“I’ve never stolen a cow from Park Reber.”
“That doesn’t check up with what I’ve heard, Mr. Silver.”
“Probably not, ma’am, but it doesn’t matter. I’ve eaten Diamond R beef. He killed off my cattle, didn’t he? When I needed a piece of beef real bad, I took it. Reber hates me. He says he hates me because I steal his cattle, but he’s a liar.”
“Is it because he wants all the valley?”
“No, it’s because I’ve got Cheyenne blood in me. You’ve heard his story?”
“About the Indians killing his wife?”
“Stealin’ her, ma’am. Nobody knows how she died—if she did die.”
“I’m sorry,” said June simply.
“About my blood?” Silver smiled bitterly. “I can’t help it.”
He got to his feet and walked to a window and he looked out. Finally he came back and sat down.