He had championed the cause of the son of his father’s ancient enemy, and he wondered what his father would say if he knew about it. He realized that he had put himself in bad with English Ed and his gang, which meant that he would be none too safe in Turquoise City.
He forded the river that ran near the Hot Creek ranch and traveled along Moses Conley’s barbed-wire fence. About half-way along this side of the fence the road forked, turning to the left to Jimmy’s ranch. Only a short distance beyond the forks was Conley’s gate, where cottonwoods lined the road and grew along the fence.
As Jimmy turned into his road, he caught the flash of a white dress in the moonlight near the gate. He turned his horse back to the main road, and went slowly up to the gate. The wearer of the white dress was Dawn Conley. She was holding the reins of her horse and had swung the gate partly open.
“Well, bless my soul!” exclaimed Jimmy. “Dawn!”
“Hello, Jimmy,” said the girl simply.
Jimmy dismounted and dropped his reins, knowing that the chunky bay would stand as long as the reins hung down. Jimmy went close to her, his hat in his hand.
“I was waiting for Dad,” she said. “I—I thought it was him. He went over to the 7AL this afternoon.”
The 7AL was located about five miles east of Turquoise City.
“I see,” said Jimmy. “You—you don’t think anythin’ has happened to him, do you, Dawn?”
“Oh, no; but I—I—”