Hagen turned and went down the steps to his horse, flexing his tired arms as he went. Jake Blue swallowed his pride, along with a lump in his throat, and followed him down the steps.
“This ain’t the last of it, y’betcha,” he called back to the open doorway. “There’s more’n one count agin’ you now.”
Skelton stepped out on the porch and pointed to where the road wound around the point of a hill.
“Speakin’ of counts, Jake; there’s just twenty goin’ to be said by me. If you ain’t around that corner——”
Twenty counts is a short time; but Jake Blue and Blondy Hagen beat it by four. It was an ignominious retreat, especially for Jake Blue, who had a reputation to sustain, but he was wise enough to go while the going was good.
Skelton turned to go into the door, but stopped and stared at the man who was standing at the corner of the house.
“Lonesome Lee!” he grunted. “Whatcha doin’ there?”
“Waitin’ for Jake Blue and Hagen to pull out,” replied Lonesome, and came up to Skelton.
“How’d you come, Lonesome?”
“Walked. I side-tracked for Jake and Blondy.”