Both June and McLeese flushed, but for different reasons.
The rest of the men eyed June closely. Perhaps they thought Reber was getting old and that this pretty girl was in a position to get a hand into the Reber fortune. It was an embarrassing position for the girl. McLeese laughed, and they saw Reber’s lips tighten. Carlin kicked at McLeese’s ankle beneath the table, but only succeeded in kicking a leg of the table.
“We’re not gettin’ anywhere,” said Reber coldly.
“No, and we’ll not get anywhere as long as you’ll let Jack Silver and Buck Priest do as they please,” growled Carlin. “Let’s clean ’em out, I say.”
“On what evidence, Carlin?”
“General principles. Buck tried to kill you. He’ll try it again. Silver is a half-breed thief. Just pass the word and we’ll rid the valley of the whole brood.”
“Meanin’,” said Reber slowly, “that Silver is too smart for you to catch red-handed, eh?”
“If yuh want to put it that way—yes.”
“You think he bunches up cattle and takes ’em through the Trapper Creek pass and sells ’em in Clear Valley?”
“Cinch. We can’t get any evidence in Clear Valley. We’ve tried it often enough.”