While they rode together up the valley, Jack told the details of the
encounter with Jose, and declared that he was doing all that even Dade
could demand of him by resisting the desire to ride down to Santa Clara
and make Jose swallow his words.
"I'd have done it anyway, as soon as I brought Teresita home," he added,
with a hint of apology for his seeming weakness. "But, darn it, I knew
all the time that she made him think she was running away from me. It
did look that way, when she stopped as soon as she met him; I can't
swear right now whether Tejon was running away, or whether he was just
simply running!" He laughed ruefully. "She's an awful little tease--just
plumb full of the old Nick, even if she does look as innocent and as
meek as their pictures of the Virgin Mary. She had us both guessing,
let me tell you! He was pretty blamed insulting, though, and I'd have
licked the stuffing out of him right then and there, if she hadn't swung
in and played the joker the way she did. Made Jose look as if he'd been
doused with cold water--and him breathing fire and brimstone the minute
before.
"It was funny, I reckon--to Teresita; we didn't see the joke. Every time
I bring up the subject of that runaway, she laughs; but she won't say
whether it was a runaway, no matter how I sneak the question in. So I
just let it go, seeing Jose is laid up now; only, next time I bump into
Jose Pacheco, he's going to act pretty, or there's liable to be a little
excitement.
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