‘Yea-a-ah, it has.’
Nan came to the door and saw Dave Morgan. He smiled at her and lifted his hat.
‘How do yuh do, Miss Lane?’
Nan nodded coldly.
‘Aw, let’s be friends,’ he laughed. ‘I don’t blame yuh for the way yuh feel. No? Well, I’m sorry. Where’s Hartley and his pardner?’
‘Oh, they went to Cañonville to-day,’ said Rex quickly. ‘We found the horse and saddle which belonged to Ben Leach last night, and I think Mr. Hartley wished to talk to the sheriff about it.’
‘Thasso? Where did yuh find it?’
Rex pointed vaguely toward the hills. ‘Out there. It had a broken shoulder, and the coyotes had eaten it nearly all up.’
‘Yea-a-ah?’ Dave rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘Well, that’s funny.’
He turned to Nan. ‘Mebby yore brother didn’t take Ben’s horse, after all. That’ll be good evidence in his favor.’