“Yes, sir.”
“I will go back,” I agreed. “I will go back, but there’s no need of Mrs. Montoyo. If you could see her safely landed at a stage station, and for Benton——?”
“We’ll land you both. I have to report at Bridger. The train is all right. It has an escort to Bitter Creek.”
“I can overtake it, or join it,” said I. “But the lady goes to Benton.”
“Yes, yes,” he snapped. “That’s nothing to me, of course. But you’ll do better to wait for the train at Bridger, Mr. ——? I don’t believe I have your name?” 312
“Beeson,” I informed, astonished.
“And the lady’s? Your sister? Wife?”
“Mrs. Montoyo,” I informed. And I repeated, that there should be no misunderstanding. “Mrs. Montoyo, from Benton. No relative, sir.”
He passed it over, as a gentleman should.
“Well, Mr. Beeson, you have business with the train?”