He wanted to
humiliate her, wanted to gloat over her, wanted above all to have her
acknowledge his superiority, his authority, over her. Had he been able
to do this at their first meeting he would have been satisfied; if he
were able to do it now he would be pleased.
"It's none of your business what I thought," he said, leaning over the
table and leering at her. "I'm goin' to run things to suit myself, an'
if you an' your grandpap an' your brother don't like my style you can
pull your freight, pronto. I'm goin' to boss this ranch. Do you get
me?"
She seemed amused. "The Lazy Y," she said slowly, her eyes gleaming,
"has need of something besides a boss. You have observed, I suppose,
that it is slightly run down. Your father purposely neglected it.
Considerable money and work will be required to place it in condition
where it can be bossed at all. I haven't any doubt," she added,
surveying him critically, "that you will be able to supply the
necessary labor. But what about the money? Are you well supplied with
that?"
"Meaning to hint about the money the old man left, I reckon?"
"Of course. Understand that I have control of that, and you won't get
a cent unless in my opinion you deserve it."
He glared savagely at her.
"Of course," she went on calmly, though there was triumph in her voice,
"you can force us to leave the ranch.
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