“I dunno what he wants it for. There’s just him and Lucy and Wanna. Big Medicine ain’t never been out of here since he came. Money don’t mean nothin’ to him. Once in a while we herds some cattle out to Caliente, sells ’em to a buyer, and Big Medicine shoves the money in his sock. Me and Musical and Cleve takes ’em out and brings back the money.”
“Kind of a funny way to live,” observed Sleepy. “His money don’t do him much good. That half-breed girl is kinda pretty.”
Ike ground his cigarette under his heel and got to his feet.
“She’s a real nice girl,” he said slowly, “and nobody ain’t allowed to think any other way around here, Stevens.”
“I didn’t say nothin’ wrong, did I?” asked Sleepy.
“No, yuh didn’t. I don’t think yuh had any idea of sayin’ anythin’ wrong, but I just wanted yuh to know how things lay.”
“Suits me,” smiled Sleepy. “Where I come from we ain’t in the habit of sayin’ anythin’ against any girl, Marsh.”
Ike considered it gravely and nodded.
“That’s a good country, Stevens. Let’s go up to the house.”