Jane walked down to the general merchandise store and started to go in, when she met Blaze Nolan face to face. They both stopped short, looking at each other. Then Blaze stepped aside to allow her to enter the store, but she did not go in.
“So you really came back to Painted Valley, did you?” she said softly.
“Kinda foolish of me, Jane, wasn’t it? The last time I seen you, I wasn’t sure where I would go.”
“The last time?” She was looking closely in his face.
“Yeah; that last time. Wasn’t that the last time? I saw you in that street car, and I wondered if I’d ever see you again.”
“That wasn’t the last time, Blaze.”
“It wasn’t? I don’t remember any other time since.”
“The last time you saw me, you called me a paid liar and said I had done you all the dirt I could.”
Then she turned and walked into the store, leaving Blaze, his jaw sagging, looking after her. He leaned against the doorway, a perplexed expression in his eyes.
“Called her a paid liar,” he muttered. “Who’s crazy around here, anyway? Said she had done me⸺ My God!” His eyes snapped open wide and he stared into space. That was what he had told Della. And Della had come back with Butch Van Deen that night.