I reckon I'd like it a heap better if she didn't monkey with
none of them fool things. What business has a girl got to----" He
suddenly laughed aloud. "Why I reckon I'm pretty near loco," he said,
"to be ravin' about a girl like this. She ain't nothin' to me; she
just done what any other girl would do if a man come to her place bit
by a rattler."

He spurred his pony forward at a sharp lope. And now he found that his
thoughts would go back to the moment of his departure from the cabin
that morning. She had accompanied him to the door, after bandaging the
ankle. Her brother had gone away an hour before.

"I'm thankin' you, ma'am," Ferguson said as he stood for a moment at
the door. "I reckon I'd have had a bad time if it hadn't been for you."

"It was nothing," she returned.

He had hesitated--he still felt the thrill of doubt that had assailed
him before he had taken the step that he knew was impertinent. "I'll
be ridin' over here again, some day, if you don't mind," he said.

Her face reddened a trifle. "I'm sure brother would like to have you,"
she replied.

"I don't remember to have said that I was comin' over to see your
brother," was his reply.

"But it would have to be he," she said, looking straight at him. "You
couldn't come to see me unless I asked you."

And now he had spoken a certain word that had been troubling him. "Do
you reckon that Two Diamond range boss comes over to see your brother?"

She frowned. "Of course!" she replied. "He is my brother's friend.
But I--I despise him!"

Ferguson grinned broadly. "Well, now," he said, unable to keep his
pleasure over her evident dislike of the Two Diamond man from showing
in his eyes and voice, "that's cert'nly too bad. An' to think he's
wastin' his time--ridin' over here."

She gazed at him with steady, unwavering eyes. He could still remember
the challenge in them. "Be careful that you don't waste your time!"
was her answer.

"I reckon I won't," was his reply, as he climbed into the saddle. "But
I won't be comin' over here to see your brother!"

"Oh, dear!" she said, "I call that very brazen!"

But when he had spurred his pony down through the crossing of the river
he had turned to glance back at her. And he had seen a smile on her
face. As he rode now he went over this conversation many times, much
pleased with his own boldness; more pleased because she had not seemed
angry with him.

It was late in the morning when he ca