Bowers was thinking.
To others he would never admit that she was anything but perfect, though
to himself he acknowledged the hardening process that was going on in
her. He saw the growth of the driving ambition which made her
indifferent to everything that did not tend to her personal interest.

Outside of himself and Teeters, Kate took no interest whatever in
individuals. There was no human note in her intercourse with those who
worked for her. She cared for results only, and showed it.

They resented her appraising eyes, her cold censure when they blundered,
her indifference to them as human beings, and they revenged themselves
in the many ways that lie in a herder's power if he cares to do so.

They gave away to the dry-farmers in the vicinity the supplies and
halves of mutton she furnished them. In the lambing season they left the
lambs whose mothers refused to own them to die when a little extra
effort would have saved them. When stragglers split off from the herd
they made no great attempt to recover them. They shot at coyotes and
wildcats when it was convenient, but did not go out of their way to hunt
them.

She was just but not generous. She never had spared herself, and she did
not spare her herders. "Hard as nails" was the verdict in general. In
her presence they were taciturn to sullenness; among themselves they
criticised her constantly, exaggerating her faults and taking delight in
recounting her failures. She was too familiar with every detail of the
business for her men to dare to neglect her interests too flagrantly,
but they had learned to a nicety how high their percentage of losses
might run without getting their "time" for it.

Bowers knew of this silent hostility, which was so unnecessary, but he
dared not speak of it. He could only deny that she had faults and resent
it with violence when the criticisms become too objectionable.

If Kate had known of the antagonism, it would have made no
difference--she would rather have taken the losses it entailed than to
conciliate. She would have argued that if she was harsh, imperious, it
was her privilege--she had earned it.

Life for Kate had resolved itself into an unromantic routine--like
extracting the last penny for her wool that was possible, shipping on
favorable markets, acquiring advantageous leases, discharging incapable
herders and hiring others, eliminating waste and unnecessary
expenditures, studying range conditions against hard winters.