His manner was kindly, showing no resentment at her belligerence and though her only reply was a sniff he knew that what he had said pleased her.
"I wouldn't want you to think I'm staring at you," he went on. "A man shouldn't be blamed for looking at you closely."
"How's that?"
"You are very beautiful."
She poked at the fire with a stick.
"I reckon that'll be enough of that," she said as she walked back toward the door.
The man smiled and followed her with his eyes, which squinted speculatively.
"You'd better unsaddle that horse," she said. "He'll roll with your kak if you don't."
Hilton looked about the room again.
"Are you alone?" he asked.