Each of them knew already that
they were going to be great friends. They had exchanged the
histories of their lives, lying awake girl fashion to talk into
the small hours, each omitting certain passages, however, that
had to do with two men who were at that moment approaching nearer
every minute to them.
Bucky O'Connor and Sheriff Collins were returning to the Rocking
Chair Ranch from Epitaph, where they had just been to deposit
twenty-seven thousand dollars and a prisoner by the name of
Chaves. Just at the point where the road climbed from the plains
and reached the summit of the first stiff hill the two parties
met and passed. The ranger and the sheriff reined in
simultaneously. Yet a moment and all four of them were talking at
once.
They turned toward the ranch, Bucky and Frances leading the way.
Alice, riding beside her lover in the darkness, found the
defenses upon which she had relied begin to fail her.
Nevertheless, she summoned them to her support and met him full
armed with the evasions and complexities of her sex.
"This is a surprise, Mr. Collins," he was informed in her best
society voice.
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