Said he'd be in later." He lowered his voice significantly.

"Reckon that Radford girl is botherin' Dave a heap." Stafford smiled coldly and was about to answer when he saw Ferguson dropping from his pony at the corral gate.

Following Stafford's gaze, Rope also observed Ferguson.

He looked up at Stafford.
"New man ?" he questioned.
Stafford nodded.

He had invented a plausible story for the presence of Ferguson.