pocket and loaded it.
“Get on the other side of the door,” she directed her friend. “We have to take ’em by surprise or else----”
Valerie shivered. “Yes,” she agreed, “or else!”
“Steady,” Gale warned, “here they come.”
There was a ring of a bootheel as the two men approached the cabin unsuspectingly. Gale was on one side of the doorway and Val on the other. As the men stepped into the room and stopped aghast at the sight of the Mexican, the girls stepped forward. The two, taken utterly unaware by the pressure of the gun muzzles in their backs, raised their hands obediently.
“Face the wall,” Gale ordered, and the two turned meekly. She knew if she gave them time to overcome their surprise they would not be so docile. Cautiously she reached forward and secured first one man’s gun and then the other. While Valerie watched the two, Gale emptied the guns, put the shells into her pocket and tossed the revolvers onto the table.