“Why, I’m going to Laramie, if——”
She cut her sentence short. It was not to be presumed that he cared where she was going. Moreover, she could not finish without telling more than she wanted to. But McCoy guessed the condition. She would go if she could borrow at Wagon Wheel the money for a ticket.
They drove into the county seat long before train time.
“Where shall I take you?” he asked.
“To Moody’s, if you will.”
He helped her from the car and carried the valise into the store. Moody was in the cubby-hole that had been cut off from the store for an office. Rowan hailed him cheerfully.
“Look here, Trent. What’s the best price you can give me for those hides?” He walked toward the storekeeper and bargained with him audibly, but he found time to slip in an undertone: “If Mrs. Tait wants any money, give it to her. I’ll be responsible. But don’t tell her I said so.”
Moody grinned dubiously. He was a little embarrassed and not a little curious. “All right, Mac. Whatever you say.”
As Rowan went out of the office Norma timidly entered. Moody was a tight, hard little man, and she did not expect him to let her have the money. If he refused she did not know what she would do.
McCoy strolled down to the station to inquire about the lower he had reserved in the Pullman.