“Well,” said Pete, “that’s just it, Al. Jack likes it as much as any of us. He can’t stay away from it. It calls him, same as it does you and me. But as to Mrs. Dean, I’m doing some wondering myself.”
“Seems to me,” Red Mack spoke for the first time, “you folks had better not worry too much over it. I shouldn’t be a bit surprised if they had thought of that matter a little bit themselves. I gather they must have, since it’s their particular business.”
Someone threw a boot at the speaker. “You sarcastic creature,” said Pete, lovingly. “But, anyway, I hope Mrs. Dean will like us.”
Pipes were lighted now, the men were comfortably lolling about; it was a period of rest and calm. The light of day held a touch of the gathering twilight—it seemed as if some master painter was tingeing his colors, so bringing a darker shade. Some of the men drifted away, lazily bound for some little task or pleasure. Some of them remained ready for anything that might come.
It was not always so quiet at this hour. Possibly the news that they had heard had a sobering effect. Then, too, most of the men were off on a roundup and the few that were left felt lonesome.
“I feel,” said Pete, “that things are becoming so quiet around here we’ll die of ennui.” Pete delighted in springing a new word upon the crowd and he did it often to show his knowledge. The boys understood the spirit of fun in which it was done and that it was not to show superiority. He continued:
“Time was, when the Indians would give us some excitement. Now Lo, the poor Indian, is so wealthy and has waxed so fat, thanks to a paternal government, he won’t fight. The sheep-men seem to have found their place, though if it were I who decided on the place they deserve, you know where I’d be sending them. As it is, you never can tell when they will make trouble. Here’s hoping it’s soon.”
“Well, there’s McGowan,” Pop said. “He and his followers are always about, ready to oblige. Things can never be said to be quiet while they are up and doing. As for myself, youngster, I find plenty of trouble comes without going to seek it.”
“Yes,” added Smiles, “McGowan is a regular border lawyer. He always manages to be mighty near it when the trouble has boiled. Although there’s a crowd over in Montana that will be ready for him the next time he crosses over.”
Then the conversation turned back to Dean. Said Pete: