If she got her hands on that gun she would kill Joel. It would be
the action of an instant. She watched Joel while he watched her. And she saw
that he had his foot on the rope round Sage King's neck. The King never liked
a rope. He was nervous. He tossed his head to get rid of it. Creech, watching
Lucy all the while, reached for the rope, pulled the King closer and closer,
and untied the knot. The King stood then, bridle down and quiet. Instead of a
saddle he wore a blanket strapped round him.
It seemed that Lucy located the gun without turning her eyes away from Joel's.
She gathered all her force--rolled over swiftly--again--got her hands on the
gun just as Creech leaped like a panther upon her. His weight crushed her
flat--his strength made her hand-hold like that of a child. He threw the gun
aside. Lucy lay face down, unable to move her body while he stood over her.
Then he struck her, not a stunning blow, but just the hard rap a cruel rider
gives to a horse that wants its own way. Under that blow Lucy's spirit rose to
a height of terrible passion.
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