"Left your horse to bake in the sun, too, I suppose, while you practice the art of persiflage on me." He finished rolling his cigarette, languidly helped himself to a match from a box on the wide window ledge near him, and sauntered to the door--with a slanting, downward glance at Mary V as he passed her.

A little smile lurked at the corners of his lips now that his face was not visible to her.

Mary V was studying her wrist watch as though it was vital that she knew the time down to the last second.

He judged that she had no retort ready for him, so he picked up his hat and went out into the glaring sunlight.
Tango was sweating patiently under the scant shelter of the eaves, switching at flies and trying to doze.

Johnny led him down to the creek and gave him about half as much water as he wanted, then took him to the corral and unsaddled him under the brush shed that sheltered his own horse from the worst of the heat.