CHAPTER TWO .sx HE REMEMBERED his parents talking of Maine , where they came from , a vague and distant place girded with rocks and bound by hard winters .sx Thinking back sometimes , was pleasant in a painful way , and the sum of recollection inclined him to believe his parents had settled the emerald meadows because they reminded them of Maine .sx Small , rich fields interspersed with fingerlings of forest , along the swift-falling curves and bends of the watershed they had called Roan's Creek .sx It was easy to recall the slab-house under trees that leaned and creaked like antiquated gladiators when winter hurled its fierce assaults .sx And the creek that flowed southward , down towards the flat belly of prairie , and squandered its clear-water strength there .sx And the crooked road wrought by his father with its fringe of shade the full length ; a narrow old snake of a road , all shade-mottled and dusty looking , leading up out of the prairie into the blue-shaggy Beyond ; into the highland where deer and bear and all manner of game lived ; where meadows lay hidden , swollen with stirrup-high grass .sx There was a great fullness to the uplands , where the land swept back from the prairie-desert , broadening out , lifting higher and becoming wilder in its rich fertility until it burst against the sky in a dark and straining way .sx Somehow , Ben thought , and not only because there was beauty up there , that land had a hold on him .sx He'd travelled far and wide , seen tons of country , some full of beauty and a grand solemnity that made a man hurt for looking on it ; some harsh and forbidding , some jagged and untamed , or tilted against the flaming sunsets , or flat and docile , but he had never seen a country that reached down inside and gripped him like the uplands he'd known since infancy , held him now .sx He belonged there .sx Nothing ; man , animal , or element , could turn him away .sx Least of all the Marlows .sx He arose and dressed with these thoughts ; he ate at the diner with them for company , then he went over and bought a sturdy wagon from the liveryman , to implement them .sx He also bought a team of big bay horses , a good set of harness .sx Then he drove to the Deming Mercantile Company and loaded up kegs of nails , a big grindstone , two axes and two saws , all the impedimenta of building , all the requisites for putting down roots .sx And finally , with his saddlehorse tied to the tailgate , his carbine on the seat beside him , he took his way northward out of Deming .sx Cliff Thompson lingered in the shade of the Oasis Saloon's overhang , smoking a cigarette , and watching .sx When the wagon was lost in the shimmering , heat-scourged distance , he flung the cigarette down and stamped on it .sx It irritated him that Ben Roan would not see that he was heading straight for a killing ; his own or someone else's .sx " Morning , Marshal .sx Wasn't that Ben Roan that drove that wagon out of town ?sx " Thompson bent a hard look at the lawyer .sx " It was , " he said shortly .sx " Why didn't you tell him to wait until there was a hearing over that road before going up there ?sx " " Someone has to bring action before there's any case , Marshal .sx " Thompson looked unpleasant .sx " Yeh , " he said .sx " I know .sx There are two sides to the law- your side and my side .sx I get paid to prevent trouble and you get paid for starting it .sx In fact , you don't get paid unless it does start .sx " Charlie Bell squinted northward .sx " Unless there's a restraining order issued to prevent him from using that road , it's his right to use it .sx He can go up there any time he wants to .sx You know that .sx So far there's only been talk , and talk doesn't mean a thing .sx " " Law-book theory , " Thompson said shortly .sx " Did you ever try law-book theory against a cocked pistol , Bell ?sx " " Don't be ridiculous .sx As a matter of fact , you should be riding up there with him .sx That's the only way you can prevent trouble- stop it before it starts .sx If you can do that , there'll be no need for attorneys .sx " " Now who's being ridiculous ?sx You know damned well I can't forbid either the Marlows or Ben Roan from fighting one another without a court order , and by the time I get the order , the killing has already begun .sx I wish folks who make laws had to carry law books in their holsters instead of guns .sx " Bell continued to squint into the distance and Marshal Thompson fell into a deep and disgusted silence .sx A solitary vertical groove of disapproval lay deep between his eyebrows .sx Ben drove steadily and did not look back .sx Deming squatted far back in the quivering heat one moment , and the next moment it blurred into a soiled murk low against the roll of far horizon .sx His thoughts were on other things .sx The Marlows might have money now , good horses and a large herd , but he knew men ; that kind didn't change inwardly .sx He knew from a dozen gunfights that it was what lay inside men that counted , not their bankrolls nor their herds , nor the quality of their stock .sx The Marlows had never had it , and all the money in the world wouldn't put it into them .sx They might try scaring him out ; probably would .sx Or they might shoot his horses , or even try to bushwhack him , but when it came to stand-up-and-fight , or cut and run , lead bullets or fast horses , he knew which way they'd go .sx He forged steadily ahead towards the blue-shadows where the land swelled upwards with a heavy lift and fullness .sx He kept a sharp watch but made no attempt to conceal his coming by clinging to the creek-willows or the meagre shadows .sx If they were watching , let them watch .sx If they'd found a pinch of guttiness among them , let them show it .sx He was drinking in the beauty of the shade and the uplands' deep silence when movement to his right , a quiver of colour , of red and white , snagged at the