“No one would,” replied Dawn.
“The Big 4 is tryin’ hard to get me,” declared Conley.
He seemed years older today, and he mounted his horse with difficulty.
“Why don’t you sell out, Dad?” asked Dawn.
It was the first time she had ever suggested such a thing, and he looked queerly at her.
“I won’t be hounded out,” he said firmly. “I’ll never sell to the Big 4, Dawn.”
“Sell to some one else. It will give us enough to take us away from here, and we can start in a new country.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I feel old today; didn’t sleep much last night. I kinda expected the sheriff out to get me, I guess. Don’t know why he don’t come. The Big 4 killed them steers, Dawn. They cut the fence and drove ’em down here. They want to railroad me out of the country.
“But I’m not goin’,” he said, after a pause. “I never done anythin’ wrong, and they can’t take me. I’ll shoot the first man that comes on my ranch.”
“The first man might be a friend,” said Dawn softly.