Again he had the right thought at the right moment. Had he surmised what was passing in her mind?
"Seeing that you've got Pete Leddy out of town, I should say that you were fairly entitled to a whole bed," Jim drawled. "These two Indians here can make a hustle to get some kind of a litter."
Now she could go. That was her one crying thought: She could go! And again he came to her rescue with his smiling considerateness.
"You have missed your breakfast, I'll warrant," he said to her. "Please don't wait. You were so brave and cool about it all, and—I—" A faint tide of color rose to his cheeks, which had been pale from loss of blood. For once he seemed unable to find a word.
Mary denied him any assistance in his embarrassment.
"Yes," she answered, almost bluntly. Then she added an excuse: "And you should have a doctor at once. I will send him."
She did not look at Jack again, but hastened away. When she was over the bank of the arroyo out of sight she put her fingers to her temples in strong pressure. That pulse made her think of another, which had been under her thumb, and she withdrew her fingers quickly.
"It is the sun! I have no hat," she said to herself, "and I didn't sleep well."