And when she left her cabin she was in a mood to force an issue.
Kells was sitting at the table and being served by Bate Wood.
"Hello, Dandy!" he greeted her, in surprise and pleasure. "This's
early for you."
Joan returned his greeting and said that she could not sleep all the
time.
"You're coming round. I'll bet you hold up a stage before a month is
out."
"Hold up a stage?" echoed Joan.
"Sure. It'll be great fun," replied Kells, with a laugh. "Here--sit
down and eat with me. ... Bate, come along lively with breakfast. ...
It's fine to see you there. That mask changes you, though. No
one can see how pretty you are. ... Joan, your admirer, Gulden, has
been incapacitated for the present."
Then in evident satisfaction Kells repeated the story that Joan had
heard Red Pearce tell the night before; and in the telling Kells
enlarged somewhat upon Jim Cleve.
"I've taken a liking to Cleve," said Kells. "He's a strange
youngster. But he's more man than boy. I think he's broken-hearted
over some rotten girl who's been faithless or something. Most women
are no good, Joan. A while ago I'd have said ALL women were that,
but since I've known you I think--I know different. Still, one girl
out of a million doesn't change a world."
"What will this J--jim C--cleve do--when he sees--me?" asked Joan,
and she choked over the name.
"Don't eat so fast, girl," said Kells. "You're only seventeen years
old and you've plenty of time. ... Well, I've thought some about
Cleve. He's not crazy like Gulden, but he's just as dangerous. He's
dangerous because he doesn't know what he's doing--has absolutely no
fear of death--and then he's swift with a gun. That's a bad
combination. Cleve will kill a man presently. He's shot three
already, and in Gulden's case he meant to kill. If once he kills a
man--that'll make him a gun-fighter. I've worried a little about his
seeing you. But I can manage him, I guess. He can't be scared or
driven. But he may be led. I've had Red Pearce tell him you are my
wife. I hope he believes it, for none of the other fellows believe
it. Anyway, you'll meet this Cleve soon, maybe to-day, and I want
you to be friendly. If I can steady him--stop his drinking--he'll be
the best man for me on this border."
"I'm to help persuade him to join your band?" asked Joan, and she
could not yet control her voice.