And now, as she dropped her
gaze, he saw her start as her eyes rested on the tangled ropes that
Lawler had torn from the two fence cutters when he had released them
after he had carried her into the cabin. The ropes were lying on the
floor where he had thrown them in his haste.
"Has--has anything happened?" she asked, looking swiftly at him,
blushing again.
"Plenty," he said; "you came."
"I--I mean--that is, has anything else happened?" she added. She seemed
to hold her breath, for his answer.
"I caught two fence cutters."
"Did they cut the fence?" She was rigid, tense.
Lawler nodded, and he saw her hands clench.
"But there wasn't any damage done. I caught them just after they cut it,
and I made them repair it before the cattle got through."
"And the two men?" she questioned, breathlessly.
"They're in the dugout--with the horses. They were in here, until you
came."
She leaned back, breathing fast. Her color was high, her eyes were
shining with satisfaction. And while Lawler watched her she laughed
quaveringly.
"Then I had that long, cold ride for nothing," she said.
Lawler looked straight at her. "You knew the fence was to be cut?"
Her color receded and she met his gaze unflinchingly, resolutely.
"Yes. I overheard Gary Warden telling two of the Two Diamond men--Link
and Givens--to cut it.
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