"He's more than five miles in the lead of them," he said. "Across rough country too. There was just a chance that he would work back through these breaks below us instead of making a ride for it, and we could have spotted him from up here. We might as well be going."
They mounted and headed to the right along the divide.
"If Rile is in sight we can wait for him," he said. "And see if he's picked up any tracks."
A half-mile along the ridge they saw Foster off through the breaks and he was working back their way.
"Thanks, Billie," Harris said. "For losing a circle trying to run him down."
"I'd have done as much for any Three Bar man," she returned.
"Of course," he said. "I'd have expected that. But all the same I'd hardly looked to see you show much concern over what happened to me."
"I don't want to see even you shot in the back," she said. "Is that answer enough?"
"It shows that I'm progressing," he smiled. "Maybe my good qualities will grow on you until you get to thinking right well of me."
They waited till Foster joined them on the ridge.