Lucy Bostil had called twice to her father and he had not answered.

He was out at the hitching-rail, with Holley, the rider, and two other men.

If he heard Lucy he gave no sign of it.

She had on her chaps and did not care to go any farther than the door where she stood.
"Somers has gone to Durango an' Shugrue is out huntin' hosses," Lucy heard Bostil say, gruffly.
"Wal now, I reckon I could handle the boat an' fetch Creech's hosses over," said Holley.
Bostil raised an impatient hand, as if to wave aside Holley's assumption.
Then one of the other two men spoke up.

Lucy had seen him before, but did not know his name.
"Sure there ain't any need to rustle the job.