To be sure, when I thought of it I had no reason to want revenge.

She had been most gracious to me.
But there was the catty thing she had said about being kissed again by her admirers.

Then, in all seriousness, sentiment aside, I dared not make up with her.
So the cold and indifferent part I played was imperative.
We halted out on the ridge and dismounted for the usual little rest.
Mine I took in the shade of a scrubby mesquite.

The girls strolled away out of sight.

It was a drowsy day, and I nearly fell asleep.
Something aroused me--a patter of footsteps or a rustle of skirts.