"Yes, but—What are you going to do, Steve?" she cried almost in a whisper.
"That's my business—and I'm going to attend to it. Keep your mind on the directions I've given. If it's Harrison that comes up over the hill, get right out with all the horses. Gimme your promise on that."
Trembling, she gave it to him.
"Don't you be afraid. No need of that. It won't be him. It'll be me that comes. But if it should be him, don't let him get close. Shoot him first. It will be to save you from worse than death. Have you got the nerve to do it?"
Something in his manner, in his voice, rang a bell in her heart. She nodded, her throat too dry for speech.
"All right. Go now. And don't make any mistake whatever you do. Follow out exactly what I've told you."
Again she promised. He handed to her the rifle. She rode away, taking the other horses with her.
When she was out of sight in a dip of the draw, Harrison spoke.
"Well, what is it to be? I see you got your gats yet. Going to shoot me down like a coyote?"
"That's what you deserve. That's what you'd get if the Lazy B boys got hold of you. But I'm going to kill you with my bare hands, you wolf."