"Mañana! That's what they all say. Is this Mexico or God's country? What I want, I want now."
"You always did—an' you 'most always got it too," said Ellison, his eyes twinkling reminiscently.
'Mona shook a warning finger at her father. "Well, he won't get it now. He'll behave, too, or he'll not get his pipe to-night."
The sick man grinned. "See how she bullies a poor old man, Jim. I'm worse than that Lear fellow in the play—most henpecked father you ever did see."
"He may talk to you, Uncle Jim."
"What did I tell you?" demanded the big cattleman from the bed with the mock bitterness that was a part of the fun they both enjoyed. "You see, I got to get her permission. I'm a slave."
"That's what a nurse is for, Clint. You want to be glad you got the sweetest one in Texas." The Captain patted Ramona affectionately on the shoulder before he passed to the business of the day. "I want to know about all these ructions in Tascosa. Tell me the whole story."
They told him. He listened in silence till they had finished, asked a question or two, and made one comment.
"That boy Roberts of mine is sure some go-getter."