“I’m carryin’ my own mail,” said Arnold. “You fellers object?”
“Of course not,” said Buck hastily. “What ye tryin’ to do—stir up trouble a time like this? Miss Stella wants to git Jake here. Goin’ over to the ranch real soon?”
“I don’t aim to.” Arnold gave him look for look. “If she’s done asked you to fetch Jake, you fetch him. I got business of my own; I ain’t ridin’ for Jake no more.”
“You ain’t!” exclaimed Buck, staring. “Listen! I got room for you——”
“Not for me, you ain’t!” and with a slow laugh Steve Arnold went into the house.
The other two looked after him, then glanced at each other. Chuck Hansom uttered a chuckle, and touched Buck’s arm.
“I guess you ’n’ me had better go find Jake ourselves, Buck. What say?”
Buck nodded. His work here was done for the moment. He was well satisfied with it.