‘And what kind of a girl is this nester’s daughter?’
‘She’s all right,’ said Lem slowly. ‘Square as a dollar.’
‘And no shrinkin’ vi’let,’ added Noah.
‘Is Peter Morgan a married man?’
‘No.’
‘What did Ben Leach and young Lane fight about?’
‘I dunno. I heard that Ben called him a damn nester. Mebby it was mostly liquor. But Ben had no right to follow him unless he was prepared to shoot. The 6X6 contend that Lane saw him comin’ and bushwhacked him. Can’t prove it. Ben got a bullet through his head. I dunno what Lane’s story would be, but he’s got a good chance to prove self-defense.’
‘Looks thataway,’ admitted Hashknife. ‘I reckon we better get us a room at the hotel, Sleepy.’
‘I’ll go along,’ declared Noah. ‘I know the jigger who runs the hotel and I’ll see that he gives yuh a good room. Some of ’em has got cracked pitchers in, yuh see.’
They secured the room and spent an hour or two looking over the little town, after which they drifted back to the sheriff’s office. Lem stretched out on a cot and snored audibly, while Noah talked Milk River with Hashknife.