“Ef it was Rube, I’d have heard his feet. Ma ain’t wanderin’ around o’ nights. An’ I guess your auntie ain’t bustin’ fer a moonlight ramble. It didn’t need a heap o’ figgerin’.”
Rosebud had no answer ready. The argument was so simple.
A brief silence fell, while both looked out across the moonlit plains at the dark line of distant woods. There was a slight glow in the sky in two different directions. One was away over the Pine Ridge Reservation, the other was nearer at hand, but on the far side of the Rosebud Reservation. The girl saw these things and they held her silent. Her breathing came quickly. There was a sensation of excitement running through her body. She knew these lights were what Seth was staring at.
The man stirred at last.
“Guess you’d best git back to bed, Rosie,” he said. “I’m goin’ to saddle up my plug. I’m goin’ to ride some.”
“Where are you going?” The girl’s question came with a little nervous energy. 275
The man turned upon her gravely.
“I’m meetin’ Parker to-night,” he said briefly.
“What for?” The violet eyes held the other’s with their steady gaze. The pretty, irregular face was set and determined.
Seth moved. Then he turned away to glance at the lurid reflection in the sky. Presently his eyes came back to her face.