If you ever want me, send for me there, an' I'll come back to you, sheriff or no sheriff." She put out a hand to detain him, but he seized it and pressed it to her side, the other with it.

Then his arms went around her shoulders, she was crushed against him, and his lips met hers.
Then she was suddenly released, and he was at the door.
"Good-by," he said as he stood in the opening, the glare of light from the lamp showing his face, pale, the eyes illumined with a fire that she had never seen in them; "I'm sorry it has to end this way--I was hopin' for somethin' different.

You've made me almost a man." Then the door closed and he was gone.

She stood by the table for a few minutes, holding tightly to it for support, her eyes wide from excitement.
"Oh," she said, "if I could only have kept him here a few minutes longer!" She walked to the door and stood in the opening, shading her eyes with her hands.

He had not been gone long, but already he was riding the river trail; she saw him outlined in the moonlight, leaning a little forward in the saddle, the black running with a long, swift, sure stride.