"I ain't even creased. Now you go in the house an' stay. Here come Jimmie an' Rainey. We'll take care o' what's out here."
Obediently Kate went into the house.
Half an hour later, in the living room, Loudon found her. She rose from her chair at his entrance and faced him in silence. The cold, defiant expression had vanished from her face. In its stead was the look of a frightened child. Loudon halted within a yard of her.
"Kate," said he, "yuh can say what yuh like about yore reasons for goin' to Judge Allison an' takin' that night ride to the Cross-in-a-box, an' I've got to believe yuh. But if yuh don't love me why did yuh jump in front o' me when O'Leary fired?"
"I thought he was going to shoot you," she replied, forcing herself to meet his eyes. "I—I didn't know I was the one till I heard him say so."
"Yuh thought he was goin' to drop me, an' yuh jumped in front o' me; why?"
Kate's face was upturned. Her lips parted. Her body swayed toward him.
"Take me!" she cried. "Oh, take me!"
*****
"Why did yuh say what yuh did about wantin' to make me suffer when yuh loved me all the time?"