"Unfortunately they are a kind of six-footed beast, always mounted; there isn't a true frontiersman among them. It angered me that they had the opportunity to even look at you."
His intensity of gaze and the bitterness of his voice took away her breath for an instant, and before she could reply Jennie and Lawson came in.
Lawson was smiling. "Parker is righteously incensed. He tried to enter the council an hour ago and your dusky minions stopped him. He is genuinely alarmed now, and only waiting for daylight to take flight."
"Jerome is a goose," said Elsie.
"He's a jackass at times. A man of talent, but a bore when his yellow streak comes out." Turning to Curtis he said, very seriously, "Is there anything I can do for you, Captain?"
"You might wire your version of the disturbance to the Secretary along with mine. We can safely look for an avalanche of newspaper criticism, and I would like to anticipate their outbreak."
"Our telegrams will be at once made public—"
"Undoubtedly, and for that reason we must use great care in their composition. I have mine written; please look it over."
Jennie, who had dropped into a chair, checked a yawn. "Oh, dear; I wish it were morning."
Curtis looked at her and laughed. "I think you girls would better go to bed. Your eyes are heavy-lidded with weariness."