“Buenos tardes, senorita.  Didn’t know you were comin’ back again to-day.”

“You’ve been seen,” she told him hurriedly as she dismounted.  “Dad’s gathering his men.  He means to make you trouble.”

Billie looked away in the direction of the town.  A mile or more away he saw a cloud of dust.  It was moving toward them.

“I see he does,” he answered quietly.

“Quick!  Get your friend out.  Take my horse.”

He shook his head slowly.  “No use.  They would see us an’ run us down.  We’ll make a stand here.”

“But you can’t do that.  They’ll surround you.  They’ll send for more men if they need ’em.”

“Likely.  But Jim couldn’t stand such a ride even if there was a chance—­and there isn’t, not with yore horse carryin’ double.  We’ll hold the fort, Miss Lee, while you make yore get-away into the hills.  An’ thank you for comin’.  We’ll never forget all you’ve done for us these days.”

“I’m not going.”

“Not goin’?”

“I’m going to stay right here.  They won’t dare to shoot at you if I’m here.”

“I never did see such a girl as you,” admitted Prince, smiling at her.  “You take the cake.  But we can’t let you do that for us.  We can’t skulk behind a young lady’s skirts to save our hides.  It’s not etiquette on the Pecos.”

The red color burned through her dusky skin.  “I’m not doing it for you,” she said stiffly.  “It’s dad I’m thinking about.  I don’t want him mixed up in such a business.  I won’t have it either.”

“You’d better go to him and talk it over, then.”

“No.  I’ll stay here.  He wouldn’t listen to me a minute.”

Billie was still patient with her.  “I don’t think you’d better stay, Miss Lee.  I know just how you feel.  But there are a lot of folks won’t understand howcome you to take up with yore father’s enemies.  They’ll talk a lot of foolishness likely.”

The cowpuncher blushed at his own awkward phrasing of the situation, yet the thing had to be said and he knew no other way to say it.

She flashed a resentful glance at him.  Her cheeks, too, flamed.

“I don’t care what they say since it won’t be true,” she answered proudly.  “You needn’t argue.  I’ve staked out a claim here.”

“I wish you’d go.  There’s still time.”

The girl turned on him angrily with swift, animal grace.  “I tell you it’s none of your business whether I go or stay.  I’ll do just as I please.”

Prince gave up his attempt to change her mind.  If she would stay, she would.  He set about arranging the defense.

Young Clanton crept out to the mouth of the cave and lay down with his rifle beside him.  His friend piled up the tumble weeds in front of him.

“We’re right enough in front—­easy enough to stand ’em off there,” reflected Billie, aloud.  “But I’d like to know what’s to prevent us from being attacked in the rear.  They can crawl up through the brush till they’re right on top of the bank.  They can post sharpshooters in the mesquite across the river so that if we come out to check those snakin’ forward, the snipers can get us.”