“I reckon.”
She seemed to find a difficulty in beginning, even though the darkness helped her by making it impossible for him to see her embarrassment. Presently he chuckled softly. “No, ma’am, I can’t even hear you. If you’re talking, I’ll have to come closer.”
“If you do, I’ll get up. I want you to be really earnest.”
“I never was more earnest in my life, Curly.”
“Please, Bucky? It isn’t easy to say it, and you mustn’t make it harder.”
“Do you have to say it, pardner?” he asked, more seriously.
“Yes, I have to say it.” And swiftly she blurted it out. “Why do you suppose I came with you to Mexico?”
“I don’t know.” He grappled with her suggestion for a moment. “I suppose—you said it was because you were afraid of Hardman.”
“Well, I wasn’t. At least, I wasn’t afraid that much. I knew that I would have been quite safe next time with the Mackenzies at the ranch.”
“Then why was it?”