But I gave her my word. That's all there's to it."
Alice was aware that they had stopped and were facing each other
tensely.
"Go slow, York. I gave her my word, too. Do you think I'm
allowing to break it while you're away?"
"No, I don't. Look here, Phil. I'm not looking for trouble.
You're major-domo of this outfit What you say goes--except about
this girl. I'm a white man, if I'm a scoundrel."
"And I'm not?"
"I tell you I'm not sayin' that," the other answered doggedly.
"You're hinting it awful loud. I stand for it this time, York,
but never again. You butt in once more and you better reach for
your hardware simultaneous. Stick a pin in that."
They had moved on again, and she did not hear Neil's answer.
Nevertheless, she was comforted to know she had one friend among
these desperate outlaws, and that comfort gave her at least an
hour or two of broken, nappy sleep.
In the morning when she had dressed she found her room door
unlocked, and she stepped outside into the sunshine. York Neil
was sitting on the porch at work on a broken spur strap. Looking
up, he nodded a casual good morning.
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