"But I told ye if ye had a nuther man hangin' round I'd fix both of ye, an' I'm goin' to keep my word," he snapped back.
"Ye can't fix any one but me, Sandy, 'cause ye don't know nobody else to hurt, do ye," she interrupted him.
"It air easy fer a man like me to choke the name out of ye, brat," replied Letts, blinking his eyes at her. "I'd be likin' nothin' better."
Jake moved his big boots back and forth several times.
"I wouldn't try it if I was you, Sandy," he cautioned, "'cause ye know uther folks might be interferin' with ye."
Sandy's throat emitted a deep, doglike growl as he clambered to his feet.
"I'll do it now, dam ye both," he barked back in ugly defiance.
Jake was on his feet before Letts could take a forward step and had placed himself between the big squatter and the girl.
That afternoon when Jake came back to see Tessibel, she threw a quick question at him.