Toward the end of this drawling speech, so agreeable in Nevada’s cool easy tone, Ina speedily recovered her equanimity, and found herself excited over the purport of the rider’s presence.

“Come, let’s sit in the shade,” she said, cordially. “I’d like to lead your horse. Oh, isn’t he wonderful? A sorrel. Of course he was wild once. I see that in his eye. Yet he knows I won’t hurt him.”

“Lady, wait till you see California Red,” replied Nevada. “Talk aboot a grand hoss. An’ he’s goin’ to be yours before this year’s out.”

“Oh, has Ben been attracted by that extravagant offer of my father’s?” inquired Ina.

“Reckon he was first off. But now he swears when we ketch Red that nobody could buy him, an’ he’s goin’ to give him to you.”

“That’s not good business for a poor wild–horse hunter,” said Ina, shaking her head. “You tell Ben to hold dad to that offer.”

Presently Ina found herself sitting in the shade with this friend of Ben’s, strangely reveling in the fact, and wholly at ease. She could look at him now without thinking of herself and her secret. He was indeed good to look at. She had never seen a face like his, long and lean, with clear brown skin, beardless and smooth, with a few strange hard lines that vanished when he smiled. His eyes were wonderful in their piercing blackness. Ina feared their penetrating power, yet felt secure under their gaze. She liked him. She trusted him. She felt something sweet and protective that must have been his loyalty to Ben and his pride in Ben’s friend.

His lean head, with the ebony hair brushed back carelessly and curling at his collar, had some resemblance to that of an eagle. His garments, both cloth and leather, showed long service and somehow fitted him the better for that. He wore rough chaps, of a style Ina had not noticed among the cowboys on the ranch. From a pocket on the right leg, low down, protruded the handle of a deadly–looking gun. He had small feet, well booted, and wore enormous spurs.

“I cain’t take Ben any messages without givin’ myself away,” he was saying.

“Nevada, surely you didn’t come out of curiosity to see me?” she asked, suddenly recalling the strange fact of his visit.

“No, I shore didn’t. But I was awful curious to see you, just the same.”

“Perhaps you wanted news of Hettie?” she ventured, shyly.

Then it was Nevada’s turn to blush. It became him. It betrayed him, robbed him of that singularly cool and careless assurance.

“Shore I wanted it, but I swear I didn’t come purpose for that,” he asserted.

“Well, I’m glad I won’t disappoint you,” said Ina, gayly. “I saw Hettie two weeks ago yesterday. We had a long talk. She was well and happy. So glad her mother’s improving. She spoke of you. She likes you, believes you are Ben’s loyal friend. That you’re both honest and will give the lie to this vile gossip. Oh, you’d grow vain if I told you all.”