But Helen Messiter whirled her pony as on a half-dollar, and
charged down on the stable.

"Who fired that shot?" she demanded, her eyes blazing.

The horse-wrangler showed embarrassment. He had found time only
to lean the rifle against the wall.

"I reckon I did, ma'am. Y'u see--"

"Did you get my orders about this feud?" she interrupted crisply.

"Yes, ma'am, but--"

"Then you may call for your time. When I give my men orders I
expect them to obey."

"I wouldn't 'a' shot if I'd knowed y'u was so near him. Y'u was
behind that summer kitchen," he explained lamely.

"You only expect to obey orders when I'm in sight. Is that it?"
she asked hotly, and without waiting for an answer delivered her
ultimatum. "Well, I won't have it. I run this ranch as long as I
am its owner. Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am. I hadn't ought to have did it, but when I seen
Bannister it come over me I owed him a pill for the one he sent
me last week down in the coulee. So I up and grabbed the rifle
and let him have it."