"There's water here now," he explained, as they followed the steep creek bank, "but that don't last. It's mighty low right this mornin'. The creek sinks when it don't rain an' its been comin' up in just one spot for years. That's what makes a nester dangerous for you." They approached the cabin. A mare and a newly born colt eyed them suspiciously. An ancient wagon, its top tattered, its tires red with rust, stood close beside a frail corral. Fire wood was scattered about; here was an axe with a broken helve, there a rust-eaten shovel, and the whole place spoke of poverty. And yet piled against the cabin was spool upon spool of new barbed wire! "Fence!" muttered Beck. "But Mr. Hepburn said--" "Yeah, I recall what he _said!_" Just then the canvas which served as a door was thrown back and the girl stepped out. She stood just across the threshold looking at them, sullen and defiant. "Good-morning," said Jane. "Howdy," replied the girl indifferently. An awkward pause. Surely, she would volunteer no more and Beck asked: "Your dad around?" "What do you want with him?"--a demand rather than a question. "I am Miss Hunter. I own the--" "Oh, I know who you are!" the girl cut in defiantly. "I came down to talk to your father. We are neighbors. If we are to be good neighbors there are things we must discuss." Jane was unpoised by the attitude of the other but she dismounted and walked toward the cabin. "What did you want with him?" the girl asked again. "I want to ask some things about your plans." "And what is our business to you?" The girl's eyes snapped and her vivid color intensified. "It may be a great deal to me. That is why I am frank in coming here. For years this place has been range for HC cattle. Recently water has been short. You have wire and evidently are going to fence. "I don't come as an enemy. Now that you are here I want to make the best of it." "But you don't want us here!" The simple declaration, voiced with that same defiance, confused Jane; then she met the other on her own ground. "No, we don't want you here unless you will work with us as we all try to work together. I think you will do that because it is the wiser--" "So you start out workin' with us by lookin' up our claim, the way we filed it, before you come to talk!" "Yes, I did that,"--frankly. "I wanted to be sure just what your rights were before I came to talk business." "Well, you know now. You know no lawyers can run us off. Ain't that enough? If you know we've got rights, what do you come here for?" She stopped, but before Jane could reply went on, her eyes flashing sudden heat: "You don't want us here but we've come to stay an' from the way you've started in to talk your business I guess that's all you'll find out." Jane eyed her for an interval then said: "You and I are the only women for miles about in this country. We are near neighbors as neighbors go in the mountains; do you think this is the best way to start in being friends?"