"Judith," repeated Douglas, "you go home."
"Why?" demanded the girl.
"You know why, Judith. Go on with Dad."
Judith set her lips, and slowly, very slowly spurred Buster after John's horse. Not until she was out of earshot did Douglas say to Scott:
"Scott, let's you and me settle our differences once and for all." It was dark now and cold. "You gather up that gun, Johnny, and we'll go into the cabin where it's warm."
"I'll not go near your house!" Scott spoke gruffly.
"Look here, Scott! Don't be a grouch! Let's see if we can't get together."
"Get together? What for? Some of this pious stuff, I suppose!"
"No, it's not! It's just common sense. We both plan to spend our lives in this valley. Why fight all the time?"
"You can bet I do plan to spend my life in this valley. Neither you nor
Charleton can run me out. Lost Chief is as much mine as it is yours.
Don't you ever get it into that thick head of yours that you can be Big
Chief here. I am going to have a finger in this pie myself."