The girl leaned against the cold wall and covered her face with her arm. She was sobbing hysterically.
The outlaw seized her by the shoulders and swung her round. “Cut that out, girl,” he ordered roughly.
Melissy caught at her sobs and tried to check them.
“He got what was coming to him, what he’s been playing for a long time. I warned him, but the fool wouldn’t see it.”
“How did you know?” she asked, getting out her question a word at a time. 274
“Knew it all the time. Rosario brought his note to me. I told her to take it to you and keep her mouth shut.”
“You planned his death.”
“If you like to put it that way. Now we’ll go home and forget this foolishness. Jeff, bring the horses round to the mouth of the gulch.”
Melissy felt suddenly very, very tired and old. Her feet dragged like those of an Indian squaw following her master. It was as though heavy irons weighted her ankles.
MacQueen helped her to one of the horses Jackson brought to the lip of the gulch. Weariness rode on her shoulders all the way back. The soul of her was crushed beneath the misfortunes that oppressed her.