“No, I’ll stay here.”
“Then I’ll stay with yuh.”
“And get hung for being here?”
“Mebbe. I’d sure hate myself all the rest of my life if I left yuh here alone and anythin’ happened to yuh.”
“Why would you care?”
“I’m half white.”
“And you’d do this, even after I forced you to lead me here with a rope around your neck.”
“That wasn’t anythin’. You didn’t pull it tight,” he smiled at her and went to the front door.
“We’ve got to kinda make this place bull-tight,” he said. “Yore name’s June, ain’t it? I heard it was. I’ll call yuh June. It’s easier to say than ma’am. My name’s Jack. Prob’ly be mud before mornin’.”
“Mr. Reber will come looking for me,” said June.