The officer's opaque gaze met the eyes of his friend. “We don't aim to let a prisoner make his getaway once we get our hands on him. Wyoming ain't so blamed far to travel after him—if I learn he is there.”
For a moment all of them were silent. Each of them was thinking of the fellow and the horrible trail of blood he had left behind him in one short week. Margaret looked at her lover and shuddered. She had not the least doubt that this man sitting opposite them would bring the criminal back to his punishment, but the sinister grotesque shadow of the convict seemed to fall between her and her happiness.
Larry caught her hand under the table and gave it a little pressure of reassurance. He spoke in a low voice. “This hasn't a thing to do with us, Peggy—not a thing. They were already both out of your life.”
“Yes, I know, but—”
“There aren't any buts.” He smiled warmly, and his smile took the other man into their confidence. “You've been having a nightmare. That's past. See the sunshine on those hills. It's bright mo'ning, girl. A new day for you and for me.”
Steve grinned. “This is awful sudden, Tennessee. You must a-been sawing wood right industrious on the hawssback ride and down in the tunnel. I expect there wasn't any sunshine down there, was there?”
“You go to grass, Steve.”
“No, Tennessee is ce'tainly no two-bit man. Lemme see. One—two—three—four days. That's surely going some,” the ranger soliloquized.
“Mr. Fraser,” the young woman reproved with a blush.
“Don't mind him, Peggy. He's merely jealous,” came back Larry.