"He could cure young Davey Taber."
"Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"I suppose so, but then Davey will take over the foreman's job at the Circle-7—my job."
Jane got up from her husband's knee. There was horror in her look. "Dan, do you mean you'd let so small a thing as that influence you in—?"
Dan Parker sprang up also. "Small? You know we could not get along on a cow hand's salary. We'd starve to death. And I'm no good for anything but ranch work. It's all I know!"
"Dan—please!"
He turned suddenly contrite—somewhat ashamed, but in a way, he stuck to his guns. "Sure—I suppose it's rotten of me to think that way, but I've got you and Biddy to provide for. You two are my responsibility. It may not mean anything to you having people say Dan Parker can't support his family, but it means a lot to me!"
Jane looked at him quietly for a long moment before she said, "Dan, I—I just haven't any words. What you're thinking is almost evil—the way you feel about this—but I can't think of a logical answer or argument to show you where you're wrong. The thing's just—just beyond words."
Dan dropped to the lounge and sat staring at the floor. "I guess I'm a pretty rotten individual."
Jane spoke quietly. "The only thing I can say, darling, is that we'll always get along. We always have."