“I dunno why I picked you up,” he told her. “I reckon it was because you’re a woman. Now yuh can see how I stand with Kendall Marsh. He’d have murdered me, if somethin’ hadn’t happened to ruin his scheme. I reckon it’s war now; and if yo’re wise, you’ll keep out of it. You’ve done me all the dirt yuh can, anyway; so yuh may as well let up.
“I reckon I hit it when I told Marsh that his money sent yuh out of town ahead of my trial, and it was his money that kept yuh away from here. I never thought about that. But you won’t be any good to Kendall Marsh from now on; and you better watch yore own skin. God knows, I’ve no cause to worry about you—you paid liar; but yo’re a woman. I’ll drop yuh just outside Medicine Tree and you can walk in. And you can tell Marsh what I said.”
The woman did not say a word, and Blaze wondered if she had been hurt when the horse flung her in the dust. Anyway, it was no concern of his, he decided. Two hundred yards away from the end of the main street, he let her slide to the ground, and without another word he rode swiftly down the main street of the town, and out the way that led to the Circle M.
Harry Kelton saw him ride through, and recognised him. But Harry wasn’t interested in Blaze—he wanted to find Jane. He was sure she had not started for home alone, but he mentally kicked himself for staying so long at the War Dance. He had searched all over the town for her, and was about to leave for the ranch, when he saw Blaze Nolan ride through.
He stood on the edge of the sidewalk for several moments, debating what to do, when he saw a woman coming down the sidewalk toward him. She was limping a little and walking slowly, and as she came into the lights from the store window, he saw it was Jane. She was dusty, and one sleeve was almost torn from her dress.
“For God’s sake, what happened to you and where have you been?” he demanded. “Jane, yo’re a mess! Look at yore clothes. And where’s yore horse. Talk, can’tcha?”
“Give me a chance,” she said weakly. “I don’t know where my horse is, but he’s probably still out at the Triangle X. He threw me off out there, and Blaze Nolan mistook me for another woman. He brought me back to town on his horse, without knowing the difference, Harry.”
“Blaze Nolan—the Triangle X? What do yuh mean, Jane? Are yuh crazy?”
“Maybe I am, a little.”
“But what on earth were you doin’ out there? I’ve hunted all over for you.”