Mary V and Bill had just joined the group, and Sudden gave a snort when he saw Mary V maneuver Jake so that he sidled in alongside Tex, who rode a little apart with his hat pulled over his eyes, evidently in deep thought.

Sudden had all the arrogance of a strong man who has managed his life and his business successfully.

He wanted to attend to Tex himself, without any meddling from Mary V.
He squawked the horn to attract her attention, and caused a wave of turbulence among the horses that made more than one of his men say unpleasant things about him.

Mary V looked back, and he beckoned with one sweeping gesture that could scarcely be mistaken.

Mary V turned to ride up to him, advanced a rod or two and abruptly retreated, bolting straight through the group of riders and careening away across the level, with Bill and Tex tearing after her.