“That isn’t what you told me that day at Wagon Wheel,” she said quietly.
“All right. I’ve changed my mind. Let it go at that.”
“Kate is still waiting for Jack Cole. She won’t look at any other man.”
“Makes no difference to me if she waits till Kingdom Come.”
“That’s three women who are unhappy, and Jack’s mother is another, and I’m the fifth. Five women and two children you could make glad by confessing that you started the shooting and killed Mr. Gilroy. Not many men have an opportunity like that. We would bless you in our prayers, Mr. Falkner.”
“Keep right on soft-soapin’ me. See where it gets you,” he taunted.
She ignored his retort.
“We’d do more for you than that. We’d all work for your pardon, too. We’d show how Joe Tait had beaten you up when you hadn’t a chance and how quarrelsome he was. Pretty soon we’d get you out, too.”
“The hell you would! Don’t I know? I’d stand the gaff for all of ’em. Ain’t I doing it now? Rowan’s out somewheres bossin’ a road gang. Rogers is in the warden’s office. Sam Yerby putters around the garden. An’ me—I live in that damned dark hole alone. They’re warden’s little pets. I’m the one that gets the whip. By God, if I ever get a chance at one of these slave-drivers——”
He broke off, to grind his teeth in a fury of impotent rage.