Then, too, the esteem in which they held Dave--her
husband--gratified her intensely. It made no more difference to
them than to her that he was a poor man, a man without authority
or position; they evidently saw and loved in him the qualities
which she saw and loved. And that was as it should be.
They were gentle and considerate men, too, as she discovered when
they told her, bit by bit, what had happened during her absence.
She learned, much to her relief, that Ed's funeral had been held,
and that all the distressing details of the inquiry had been
attended to. Jose Sanchez, it appeared, had confessed freely.
Although her new friends made plain their indignation at the
manner of Ed's taking off, they likewise let her know that they
considered his death only a slight loss, either to her or to the
community. Not one of them pretended it was anything except a
blessing.
The journey drew to an end very quickly. Romero, deserted now by
its garrison, stirred and stared sleepily at the invaders, but
concerned itself with their presence no more than to wonder why
they laughed and talked so spiritedly. Plainly, these gringos were
a barbarous race of people, what with their rushing here and
there, and with their loud, senseless laughter.
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