He couldn't let his thoughts ride free, any more.

They kept heading straight for Marie.

He could not see why she should cling so to his memory; he had not wronged her--unless it was by letting her go without making a bigger fight for their home.
Still, she had gone of her own free will.

He was the one that had been wronged--why, hadn't they lied about him in court and to the gossipy neighbors?
Hadn't they broke him?
No.

If the mine panned out big as Cash seemed to think was likely, the best thing he could do was steer clear of San Jose.