“He’ll be sorry you were caught.”
“Yes. He’ll have to climb the hill and reset it.”
That something was wrong between them Curly could see. Soapy was very polite in spite of his bitterness, but his hard eyes watched her as a cat does a mouse. Moreover, the girl was afraid of him. He could tell that by the timid startled way she had of answering. Now why need she fear the man? It would be as much as his life was worth to lift a hand to hurt her.
After the doctor had come and had attended to the crushed wrist Curly stepped out to the porch to find Laura. She was watering her roses and he went across the yard to her.
“I’m right sorry for what I said, Miss Laura. Once in a while a fellow makes a mistake. If he’s as big a chump as I am it’s liable to happen a little oftener. But I’m not really one of those smart guys.”
Out came her gloved hand in the firmest of grips.
“I know that now. You didn’t think. And I made a mistake. I thought you were taking advantage because I had been friendly. I’m glad you spoke about it. We’ll forget it.”
“Then maybe we’ll be friends after all, but I sha’n’t tell you what my friends call me,” he answered gaily.
She laughed out in a sudden bubbling of mirth. “Take care.”
“Oh, I will. I won’t even spell it.”