He helped her with the watering. Presently she spoke, with a quick look toward the house.

“There’s something I want to say.”

“Yes.”

“Something I want you to do for me.”

“I expect maybe I’ll do it.”

She said nothing more for a minute, then the thing that was troubling her burst from the lips of the girl as a flame leaps out of a pent fire.

“It’s about that boy he has up there.” She gave a hopeless little gesture toward the hills.

“Sam Cullison?”

“Yes.”

“What about him?”