"Good enough. Put her there, son. This shack's yore home till hell
freezes over, Steve."

"You haven't any doubts about me, Alec. If you have, better say so
now."

"Doubts? I reckon not. Don't I know a man when I see one? I'm plumb
surprised at Arlie." He strode to the door, and called to Bobbie:
"Roll along home, son. Yore passenger is going to stay a spell with
me."

"Of course, I understand what this means, Alec. Jed and his crowd
aren't going to be any too well pleased when they learn you have taken
me in. They may make you trouble," the ranger said.

The big cow man laughed. "Oh, cut it out, Steve. Jed don't have to O.
K. my guest list. Not on yore life. I'm about ready for a ruction with
that young man, anyway. He's too blamed bossy. I ain't wearing his
brand. Fact is, I been having notions this valley has been suffering
from too much Briscoe. Others are sharing that opinion with me. Ask
Dick France. Ask Arlie, for that matter."

"I'm afraid I'm off that young lady's list of friends."

"Sho! She'll come round. She's some hot-haided. It always was her way
to get mad first, and find out why afterward. But don't make any
mistake about her, Steve. She's the salt of the earth, Arlie Dillon
is. She figured it out you wasn't playing it quite on the square with
her. Onct she's milled it around a spell, she'll see things different.
I've knowed her since she was knee-high, and I tell you she's a game