The others appeared taken back by a greeting so foreign from any to which they were accustomed from her.

Jackson Jorth let out a gruff haw-haw.

Some of them doffed their sombreros, and Rock Wells managed a lazy, polite good morning.

Ellen's father seemed most significantly struck by her greeting, and the least amused.
"Ellen, I'm not likin' your talk," he said, with a frown.
"Dad, when y'u play cards don't y'u call a spade a spade ?" "Why, shore I do." "Well, I'm calling spades spades." "Ahuh!" grunted Jorth, furtively dropping his eyes.

"Where you goin' with your gun?
I'd rather you hung round heah now." "Reckon I might as well get used to packing my gun all the time," replied Ellen.