But she could not dismiss Dover from her thoughts. The red-haired boy who had so gallantly twice come to her aid, had become a stern, harsh-tongued man, lacking even the common courtesy accorded to her sex. Anger welled up as she recalled his threat.
'And he would do it,' she reflected. 'He--hates me--just because I am a Trenton.'
A more sophisticated woman would have solved the secret, divined that Dover's attitude was due to anything but hatred, and that in the blundering fashion of an inexperienced youth, he was trying to build up an impassable barrier between them, lest worse befall. Her mind failed to envisage the completeness of a malignity which could hand down a war from one generation to another.
Later, when she was striving, unsuccessfully, to arrange the blankets upon which she was to sleep, she heard the rancher say, 'Tiny, go an' help Miss Trenton,' and to Malachi ,'Hell! a woman who can't make a bed.'
The big cowboy came over, gave one glance at the tumbled coverings, shook the sand out of them, and started from the beginning. In five minutes an attractive couch was awaiting her. He threw more logs on the fire.
'Lie with yore feet to the flames an' you won't git cold.' He gazed curiously at the sick man. 'Any better?'
'There is no change,' she replied.
'Well, he shorely asked for it,' Tiny said. 'Shootin' at Dan thataway was a dirty trick.'
' `Like master, like man,' ' she quoted to herself, thanked him, and lay down. It proved to be very comfortable, and her last waking thought was that she must get one of the cowboys to teach her the knack. After all, a woman really ought to know how to make a bed.
Sudden, Malachi, and the rancher spoke together when supper was over.
'Phil has some news for us, Jim,' Dan began. 'He claims that Zeb was shot by one of his own outfit.'
'Likely enough,' the puncher said.
'More than that--certain,' Malachi pronounced. 'The bullet entered the back, travelled upwards, and through the chest; it must have been fired by someone behind and near.'
'Bundy was the first to reach him,' Sudden reminded. 'Also, he was too long lookin' for a wound in plain sight.'
'After the instructions for findin' the Cache, huh?' the rancher asked.
'There were no papers on Trenton,' Malachi remarked. 'I made sure of that when dressing his hurt. Unprofessional, I fear, but ...'
'Then Bundy may hold the key.'
'I guess not,' Sudden said. 'Trenton's no fool; that document would be a dangerous thing to carry about; he would learn and destroy it, as we did.'
'Yo're probably right, Jim,' Dan agreed, and to the doctor, 'Miss Trenton thinks one of us shot her uncle; don't put her wise. No need to tell the boys either--yet.'
In the morning Malachi came to inspect his patient. Dover was with him. Having satisfied himself that the dressings werein place, the doctor said, 'Well, he is no worse. Anything to report, nurse?'
'Once in the night he groaned, and I think, tried to move.'
'Shows there's a kick still in him. He's a tough old sinner is Zeb, and he'll fight.'
'Did you sleep well?' Dover asked the girl, and when she nodded, went on, 'I've told Hunch to get some birch.' The flash in her eyes advised him that she had misunderstood. 'Birch twigs make the best bed one could wish for,' he explained dryly.
'I see,' she said slowly. 'They have, I believe, other uses' Dan hit back. 'I told him to fetch in plenty.' As he stalked off, his reflection was, 'Damn the girl. Why can't I keep away from her?' The eternal call of youth to youth was the answer, had he but known it, but he blamed his weakness. 'Like a fool moth, flutterin' round a flame an' on'y gettin' singed,' was his angry conclusion.
Yorky, who had been on guard, arrived with a vent for his annoyance. 'Say, Boss, that Garstone guy is a piece down th' alley. I telled him to stay there till yer came.'
'Is he alone?'
'Couldn't see no others.'
'Ask Jim an' Tiny to be on hand,' Dover said, and went out.
The visitor had dismounted and was leaning against the tree to which he had tied his horse, smoking a cigarette, and with a small grip-sack at his feet. No greetings were exchanged.
'I've brought some things Miss Trenton may want,' he began. 'I wish to give them to her.'
'I'll take 'em,' Dan said, picking up the bag. 'What's inside o' this?'
Garstone looked indignant. 'I wouldn't presume--'
'Then I will,' Dan said coolly, and opened the grip. On the top lay a loaded revolver. 'That's somethin' she won't need--don't s'pose she ever pulled a trigger in her life. Wonder where she got it.'
'Provided by her uncle, I imagine.'
Dan laughed unpleasantly. 'Yeah. Zeb would know the company she had to ride with.' He slipped the weapon into his own belt. 'I'd give it to you, but I don't want to walk backwards to my camp.'
The obvious implication brought a venomous expression to the big man's face. 'Scared, eh?' he sneered.
'Scared nothin',' the rancher said harshly. 'I'm on'y rememberin' that Trenton was shot from behind.'
Garstone's start of surprise was quite well done. 'Impossible!' he cried.
'Doc Malachi knows his job.'
'And is on your side.'
'True, he ain't a skunk neither.'
'You keep adding to the score, Dover. Don't forget that there'll be a day of reckoning.'
'My memory's fine,' was the nonchalant answer. 'Wait here; I'll send the girl to you.'
Indifferently he turned his broad back and strode away. Garstone watched him with a brooding frown, fully aware that Sudden and Tiny, rifles across their left arms, were in sight. That they knew the manner of Trenton's hurt was disturbing. Had they informed his niece? But when she presently came to meet him, he did not ask. His first enquiry concerned the patient. She told him the little there was, adding that she believed the doctor was doing everything possible. Garstone saw his opportunity.
'Yes, having done their best to take his life, they are now desperately eager to save it,' he said bitterly. 'And we know why.'
'It would seem so,' she admitted.
Her reply was a great relief to him; evidently she had not been told. At the same time, he sensed a change in her; she did not appear to be so pleased to see him as he would have liked.
'Are these fellows treating you decently?'
'Yes, but I am virtually a prisoner.'
'It won't be for long,' he consoled. 'Once we get the location from your uncle, you will be released, and I will deal with these dogs as they deserve.'
She found herself wondering what form this promised retribution would take, and how it would conform to his views as to the use of violence in quarrels. Before she could come to any decision, he spoke again:
'We must be vigilant, my dear--everything depends on your being present when Zeb regains consciousness. I don't trust that tippling doctor; he is working for them.'
'I think he is honest,' she said. 'There are worse things than love of liquor--greed of gold, for example; the first may kill one man, the second, many.'
'I thought you were anxious to discover the treasure,' he protested.
'For my uncle's sake, but if it is to cost lives ...'
Garstone was a gambler; he played a desperate card, to win or lose all. 'If you've changed your mind, we'll give up the affair and sneak back to Rainbow with our tails tucked in,' he said. 'The Circle Dot will be delighted.'
The fire in the dark eyes told him he had won. 'No,' she replied, through clenched teeth. 'I will do my part; they shall not profit by an attempted murder.'
'That's the Trenton spirit--I knew you wouldn't back down,' he cried exultantly. 'And soon, when the old man is on his feet again, and the ranch in the clear, we'll--'
