She watched the men.

They were making a hurried slipshod job of packing food supplies from both cabins.

More than once she caught Colter's gray gleam of gaze on her, and she did not like it.
"I'll ride up an' say good-by to Sprague," she called to Colter.
"Shore y'u won't do nothin' of the kind," he called back.
There was authority in his tone that angered Ellen, and something else which inhibited her anger.

What was there about Colter with which she must reckon?
The other two Texans laughed aloud, to be suddenly silenced by Colter's harsh and lowered curses.

Ellen walked out of hearing and sat upon a log, where she remained until Colter hailed her.
"Get up an' ride," he called.
Ellen complied with this order and, riding up behind the three mounted men, she soon found herself leaving what for years had been her home.
Not once did she look back.