At which he tried to kiss away her fears, but these were too deep-rooted for any such old-fashioned remedy as that to be of any avail.
"No, no, don't!" she protested, holding his head away by main force. "Not now. I'm not through yet. Listen. You'll fight the gang, I know you will."
He nodded a slow head. "I've got to. That's why I took the job of sheriff."
"I knew it," she said sadly. "But you can resign, can't you?"
"I could, but I won't."
"Not if I ask you to?"
"I can't. It would be lying down without a fight, and I've never done that yet. They'd say I was afraid of 'em."
"What does it matter what they say? You'll have me. We'll be together."
He put up a hand and stroked the tumbled waves of her black hair. "You wouldn't love me if I did a thing like that. You'd know I wasn't doing right."
She shook his face between her hands with gentle earnestness. "Yes, I would! I would! I know I would! Everything you do is just right! It would be right if you did it! Don't you see? What does anything matter so long as we have each other? Why do you have to risk your life? Oh, take me away, beloved, take me away and I'll marry you to-morrow!"