Pete slid his own gun from its holster and covered the bearded man.
"You can give your father his gun, Cindy," he said grimly. "This yahoo won't move."
"Oh, good!" Cindy breathed. "I don't know how to shoot anyhow."
She rode up to her father, handed him his gun, and Mr. Simpson buckled it about his waist. Pete Brent spoke sternly to the bearded man. "We don't want your claim, but if you feel like fighting, pick up your gun and go to it!"
"I thought you was claim jumpers!" the man said tremulously. "I rode a long an' hard piece to get me some land in Oklahoma."
"So did a lot of other people, and many of them will ride for nothing. Be careful who you're pulling a gun on after this!"
"I'm sorry," the bearded man said humbly.
"Cindy!" her father said. "You can't be here!"
"But I am here," Cindy pointed out.
"I'll have to take you back."