It's her father you've got to deal with
now--her father and the kid's grandfather. You get that? You be
reasonable, Bud, and there won't be no trouble at all. But my
girl ain't goin' to be robbed of her baby--not whilst I'm
around. You get that settled in your mind before you go out
there, or--you don't go out whilst I'm here to stop you."
"You go to hell," Bud stated evenly, and thrust Cash aside with
one sweep of his arm, and went down the tunnel. Cash, his
eyebrows lifted with worry and alarm, was at his heels all the
way.
"Now, Bud, be calm!" he adjured as he ran. "Don't go and make a
dang fool of yourself! She's my girl, remember. You want to hold
on to yourself, Bud, and be reasonable. Don't go and let your
temper--"
"Shut your damn mouth!" Bud commanded him savagely, and went on
running.
At the tunnel mouth he stopped and blinked, blinded for a
moment by the strong sunlight in his face. Cash stumbled and lost
ten seconds or so, picking himself up. Behind him Bud heard Cash
panting, "Now, Bud, don't go and make--a dang fool--" Bud
snorted contemptuously and leaped the dirt pile, landing close to
Marie, who was just then raising herself dizzily to an elbow.
"Now, Bud," Cash called tardily when he had caught up with him,
"you leave that girl alone! Don't you lay a finger on her! That's
my--"
Bud lifted his lips away from Marie's and spoke over his
shoulder, his arms tightening in their hold upon Marie's
trembling, yielding body.
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