“I understand they have hitherto always found me very entertaining,” he claimed boldly, his smiling eyes on her.
“Indeed!”
“But young ladies are peculiar. Sometimes we think we're entertaining them when we ain't.”
“I'm sure you are right.”
“And other times they're interested when they pretend they're not.”
“It must be comforting to your vanity to think that,” she said coldly. For his words had recalled similar ones spoken by him twenty-four hours earlier, which in turn had recalled his unpardonable sin.
The lieutenant of rangers appeared over the hill and descended into the draw. Miss Kinney went to meet him.
“He got away?” she asked.
“Yes, ma'am. I lost him in some of these hollows, or rather I never found him. I'm going to take my hawss and swing round in a circle.”
“What are you going to do with me?” she smiled.