Both cowboys emerged and looked about.
“It was only I,” Connie laughed. Then she jerked her head in the direction from which Blakeman approached.
“There comes your friend now,” she said, her voice lowered.
“Oh, that big ape,” Alkali muttered, scorn in his voice.
The foreman came up to the trio, looking quickly from one to the other. He remarked that Connie was abroad early.
“Yes, Mr. Blakeman,” she replied. “I couldn’t sleep so I wandered down here. Beautiful sunrise, isn’t it?”
“It’s o.k., I reckon.”
“I think we are going to have fine weather for the rodeo,” Connie continued mischievously. “Are you in any of the events, Mr. Blakeman?”
“Tell her, Blake!” laughed Lefty and there was an edge to his voice. “Tell her they couldn’t run the show without you doin’ some fancy bulldoggin’.”
“Yeah!” Alkali put in. “They don’t come no hotter than Blake when he sets himself to dump over a steer by his horns.”