"A typical Western girl, I should say," he replied. "Your.... Your neighbor and associate? Your companion, Jane?" he asked. "The sort you want to cast your lot with?"
"And a moment ago you thought her magnificent!" she taunted as she stepped down and offered him her hand.
"I'll meet you in, say, two hours, ma'am," Beck said.
"Very well; right here," she replied, and he left her as she turned to meet Hilton's unpleasant smile.
They began the return trip shortly after noon. Hilton had been with Jane when Tom returned and he stood beside the buckboard talking some minutes after Beck had picked up the reins and was ready to commence the drive. Occasionally Dick's eyes wandered from Jane to the other man's face but Tom sat, knees crossed, idly toying with the whip, as indifferent to what was being said as if the others were out of sight and hearing. Hilton made an obvious effort to exclude the Westerner but Beck's disregard of him was as genuine as it was evident. He sat patiently, with an easy sense of superiority and the contrast was not lost on Jane Hunter.
The town was far behind and below them, a mere cluster of miniature buildings, before either spoke. Then it was Jane.
"That girl.... There was something splendid about her, wasn't there?"
"There was," he agreed. "She sure expressed her opinion of men in general!"
"A newcomer, evidently."
Beck nodded. "Came in soon after you did, with her father, it looked like."