"This is as good a place as any," said Billy briefly. "We'll stop here."
They dismounted Slike and stripped and hobbled the horses. Slike had not enjoyed the long night ride. He was disposed to be peevish. "I want a smoke," he demanded.
Billy ceased pounding coffee and fixed him with a hard eye. "You won't get it," he said shortly.
"Helluva way to treat a prisoner," snarled Slike. "You done better by me when I was in jail."
"Lots of things have happened since. But don't you fret. I'll give you what you deserve in about five minutes. I missed out on it yesterday, but I'll try to see you don't lose anything by the delay."
"Huh?" puzzled Slike.
"You remember going to Miss Walton's ranch," elaborated Billy in a cold, monotonous tone. "You beat her."
"Hell, nothin' to that. I only pulled her hair a few times and slammed her once or twice."
"You kicked her, too."
"Not hard, though. Besides, I had to. She was stubborn. My Gawd, you wouldn't begin to believe how stubborn that girl was!"