Pagina 241 di 439

Beneath the dust of travel the young man's face burned with

anger. "We're not discussing that just now. What I say is that

you had no right to bring him here--not now, especially. You know

why," he added, almost in a whisper.

"If you had waited and not attempted to brow-beat me, I would

have shown you that that is the very reason I had to bring him."

"How do you mean?"

"Never mind what I mean. You have insulted my friend, and through

him, me. That is enough for one day." She turned from him

haughtily and spoke to the Texan. "If you are ready, Mr. Fraser,

we'll be going now."

The ranger, whose fingers had been itching to get at the throat

of this insolent young man, turned without a word and obediently

brought the girl's pony, then helped her to mount. Briscoe

glared, in a silent tempest of passion.

"I think I have left a glove and my anemones where we were

sitting," the girl said sweetly to the Texan.