"Who brands your cattle?"
"I do."
"No one else?"
"Not another,"—with a slow shaking of the head.
"Can you think of anybody who would put your brand on my cattle?"
"No. Nobody would hev done that."
"But have you looked at this steer?"—indicating the yearling with the indisputable evidence on his side.
Cole lifted an unsteady hand to scratch his mustache, eyed the animal furtively and glanced at Hepburn. As their eyes met Hepburn's head moved in slight, quick negation. Ever so slight, ever so quick, but Jane Hunter saw and Hepburn saw that she saw and a guilty flush whipped into his face, spreading clear to the eyes.
"Hasn't someone been working over my brand?" she demanded, forcing Cole to look at her again.
"I don't know ... I dunno nothin' about it...."