If you just shot me
through the finger-nail or something like that, it would be worth it
still." He examined her critically. "Even if you plugged me square
through the thumb----"
"If you don't know it," she informed him aloofly, "you are trespassing
right now where you are not wanted. The sooner you trail your big feet
off Temple land the better I'll like it!"
"Temple land? Since when was a tree considered as land, Miss Teresa
Arriega Temple?"
"Think that's funny?" she scoffed.
"And besides," he continued, "the tree is on Packard property. See
that old pine stump over yonder? And that big rock there? Those
things mark the boundary-line and you'll notice we're on my side!"
Terry's temper flamed higher in her eyes, flashed hotter in her cheeks.
"We are not! And you know we are not! The line runs yonder, just
beyond that big white rock on the creek-bank. And you are a good ten
feet on my side. Where, if you please, you are not wanted."
"That isn't a pretty enough thought to bear repetition," he offered
genially. "Look here, Terry Temple, what's the use----"
"Are you going? Or do you intend just to squat there like a toad and
spoil the view for me?"
"Toads are fat animals," he corrected her. "I'm not. More like a
bullfrog, if you like. What am I going to do? Why, just squat, I
guess."
As he leaned back against the limb which offered its support to his
shoulders Terry noted that he wore in full sight at his side the heavy
Colt he had bought the other night in Red Creek.
Pages:
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179