She stopped, and Hardy shifted uneasily in his seat. In his heart of hearts he had realized from the first his inequality in this losing battle. He was like a man who goes into a contest conquered already by his ineptitude at arms--and Kitty would have her way! Never but once had he defied her power, and that had been more a flight than a victory. There was fighting blood in his veins, but it turned to water before her. He despised himself for it; but all the while, in a shifting, browbeaten way, he was seeking for an excuse to capitulate.
"But, Kitty," he pleaded, "be reasonable. I have my duties down here--the sheep are trying to come in on us--I have to patrol the river. This morning before you were awake I was in the saddle, and now I have just returned. To-morrow I shall be off again, so how can I arrange a meeting?"
He held out his hands to her appealingly, carried away by the force of his own logic.
"You might at least invite me to go with you," she said. "Unless you expect me to spend all my time getting lost with Judge Ware," she added, with a plaintive break in her voice.
"Why, yes--yes," began Hardy haltingly. "I--I have asked Lucy to go with me to-morrow, but--"
"Oh, thank you--thank you!" burst out Kitty mockingly. "But what?"
"Why, I thought you might like to come along too," suggested Hardy awkwardly.
"What? And rob her of all her pleasure?" Kitty smiled bitterly as she turned upon him. "Why, Rufus Hardy," she exclaimed, indignantly, "and she just dotes on every word you say! Yes, she does--any one can see that she simply adores you. I declare, Rufus, your lack of perception would make an angel weep--especially if it was a lady angel. But you may as well understand once and for all that I will never deprive dear, patient, long-suffering Lucy of anything she sets her heart on. No, I will _not_ go with you the next day. If you haven't consideration enough to invite me first, I have sense enough to stay away. It was only yesterday that you took Lucy up to Hidden Water, and to-day I find you with her again; and to-morrow--well, I perceive that I must amuse myself down here. But--oh, look, look! There's a cowboy--up on that high cliff!"
She started up, pointing at a horseman who was spurring furiously along the side of the cañon after a runaway steer.