Bemmelman lowered his head like a bull. "I haven't the men to spare to guard you, even if I could trust them. I was too good a friend of your father's, Mia, to leave you here with those three murderers roaming in the neighborhood. You're coming with me."
Cosmo, observing quietly, frowned to himself. What was the planter trying to pull?
"I'm not," said Mia indignantly. "Really this is preposterous. It's...."
Bemmelman glared at her, seized her arm. "Girl, don't be a fool. If those runaways show up here, they'd chop you to pieces. Come along." Unceremoniously, he began to drag her toward his plane.
"Cosmo!" Mia's gray eyes snapped open like saucers.
Cosmo's hand fell on Bemmelman's shoulder, spun him around.
"You heard Miss MacIver." Two rouge-like spots sprang out on Cosmo's high cheek bones. His green eyes were opaque.
"Get your dirty paws off me!" Bemmelman roared in surprise. He almost choked with rage. "By Jupiter! I'll teach you a lesson you won't soon forget! Yes sir!"
With a growl, the red-faced planter lashed out with his fist. The blow struck Cosmo on his right cheek bone, snapped back his head.
"You shouldn't have done that," said Cosmo. He turned loose Bemmelman's shoulder.