Carley could not collect her wits. The instant of his pushing her back
into the cabin and following her had shocked her and almost paralyzed
her will. If she saw him now any the less fearful she could not so
quickly rally her reason to any advantage.
"Let me out of here," she demanded.
"Nope. I'm a-goin' to make a little love to you," he said, and he
reached for her with great hairy hands.
Carley saw in them the strength that had so easily swung the sheep. She
saw, too, that they were dirty, greasy hands. And they made her flesh
creep.
"Glenn will kill--you," she panted.
"What fer?" he queried, in real or pretended surprise. "Aw, I know
wimmin. You'll never tell him."
"Yes, I will."
"Wal, mebbe. I reckon you're lyin', Pretty Eyes," he replied, with a
grin. "Anyhow, I'll take a chance."
"I tell you--he'll kill you," repeated Carley, backing away until her
weak knees came against the couch.
"What fer, I ask you?" he demanded.
"For this--this insult."
"Huh! I'd like to know who's insulted you. Can't a man take an
invitation to kiss an' hug a girl--without insultin' her?"
"Invitation!... Are you crazy?" queried Carley, bewildered.
"Nope, I'm not crazy, an' I shore said invitation.... I meant thet white
shimmy dress you wore the night of Flo's party. Thet's my invitation to
get a little fresh with you, Pretty Eyes!"
Carley could only stare at him. His words seemed to have some peculiar,
unanswerable power.
"Wal, if it wasn't an invitation, what was it?" he asked, with another
step that brought him within reach of her. He waited for her answer,
which was not forthcoming.
"Wal, you're gettin' kinda pale around the gills," he went on,
derisively. "I reckoned you was a real sport.... Come here."
He fastened one of his great hands in the front of her coat and gave
her a pull. So powerful was it that Carley came hard against him, almost
knocking her breathless. There he held her a moment and then put his
other arm round her. It seemed to crush both breath and sense out
of her. Suddenly limp, she sank strengthless. She seemed reeling in
darkness. Then she felt herself thrust away from him with violence. She
sank on the couch and her head and shoulders struck the wall.
"Say, if you're a-goin' to keel over like thet I pass," declared Ruff,
in disgust. "Can't you Eastern wimmin stand nothin?"