He could catch the drone of many
voices. He made no reply.
"Is it time?" she repeated.
Still he would not venture a reply, however guarded. She called a
third time, and when he made no response he heard her voice break to
a moan of hopelessness. And yet he waited, waited, until the light in
the ranch house went out, and there was not a sound.
"Kate!" he said, gauging his voice carefully so that it could not
possibly travel to the ranch house, which all the while he carefully
scanned.
For answer the front door of the shanty squeaked.
"Back!" he called. "Go back!"
The door squeaked again.
"They're asleep in the ranch house," she said. "Aren't we safe?"
"S--sh!" he warned. "Talk low! They aren't all asleep. There's one in
the ranch house who'll never take his eyes off me till morning."
"What can we do?"
"Go out the back way. You won't be seen if you're careful. Haines has
his eyes on me, not you. Go for the stable. Saddle your horses. Then
lead them out and take the path on the other side of the house. Don't
mount them until you're far below the house. Go slow all the way.
Sounds travel far up this canyon."
"Aren't you coming with us?"
"No.
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