“I’m not--a-tall,” mocked Elaine, her lips tight. “Well, I am--just as far as I want to go, Mr. Texas Ranger Yancey. Why, you’re afraid to go! You are just as white as--as anything.” “That’s right,” drawled Bud silkily. “I’m afraid.” “Get out, then, and wait until I come back,” said Elaine. “I don’t reckon I can do that,” answered Bud, “because you’re not going in the first place.” “Well, I am,” asserted Elaine. “Take your foot away, please.” “Wait a minute,” said Bud. “You don’t _sabe_, I reckon. If any of those raiders got across before, they’re holed up somewhere. If we ran on to them, I might not be able to stand them off. Then you’d--” “If we do,” Elaine interrupted, “you can get out and run as soon as you see them--you can see so far.” * * * * * Bud Yancey’s face really did go white at this taunt. None of the Yanceys were noted for much of an even temper, and Bud ran very true to type. But his voice never raised above the slow, soft drawl. “Yes’sum, I could do that--if we got down there. But we aren’t going. You better start back to the Fort, I reckon.” “Well,” said Elaine bitterly, after one good look at the frosty black eyes of Mr. Yancey, “I’m not big enough to lick you, much as I’d like to; so you can take your foot away. I’ll take you back to the Fort where you’ll be safe, Mr. Yancey; and before I start, I’ll tell you one thing--that is I think you are nothing but a scared cat, and I don’t ever want to see you again.” “I’m right sorry you feel that-a-way,” courteously answered Bud as he took his foot from the gear-shift. There wasn’t another word said by either of them on the drive to the Fort. When they arrived, and Elaine had stopped in front of her brother’s, Bud got out of the car, took off his wide soft hat, bowed and said, “Thank you very much for a right pleasant ride,” and walked over towards Captain Carter’s quarters. Elaine sat there at the wheel for a moment with a look on her face that plainly showed she was still angry but not quite as happy as a young lady should have been who had told a young man she hated just what he was. * * * * * “Where’s the gent that’s been hanging on to your apron-strings, Lainy?” asked Webb at the breakfast-table sometime later. “He hasn’t hove in sight for a week or more.” “I don’t know--and I don’t care,” answered Miss Webb shortly. “What!” he shouted. “Don’t tell me he’s done quit you!” Elaine looked at her only brother dispassionately. “Do you know,” she stated in a conversational tone, “I always wondered how you managed to slip through at the Point. And now, as I see what you look like when you laugh that way, I wonder more.” “What do I look like, Lainy?” grinned Webb. “I thought sure as shootin’ that you and Bud--” “You look like an absolute idiot; and you are not far from being one, at any time.”