“He is not,” declared Jimmy. “He’s mad. He thinks they’re all pickin’ on him. He hates Dad. He gave me orders to keep away. His son is in jail charged with murder and he thinks everybody is against him. And,” sighed Jimmy, “he may be right about it, at that.”
Roaring got heavily to his feet, yanked his Stetson down over his ears and went scuffling toward the door. Wind River Jim choked on his coffee and wiped the tears out of his eyes.
“He’s a great sheriff, that feller,” said Wind River.
Roaring found Dawn waiting for him in front of the office. She looked searchingly at him and he grinned rather foolishly.
“You know what happened, don’t you?” she asked.
“Y-yes, Jimmy told me. I dunno.” Roaring shoved his hat on the back of his head and rubbed his chin with the palm of his right hand. “I dunno what to do,” he said.
“I don’t either,” she said. “Dad’s stubborn. It will mean a killing, I’m afraid. But it was wrong for Slim Regan and Mr. Moran to come. Slim knew how Dad feels. Oh, it was lucky that only the horse was killed.”
“Lot of luck depends on your aim, when you shoot as well as your dad does, Dawn. Did he shoot more ’n once?”
“No, just once.”
“Makes it look better,” said Roaring, “but what can I do?”