corner of his vision .sx Facing swiftly half around , one hand moving in a blur , he saw the horse , head up , tail high and waving , running westward .sx A lemon-yellow sun , burning-huge , cast a haziness over the distance .sx He watched the horse long enough to discern flopping stirrups and broken reins , then he back-traced with his eyes to where the sprawl of colour lay in the dead grass ; swung the team , urged them closer and kept staring at the vivid hues until he was close enough to make out arms and legs , then he slowed , set the brake and jumped down .sx He rolled her over with one hand , straightened her limbs and knelt there wondering who she was , where she had come from .sx Her blouse was tight-rising , violent red , and her riding skirt was creamy and expensive looking .sx Her face , even in unconsciousness , was square , full-lipped , and wilful appearing , and a thick riot of auburn hair glistened fiercely in the sunlight .sx He shaded her face with his hat and waited .sx She was uninjured so far as he could see , except for being knocked senseless by the fall .sx He twisted to look after the horse .sx It had disappeared .sx He was smoking and studying the upland shadows when she said , " Oh .sx .! " He punched out the cigarette , lifted her head and smoothed away the hair .sx " What happened , ma'm ?sx " " Oh .sx . He bucked me off .sx " He propped her up against his knee , put his hat back on and bent to shield her from the sun .sx " Nothing's broken that I could find .sx " The girl felt the back of her head and said , " Ouch !sx " He watched her a moment , then gripped her by both arms .sx " Come on ; you can stand up .sx I'll drive you home .sx " She looked into his face for the first time , and her long eyes narrowed .sx " Who are you ?sx " " Ben Roan .sx I own some land up in the foothills .sx " " Roan .sx .? " She blinked and stared .sx He nodded .sx " And who are you , ma'm ?sx " " Sarahlee Marlow .sx " He stared .sx " Marlow ?sx Kin to old Will and the others ?sx " " Will is my uncle .sx The boys are my cousins .sx " " I don't recollect ever hearing of any other Marlows hereabouts .sx " " My people live in Santa Fe .sx I've been up here since last May looking after grandpaw .sx He's very old .sx " " Well , " Ben said , helping her to arise .sx " Come on ; I'll drive you on up to the Marlow place .sx " While he was setting the lines straight with his back to her , she straightened her clothes , brushed herself off , and looked westerly , after the horse , with anger in her eyes , but she said nothing .sx He helped her up , went around and climbed up beside her , and flicked the lines .sx The team leaned , the wagon ground back onto the road , and for a while the only sound was of iron tyres grinding down into the gritty dust .sx Where the green bog lay the ascent began .sx Ben slapped with the lines , the team leaned into their collars , and the trail steepened .sx Not until they were on the level again , moving through tree-shade , did the girl speak .sx " What you're doing is foolish , Mr. Roan .sx " " Is it ?sx " Ben said easily , without looking around at her .sx " It doesn't seem that way to me .sx " He let the lines lie slack .sx The team dropped their heads and toed into the next upgrade .sx " My cousins won't let you do it .sx " He turned , finally , and gazed at her .sx " You know , ma'm .sx I've heard that before .sx I didn't believe it then , and I don't believe it now .sx " " You have no right-of-way to the old Roan place .sx " " Ma'm , my father built this road almost thirty years ago .sx Before the Marlows were in this country .sx " " But the road hasn't been used since you left .sx " " Maybe not , but whether I've got a right or not is for a law-court to decide- not your cousins , or your uncle .sx " Ben shrugged slightly , studied the land ahead , then said , " I can't make old Will like the idea of my being up in here , but he might as well get used to the idea .sx " She studied his profile for a moment , before she said , " You're going to make a lot of unnecessary trouble , Mr. Roan .sx " " No ; I'm not going to make any trouble .sx All I'm going to do is build a cabin , a barn , some corrals , and try to live in peace .sx If there's trouble it won't be me that starts it .sx " He was going to say more when movement among the trees ahead caught his attention .sx The lines lay in his left hand ; the right hand was curled and moving when a big-framed man moved out into the road in front of the team .sx He was holding a carbine one-handed ; it was cocked .sx " That's far enough , Roan .sx " Ben recognised Harold Marlow .sx " Hello , Hal , " he said quietly .sx " Sarahlee !sx " The way Marlow said it , it sounded like 'Sally' .sx " What'n tarnation you doing up there ?sx " " That horse El gave me bucked me off .sx " " Are you hurt ?sx " " No ; but- " " El told you he was green-broke .sx It's a wonder you didn't get hurt bad .sx " Marlow gestured with the carbine .sx " Get down off'n there .sx " " Wait a minute , " Ben said .sx " She'll get down when you empty that carbine .sx " The big man looked hard at Roan .sx " Empty hell , " he said .sx " You're not talking to Guy now .sx You're going to turn that caravan around and head back out of here .sx " " Be a shame to see you kill your cousin , " Ben said .sx " Be sure you shoot straight , Hal .sx " " Roan !sx Don't try it !sx " " Behind two big horses and beside a girl ?sx Of course I'm going to try it .sx The odds're in my favour .sx " One of the team-horses blew its nose and the girl started .sx Her single " Don't " was half scream , half sob .sx Neither man looked at her .sx The silence was tight around them all .sx " Harold , let him go .sx " " Can't , Sarahlee ; you know that .sx " " Then wait until I get down .sx " Ben caught her right wrist with his left hand .sx He never took his eyes off Hal .sx " All right , " he said .sx