"What did she say?"
"She didn't say no."
Joe pondered, trying to straighten this in his mind. He knew a little more about Ellis than he had known a moment ago. Wherever he had come from, and whatever he might have done, he had not tried to evade this issue. He had given it to Joe straight, as a man should, and that was a large point in his favor.
Ellis repeated, "I asked if you had any objections."
Joe said quietly, "I'm her father, Ellis, not her master. I'm not going to choose a husband for her."
"Thanks, Joe."
There was another silence, and Ellis said thoughtfully, "Joe—"
"Yes?"
"There's a New Year's dance at Laramie. Will you let Barbara go with me?"
"Laramie's a long ways off."