"I'll have Bat take you to Snake Creek crossing an' you can
wait there 'til I come along with the pilgrim. Then we'll cut through
the mountains an' hit down through the bad lands an'----"
"No you don't, Tex Benton!" Jennie was facing him again. "You're a
smooth one all right. How long would it take you to lose the pilgrim
there in the bad lands, even if you don't lynch him, which it ain't no
cinch you ain't a-goin' to--then where would _she_ be? No, sir, you
don't pull nothin' like that off on me!"
"But I want to go!" cried Alice. "I want to be near him, and I'm not
afraid."
The girl regarded her for a moment in silence. "I should think you'd
had enough of cowpunchers for one night. But if you're bound to go I
ain't got no right to hold you. I'd go along with you if I could, but
I can't."
"I'm not afraid," she answered as her eyes sought the Texan's. "I've
learned a lot in the past few hours."
"I guess you ain't learnt enough to hurt you none," retorted Jennie,
with a trace of acid in her tone. "An' you'll learn a lot more 'fore
you hit the N. P., or my name ain't Jennie Dodds. If you're bound to
go you can take my outfit. I guess Tex'll see that my horse comes
back, anyhow."
The cowpuncher grinned: "Thanks, Jennie, I'm right proud to know you
think I wouldn't steal your horse.
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