“You’ve placed it at my disposal at all times,” she said, smiling into his excited eyes.
The man rushed on.
“Yes, yes, I know; but why have you taken it now? You say you are going to Myrtle. You don’t need it. You could ride to Myrtle—in the ordinary way. You are welcome to the wagon at all times. To anything I have. But why are you taking it now? I only found out it had gone this morning. I—” he averted his gaze—“I only happened to go over to the corral this morning—and I found it—gone.”
Quick as a shot Kate’s answer was formulated and fired at him.
“Why did you go to the corral—this morning?”
The man’s reply was slow in coming. His cheeks flushed, and it looked as though he were seeking excuse.
“I had to go there. I—needed my wagon for to-morrow’s work.”
Kate smiled. She was feeling more confident.
“For hauling your hay? Won’t it wait? You see, I can’t carry a grip on the saddle.”
Great beads of sweat were standing on Charlie’s youthful face. He raised one nervous hand and brushed it across his forehead. He cleared his throat.