The days dragged and the weeks seemed to be aeons long.
And yet the dull monotony of the girl's life was relieved by trips she made to the Circle L, to visit Lawler's mother--and by the presence of Mary Lawler, who had come home for her vacation, during the summer, and during Lawler's absence on his speaking tour.
Ruth had heard with satisfaction that the Circle L trail herd, attended by Blackburn, Shorty, and other Circle L men, had not been molested on the trip to Red Rock.

Caldwell and the others had driven their cattle to Red Rock also--not one of them visiting Warden to arrange for cars.
Lawler's influence, and the spirit he had revealed in undertaking the long drive the previous season, had had its effect upon the other owners.
It seemed to Ruth that the fight between the Circle L men and the rustlers had made the latter cautious; and that even Warden had decided that discretion was necessary.

At any rate, the surface of life in Willets and the surrounding country had become smooth, no matter what forces were at work in the depths.

It appeared that the men who had fought Lawler in the past, were now careful to do nothing that would bring upon them a demonstration of his new power.
* * * * * Gary Warden, however, was not fearful of Lawler's official power.

In fact, he was openly contemptuous when Lawler's name was mentioned in his presence.