She was glad to go in; glad to get away from them if only for a few moments. But a cruel thought went in with her and stayed with her. The man she loved had not asked her to be his wife. She tried to put it away, but it came again and again to plague her. If he did not care, why should she? It was settled; she did not want to live!
Cadger watched her retreating figure until it was evident that she had really gone, then he turned to the others and said: "Sit down. We got to talk this over."
They sat in a semicircle and each was very alert and watchful. No one smoked or thought of it.
"Now, first of all, Dave Ladd; you're a white man and ought to have more sense. You can't afford to quarrel with Appah any more'n he can afford to quarrel with you. I've got a lot at stake too. I'm damned if either of you is agoin' to throw me down and my interests. The first man that tries it'll git his head blowed off. You a-riskin' the biggest stake a man ever played fer, just fer a pretty face! There's millions of pretty faces and only one chance like this. We've gone too far with Appah to give him the double cross, and the woman's his price."
"He'll have to name another price. We'll give him more money, more cattle, more horses, and all that; more of anything else he likes."
"Suppose he's as big a fool as you, and rather have the pretty face?"
"It ain't his to choose. It's mine to give. It isn't only this woman—it's a question who's master here—he or me."
Appah said nothing but his face showed he was irreconcilable.
"Will you take anything else?" said Cadger. "Horses, cattle, wagons?"
"Katch-wayno."