“They’re not thieves, and you know it! Macdonald never stole an animal from you or anybody else; none of the others ever did.”
“What do you know about it?” sharply.
“I know it, as well as I know what’s in your mind about the troops. You’ll go over father’s head to get them. Well, by the time he wires to the department the facts I’m going to lay before him, I’d like to see the color of the trooper you’ll get!”
“You’ll keep your mouth shut, and hold your finger out of this pie before you git it burnt!”
“I’ll not keep my mouth shut!” She began moving about the room, picking up her belongings. “I’m going to saddle my horse and go to the post right 201 now, and the facts of your bloody business will be in Washington before morning.”
“You’re not goin’—to the—post!” Chadron’s words were slow and hard. He stood with his back to the door. “This house was opened to you as a friend, not as a traitor and a spy. You’re not goin’ to put your foot outside of it into any business of mine, no matter which way you lean.”
All day she had been dressed ready to mount and ride in any emergency, her hat, gloves and quirt on the table before the fireplace. In that sober habit she appeared smaller and less stately, and Saul Chadron, with his heavy shoulders against the closed door, towered above her, dark and angrily determined.
“I’m going to get my horse,” said she, standing before him, waiting for him to quit the door.
“You’re goin’ to stay right in this house, there’s where you’re goin’ to stay; and you’ll stay till I’ve cleaned out Macdonald and his gang, down to the last muddy-bellied wolf!”
“You’ll answer for detaining me here, sir!”