"Thank God, they're headed for Utah," Dad replied.
"Yeah. Utah's a long ways, though. The girl didn't seem to think they was going so very far."
The other made no answer and after a moment Beck said:
"Notice the brand on them cattle? THO? That ain't a good neighbor for the HC to have.... Unless it's an honest neighbor."
"Well, they're goin' into Utah," Dad said doggedly.
"You know, Hepburn, one of the first things I'd do if I was foreman of this outfit?" Beck asked.
"What's that?"
"Take up the water in Devil's Hole. That's the best early feed this outfit has got, but without water it's worthless. Nesters are comin' in, which would worry me, if I was foreman. The Colonel had somebody file on it once, planning to buy when he'd patented the claim. This party didn't make good, and the matter dropped."
The other did not reply for a moment, but looked hard at his horse's ears, as if struggling to control himself.
"I've already took that up with her," he said sulkily, and stirred in his saddle.