“You should ask,” laughed the rancher. “Didn’t I just sell your foreman one of my best steers?”
“How should I know?” retorted Connie in a light vein. “After all I’m only the owner of the ranch. You didn’t really sell Blakeman a steer?”
“Shore did, Connie. Thought you knew all about it.”
“I certainly didn’t,” the girl replied soberly. “Nate, Blakeman shouldn’t have done that without asking me. I’m so hard up for money I don’t know when we’ll be able to pay—if ever.”
“Blakeman settled for cash,” the rancher told her. “But if you don’t want to go through with the deal it’s all right with me. Just have one of your men trundle the steer back to the Circle R.”
“Did you just now take the animal to the ranch, Nate?”
“No, Blakeman came for the steer himself yesterday afternoon. I rode over this way today to see a man.”
“That’s funny,” said Connie slowly. “Blakeman didn’t say anything to me about buying a steer.”
“Well, suit yourself about keepin’ the animal.”
“Thanks, Nate,” said Connie gratefully. “I’ll talk it over with Blakeman when I get back to the ranch.”