Pagina 18 di 439

"Give me my purse," the girl said to the convict after they were

seated.

She emptied it and handed the roll of bills it contained to the

owner of the team. He looked at it and at her, then shook his

head.

"You'll need it likely. I reckon I can trust you. Schoolmarms are

mostly reliable."

"I had rather pay now," she answered tartly.

"What's the rush?"

"I prefer to settle with you now."

"All right, but I'm in no sweat for my money. My team and the

wagon are worth two hundred and fifty dollars. Put this plug at

forty and it would be high." He jerked his head toward the brush

where the other saddle-horse was. "That leaves me a balance of

about two hundred and ten. Is that fair?"

She bit her lip in vexation. "I expect so, but I haven't that

much with me. Can't I pay this seventy on account?"

"No, ma'am, you can't. All or none." There was a gleam of humor

in his hard eyes. "I reckon you better let me come and collect

after you get back to Fort Lincoln."