“How did you know Joe was going to Garry’s ranch when you met him with Larrimer?” she asked suddenly.
“The lad told me himself,” said Lance. “And when he did, Larrimer gave him a look that was as full of p’ison as a rattlesnake’s bite. Only he took great care the boy didn’t see it.”
“But if you knew Joe was in danger, why didn’t you take him away—why didn’t you make that horrible man give him up?” cried Dorothy, half wild with anxiety. “Then you could have taken him to Garry yourself.”
“I didn’t know he was in danger, Miss Dale. I was only guessin’,” the Westerner reminded her gently. “And probably my guess was dead wrong at that. Probably Larrimer didn’t have no intention to do nothin’ but what he said. It’s dollars to doughnuts your brother Joe is safe and snug at the Knapp ranch this minute.”
“And that’s the reason I didn’t want you to go fillin’ her head with unpleasant thoughts, Lance Petterby,” said Sue, with a vehemence that was rather startling coming from so placid and amiable a person. “I do believe you like to be scarin’ people.”
“Now, you ain’t got no call to talk thataway, little hon,” Lance complained gently. “I ain’t never scared you none, have I? Always been kind and gentle, ain’t I?”
“That all depends on what you call kind and gentle,” retorted young Mrs. Petterby, but the girls saw that her eyes were very soft as she looked at Lance.
Tavia’s young namesake chose that moment to let out a pathetic wail and Tavia reached out her arms impulsively.
“Do let me take her,” she begged. “You must be tired carrying her so far, and I really don’t believe she will hate me so much if she takes a longer look.”
The young woman surrendered her burden with obvious relief.