“Ma’am,” says I, “I know I looks repulsive, but my heart is in the right place. I been in a awful fight, and when a man’s wounded he flies away to where his heart is.”
“Where is the sheriff?” she asks.
The question hurts, but I conceals my grief.
“Why worry about that sandhill crane?” I replies. “I reckon he’s forgot yuh already, ma’am. I quit him today, and I’m glad of it. I’m of age and fancy free, ma’am, I know I ain’t much to look at. I’m a regular old pelican, and I ain’t so pure as snow, but I’m getting better—thank yuh. When a woman comes into a man’s life it sure cleans house with him. The minute I sees your face I says to myself: ‘There she is, Ike. There’s the one woman——’”
We hears the rattle of a bronc’s hoofs and then—
“Whoa!”
I hops to the window and sees Magpie Simpkins, and then I ducks and yelps:
“Where can I hide? I don’t want to see him.”
“Under the bed,” she whispers. “Hurry!”
I skids under the bunk. The blanket hangs almost to the floor, and hides me fine. She opens the door and lets Magpie in.