He laughed softly, in the quiet, indolent fashion that would have been pleasant if it had not been at her. “It’s right kind of you to take so much interest in me. I’d most be willing to oblige by letting your boys rope me to renew this acquaintance, ma’am.” Then, “I get out here Miss Messiter,” he added.
She stopped on the instant. Plainly she could not get rid of him too soon. “Haven’t you forgot one thing?” she asked, ironically.
“Yes, ma’am. To thank you proper for what y’u did for me.” He limped gingerly down from the car and stood with his hand on one of the tires. “I have been trying to think how to say it right; but I guess I’ll have to give it up. All is that if I ever get a chance to even the score—”
She waved his thanks aside impatiently “I didn’t mean that. You have forgotten to take my purse.”
His gravity was broken on the instant, and his laughter was certainly delightfully fresh. “I clean forgot, but I expect I’ll drop over to the ranch for it some day.”
“We’ll try to make to make you welcome, Mr. Bannister.”
“Don’t put yourself out at all. I’ll take pot-luck when I come.”
“How many of you may we expect?” she asked, defiantly.
“Oh, I allow to come alone.”
“You’ll very likely forget.”