“Who is it?” she asked. “Some one following us?”
He shook his head. A moment later the figure of a mounted man loomed through the brush. He was young, strong-built, and not ill-looking. “Howdy, Ban,” he said.
Banneker returned the greeting.
“Whee-ew!” shrilled the other, wiping his brow. “This sure does fetch the licker outen a man’s hide. Hell of a wet night at the Sick Coyote last night. Why wasn’t you over?”
“Busy,” replied Banneker.
Something in his tone made the other raise himself from his weary droop. He sighted Io.
“Howdy, ma’am,” he said. “Didn’t see there was ladies present.”
“Good-morning,” said Io.
“Visitin’ hereabouts?” inquired the man, eyeing her curiously.
“Yes.”