“No, ma'am, you can't. All or none.” There was a gleam of humor in his hard eyes. “I reckon you better let me come and collect after you get back to Fort Lincoln.”
She took out a note-book and pencil. “If you will give me your name and address please.”
He smiled hardily at her. “I've clean forgotten them.”
There was a warning flash in her disdainful eye.
“Just as you like. My name is Margaret Kinney. I will leave the money for you at the First National Bank.”
She gathered up the rains deftly.
“One moment.” He laid a hand on the lines. “I reckon you think I owe you an apology for what happened when we first met.”
A flood of spreading color dyed her cheeks. “I don't think anything about it.”
“Oh, yes, you do,” he contradicted. “And you're going to think a heap more about it. You're going to lay awake nights going over it.”
Out of eyes like live coals she gave him one look. “Will you take your hands from these reins please?”