"You come out or I'll break the door down and bring you!"
"If you do, I'll not go to Mountain City with you!"
John hesitated, though his face was purple.
"You couldn't keep her away from the rodeo and you know it," sneered
Charleton. "Fetch her out, John, unless you're afraid of Doug."
"Jude, are you coming?" shouted John.
"No, sir."
John heaved against the flimsy door and it broke on its hinges. He rushed into the inner room. Judith, her great eyes blazing, stood with one hand on Marion's shoulder.
"Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Dad! You put a finger on me or Marion if you dare!"
"Don't touch her, Dad!" Douglas' voice had the old note of warning in it.
But John, furious that his children should be defying him in public, was quite beyond any effort at self control. He rushed on toward the bed.