keep track of has reason to
think. An' you know it."

"Then you followed me--out here?" demanded Helen, and her voice, despite
her control, quivered with anger.

"I sure did," he replied, and there was as much thought of himself in
the act as there was of her.

"Why? Why? It's useless--hopeless."

"I swore I'd have you, or nobody else would," he replied, and here, in
the passion of his voice there sounded egotism rather than hunger for
a woman's love. "But I reckon I'd have struck West anyhow, sooner or
later."

"You're not going to--all the way--to Pine?" faltered Helen, momentarily
weakening.

"Nell, I'll camp on your trail from now on," he declared.

Then Bo sat bolt-upright, with pale face and flashing eyes.

"Harve Riggs, you leave Nell alone," she burst out, in ringing, brave
young voice. "I'll tell you what--I'll bet--if you follow her and
nag her any more, my uncle Al or some cowboy will run you out of the
country."

"Hello, Pepper!" replied Riggs, coolly. "I see your manners haven't
improved an' you're still wild about cowboys."

"People don't have good manners with--with--"

"Bo, hush!" admonished Helen. It was difficult to reprove Bo just then,
for that young lady had not the slightest fear of Riggs. Indeed, she
looked as if she could slap his face. And Helen realized that however
her intelligence had grasped the possibilities of leaving home for a
wild country, and whatever her determination to be brave, the actual
beginning of self-reliance had left her spirit weak. She would rise
out of that. But just now this flashing-eyed little sister seemed a
protector. Bo would readily adapt herself to the West, Helen thought,
because she was so young, primitive, elemental.

Whereupon Bo turned her back to Riggs and looked out of the window. The
man laughed. Then he stood up and leaned over Helen.

"Nell, I'm goin' wherever you go," he said, steadily. "You can take that
friendly or not, just as it pleases you. But if you've got any sense
you'll not give these people out here a hunch against me. I might hurt
somebody.... An' wouldn't it be better--to act friends? For I'm goin' to
look after you, whether you like it or not."

Helen had considered this man an annoyance, and later a menace, and now
she must declare open enmity with him. However disgusting the idea that
he considered himself a factor in her new life, it was the truth. He
existed, he had control over his movements. She could not change th