“Maybe?”
“Yes.”
“You can’t have her.”
Jake turned, and looked down at her from his great height. Archie Orr had just ridden off.
Diane returned his look fearlessly, and there was something in the directness of her gaze that made the giant look away.
“I think I can,” she said quietly. “Go and see to it now.”
The man started. It seemed as if he were about to bluster. His bold, black eyes flashed ominously, and it was plain from his attitude that a flat and harsh refusal was on his lips. But somehow he didn’t say it. The brutality of his expression slowly changed as he looked at her. A gentle light stole slowly, and it seemed with difficulty, into his eyes, where it looked as out of place as the love-light in the eyes of a tiger. But there was no mistaking it. However incongruous it was there, and the lips that had been framing a cruel retort merely gave utterance to a quiet acquiescence.
“All right. I’ll send her round in five minutes.”
And Diane went into the house at once.
Meanwhile, a great discussion of young Orr’s affairs was going on at the bunkhouse. Arizona had vacated his favorite seat, and was now holding the floor. His pale face was flushed with a hectic glow of excitement. He was taxing his little stock of strength to the uttermost, and, at least, some of those looking on listening to him knew it.