Len laughed and shook his head.
“Baggs is worth more to me alive than dead, Breezy. Well, I reckon I’ll be travellin’ along. Be good, old-timer.”
“Same to you, Len.”
He watched Len mount his bay horse and ride out of town.
“Worth more alive than dead,” repeated Breezy to himself. “Now, what did he mean by that, do yuh suppose? Oh, well, he’s deep, Len is. If I was in his place, I’d never stop to consider the worth of anybody. But I shore pity Baggs if Len ever thinks his usefulness is over.”
CHAPTER VII: A WARNING
Nan’s first week at the Box S was so interesting that she forgot to be lonesome. Len found a gentle horse for her to ride, and bought her a pair of overalls, shirt and wide hat at Lobo Wells.
Side-saddles were unknown in that country. She suffered in silence, and by the end of the week most of the soreness had subsided, giving her a chance to enjoy riding. Either Len or Sailor rode with her, and sometimes they both took her along. Sailor didn’t like it. He was woman-shy, and didn’t care who knew it.
Whisperin’ stayed at the ranch, doing the cooking and chuckling at Sailor’s discomfiture. Their arguments lasted far into the night, neither of them conceding a point.
It was Friday morning when Amos Baggs rode out again. Nan was alone in the house, but the men were down at the corral. Baggs sat down and inquired as to her health and the state of affairs at the ranch. He said he was sorry not to have been out sooner, but business had kept him in town.