"No," agreed Bud, smiling quietly. "He was crazy to see you, but he rode right by, looking at the windows and such."
"The first time I met him," mused Gracia, "I asked about you. Did he ever tell you?"
Bud hung his head and grinned sheepishly. It was not difficult to make out a case against him.
"Is it something I have done?" she asked at last. "Is that why you never liked me? Now, Mr. Hooker, please speak to me! And why do you always sit so far away--are you afraid of me? But look"--she moved closer to him--"here we are alone, and I am not afraid of you!"
"Of course not," answered Bud, looking across at her boldly. "Why should you be--you ain't afraid of nothing!"
"Is that a compliment?" she demanded eagerly. "Oh, then I'm so happy--it's the first you ever paid me! But _have_ I been brave," she beamed, "so far? Have I been brave, like a man?"
"Sure have!" remarked Hooker impersonally, "but we ain't there yet. Only thing I don't like about you is you don't eat enough. Say, don't pick up them crumbs--let me pare off some more of this jerked beef for you. Can't nobody be brave when they're hungry, you know, and I want to bring you in safe."
"Why?" she inquired, as she accepted the handful of meat. "Is it on Phil's account?" she ventured, as he sat gazing stoically at the horses. "You were such friends, weren't you?" she went on innocently. "Oh, that is why I admire the Americans so much--they are so true to each other!"
"Yes," observed Hooker, rolling his eyes on her, "we're fine that way!"
"Well, I mean it!" she insisted, as she read the irony in his glance.
"Sure! So do I!" answered Hooker, and Gracia continued her meal in silence.
"My!" she said at last; "this meat is good! Tell me, how did you happen to have it on your saddle? We left so suddenly, you know!"
She gazed up at him demurely, curious to see how he would evade this evidence that he had prepared in advance for their ride. But once more, as he had always done, Hooker eluded the cunningly laid snare.
"I was figuring on pulling out myself," he replied ingenuously.
"What? And not take me?" she cried. "Oh, I thought--but dear me, what is the use?"
"I am so tired!" she murmured despondently. "Shall we be going on soon?"
"Not unless somebody jumps us," returned Bud. "Here, let me make you a bed in the shade. There now"--as he spread out the saddle-blankets temptingly--"you lay down and get some sleep and I'll kinder keep a watch."