Heth seemed somewhat surprised at the irritated tone. “Breakfast wasn’t ready,” he replied simply.
“I did not mean it that way,” Scott replied, a little taken back, “but I want to do my share of the work around here. I intended to help you get breakfast, but the high altitude seems to make me sleep like a hammer.”
“Gets them all that way when they first come up,” Heth replied pleasantly. “Might as well sleep it out. I wake up anyway and don’t mind getting breakfast. I’m used to it.”
Heth’s pleasant manner was so different from his grouch of the morning before that Scott felt even more ashamed of himself and wondered if he had misjudged the man. “Well, I’ll try to make up for it later,” he sputtered through the cold spring water, and as he dried the few breakfast dishes he felt happier than he had at any time since he first met Heth.
“How does the big black go?” Heth asked. “Have any trouble with him?”
“No,” Scott replied, warming up on the subject of his horse, “he behaved splendidly; but I had a funny experience yesterday.” And he explained in detail how the strange horseman had attempted to steal Jed. He kept quiet about the rest of the conversation.
Heth listened excitedly and did not let on that he had seen the horseman afterward and heard his version of the story. “Maybe he was trying to catch him for you,” Heth said. “No one ever thought that anybody could ride that horse and they all expect him to kill you before you have had him very long.”
“It’s possible,” Scott said doubtfully, “but I don’t believe it. He was with Jed Clark the day I bought the horse, and I know Jed had no idea of selling him.”
Heth had his own reasons for not pushing the matter and a ring at the ’phone interrupted any further talk on the subject.
It was the ranger. He ordered Scott to find how much stock the ranchers would have for free use and have Heth fix up the chute ready for the counting of the sheep. Scott again relayed the orders to Heth.