“Be back soon, girl.”
Her eyes were on the corral, from which her father was driving the dogies. “What’s it to me?” she said with sullen resentment.
“More’n you think. I’ve took a fancy to you. When I come back I’ll talk business.”
The girl’s eyes did not turn toward him, but the color flooded the dark cheeks. “With Father maybe. Not with me. You’ve got no business to talk over with me.”
“Think so? Different here. Take a good look at me, June Tolliver.”
“What for?” Her glance traveled over him disdainfully to the hound puppy chasing its tail. She felt a strange excitement drumming in her veins. “I’ve seen folks a heap better worth lookin’ at.”
“Because I’m tellin’ you to.” His big hand caught her chin and swung it back. “Because I’m figurin’ on marryin’ you right soon.”
Her dark eyes blazed. They looked at him straight enough now. “Take yore hand off’n me. D’you hear?”
He laughed, slowly, delightedly. “You’re a spunky li’l’ devil. Suits me fine. Jake Houck never did like jog-trotters in harness.”
“Lemme go,” she ordered, and a small brown fist clenched.