You'd travel in a circle and fall into their hands in a day." "Possibly." She was still patient.
"Follow me close, Bard.

I mean that if you don't do what I say I'll cut loose and leave you alone here." He was silent, enjoying her sternness, glad to have roused her, no matter what the consequences; knowing that each second heightened the climax.
Apparently she interpreted his speechlessness in a different way.

She said after a moment: "That sounds like quittin' cold on you.

I won't do it unless you try some fool thing like riding back toward Drew." He waited again as long as he dared, then: "Don't you see that the last thing I want is to keep you with me ?" There was no pleasure in that climax.

She sat with parted lips, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, staring at him.