"Hazel," said Riley, "I wanna borrow this shotgun for a few minutes. I found it leaning inside the door. Ben, I wish you'd come over here and take this water and whisky to the lady. I'm stuck here, sort of."
"You go ahead, Ben," said Billy. "Don't lemme detain you."
Ben went slowly. He plumped whisky and bucket on the ground beside Hazel and then began to sidle casually toward the house.
"You come right back," urged Riley, gesturing with the shotgun. "The best place for you is right beside Jonesy. He's gettin' lonesome for you already, ain't you, Jonesy?"
Jonesy spat upon the ground. Ben slouched back to his comrades. While this byplay had been going on, Tuckleton had been talking at Billy.
"Would you mind repeating all that?" said Billy, when Ben had rejoined the group at Rafe's back. "I didn't catch some of it."
Tuckleton glared, his little eyes hot with rage. "I said that man's a cow thief and we're gonna stretch him!"
"But you said that at first," pointed out Billy. "And I said 'no' then. I haven't changed my mind."
"Since when have you been dry-nursing rustlers?" snarled Rafe.
"I don't know he's a rustler."