Kate coming out of the house drew his attention. He threw away the stick in his hand and rose.
"I hear you are going to shoot," she said.
"Can't get out of it very well, I guess."
"You wouldn't shoot, the time I asked you to."
"I didn't actually refuse, did I?"
"Pretty near it."
"It's a harder case today. Your men have got all the money. My friends are broke. And they've asked me to help them out somehow. That's the only reason. If you really want to see me shoot, all you've got to do is to tell me the next time you see me."
"Oh, I'm going to see you shoot now." She looked at the gun holster slung at his left hip. "I hear you are left-handed."
"They've got work enough lined up today for two hands."
Bradley returned with the horse and climbed awkwardly down from the saddle. Laramie tried the cinches and turned to Kate.