“Yes, that’s the one,” said Mary.
“No, he won’t be here; he’s skipped.”
“What do you mean?” asked Alta.
“Well, Noisy says he’s been discharged and has quit the valley.”
“Discharged? left the valley?” said Alta. “What for?”
“For doing some crooked work with the cattle he was herding.”
“It’s a cruel lie,” said Alta, trembling between anxiety and anger.
All stared at the anxious, excited girl.
“That boy is not capable of crooked work.”
“How do you know it?” asked Sally.