“No question about it. He brought no horse for you to ride away on. Bill admitted it, though he didn’t know what was planned. Curly heard Soapy ask Blackwell whether he had seen your body.”
The boy shuddered and drew a long sobbing, breath. “I’ve been a fool, Father—and worse.”
“Forget it, son. We’ll wipe the slate clean. I’ve been to blame too.”
It was no place for outsiders. Curly beat a retreat into the next room. The young women followed him. Both of them were frankly weeping. Arms twined about each other’s waists, they disappeared into an adjoining bedroom.
“Don’t go,” Kate called to him over her shoulder.
Curly sat down and waited. Presently Kate came back alone. Her shining eyes met his.
“I never was so happy in all my life before. Tell me what happened—everything please.”
As much as was good for her to know Curly told. Without saying a word she listened till he was through. Then she asked a question.
“Won’t Dutch tell about Sam being in it?”