"Ain't nothin' comin' to yuh yet. Git aboard, go on to the ranch, an' tell my foreman, Doubleday, I sent yuh, an' that I won't be back yet awhile."
"I ain't so shore I want to work for yuh now."
"There ain't no two ways about it. You'll either give me yore word to go on to the ranch an' stay there till I come, or yuh'll stay right here. After I come back yuh can quit if yuh like."
"That's a harp with another tune entirely. I'll go yuh."
Loudon turned to his horse and swung into the saddle.
"Keep a-goin' along this trail," directed Mackenzie, his six-shooter still covering Loudon. "It's about eight mile to the ranch."
Loudon did not look back as he rode away.