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Overland Red: A Romance of the Moonstone Canon Trail, a novel by Henry Herbert Knibbs |
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Chapter 32. Morning |
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_ CHAPTER XXXII. MORNING "Something's goin' to happen," stated Brand Williams. "How's that?" queried Bud Light. "See them two bosses--the Yuma colt and Boyar--?" "Uhuh." "Well, Boyar's been standin' there since daylight, saddled. Nobody rides him but Miss Louise." "It's mighty early, but I don't see nothin' strange about the rest of it." "Wait a minute, Bud. Did you see Collie this mornin'? Was he all fixed up with his hair jest so, and his bandanna jest so, and his new sombrero and his silver spurs, and them new chaps, lookin' mighty important? He saddles Yuma and ties her over there. While he was eatin', the Boyar hoss trails his bridle over to where Yuma is tied. There they stand visitin' like two old soldiers on crutches instead of two mighty quick-actin' cayuses. Now that Yuma hoss has kicked the fancy linin' out of every cayuse that dast come nigh her. They 're all scared of her. She's makin' an exception this mornin'. She's plumb friendly with Boyar. That signifies! Hosses can see farther in the dark than folks." "Signifies what?" "Well, after all the talk I jest wasted on you, it signifies that you're too thick-headed, Buddy, to waste any more on. I can learn you to spell if you wanta take lessons." "You're dreamin', Brand. Wake up! As to spellin'--I'm spellin' right now while the fo'man is entertainin' me." "Thanks for callin' my attention to it. You can take your hoss and ride over to the Three Oaks. There's some fence down, over at the North Spring. I ain't dreamin' about that." Bud Light departed, swearing to himself. He disliked mending fence. Williams knew it. The cheerful Bud, "Reckoned he ought to 'a' known better than to try to ride the old man into the fence. Next time he would listen--and mebby learn something." Louise, drawing on her gauntlets, came down the broad steps of the ranch-house. The November air was crisp with the tang of early morning. She was puzzled at finding Boyar and Yuma together. She noticed Boyar had trailed his bridle across the yard--an unusual thing for him to do, considering his training. Louise spoke to the Yuma colt, who sniffed at her gloved hand. The girl wondered why Collie had saddled Yuma. He usually rode one of the ranch horses to work. She wanted to talk with him--to reason with him; for her knowledge of the previous night's disclosures worried and distressed her. She thought Collie's half promise to Overland Red to turn to their old life had been too easily made. Her pride in him was touched. She was hurt, and not a little angry. She saw the flaw in his ultimate decision to sacrifice himself and his prospects through a too stringent and quixotic interpretation of his duty. To go back to the old life again--a tramp! But Collie was not to be seen. However, Louise never hesitated long. Deliberately she untied the Yuma colt and swung into the saddle. Black Boyar seemed to realize something unusual in her preference. He fretted as the roan pony leaped sideways toward the gate. Louise knew that Collie would follow her. She was riding his pony, the Yuma colt, and he would be fearful for the rider's safety. Collie, coming from the bunk-house, glanced up and saw Black Boyar standing alone where his own pony had stood. This was not an invitation; this was daring him to follow. He rode into the canon, half conscious of Yuma's tracks ahead of him. He rode past the tracks as they swerved toward a grassy level near the stream. "Collie!" Louise stood beside the sweating Yuma, patting the pony's neck. Collie raised his sombrero formally. Louise was bareheaded. The clear morning sunlight enhanced her rich coloring. Against the misty gray of the canon wall, her head in profile, as she stood beside the horse, was as delicately beautiful as that vision that imagination knows full well but may seldom realize. "Yes, ma'am." "Collie, don't! Say anything but that. You look awfully glum. Surely not because I took Yuma." "No. Only I was afraid for you." "So you followed at break-neck speed to rescue the timorous, the despairing, and-so-forth?" "I can't joke like that this morning." "Why? I'm here, safe enough. Had breakfast?" "Yes. I wanted to see you about something, Louise." "All right. But you are so unnaturally tall and severe and judicial sitting there on Boyar. You look almost funereal. Please get down. Roll a cigarette and act natural. I'm not going to scold you, sir." "I wish you would." "Why? What have you been doing that makes you look so ashamed of yourself. Tell me!" "I didn't know I was." "You don't act naturally. Is there something about me that is different? Is that it?" "No. I wish you was different, sometimes." "You do?" "No," he said gently. "I don't wish you were different. I want to remember you like you are." "To remember me?" "Yes," he whispered, "to remember you." He seemed to see regret, astonishment, questioning, gentle reproof, even a hint of amusement in her eyes. But her expression changed instantly. "I think you have something to remember me by; something you asked me for once, long ago. I sent it to you. You have never spoken of it--acknowledged it. I can't quite forgive that." "Your glove. I know. I got it here." And he touched his breast. "I thought you would understand." "I do. But, Collie, a girl always likes to be told that she is understood, even when she knows it." "I was going to write about getting your glove, at the hospital. I guess I was too tired." "At the hospital?" "Yes. Red sent it to me. Brand gave it to him to give to me--that time." "Oh!" And Louise felt like retracting a little; but sweetly perverse, she obeyed sheer instinct. "Collie, do you realize that I have already asked you to dismount? Shall I have to ask you again? Do you realize that I am standing while you are sitting your horse?" "I am begging your pardon, Louise." The girl nodded brightly, smiling as she noticed the little scar on his chin--a wound that she had made him blush for when she had admonished him for fighting with Dick Tenlow. She watched the rise and fall of the muscles of his arm, beneath his flannel shirt, as he lighted his cigarette. How broad-chested and strong and wholesome he seemed in the morning sunlight! There was an untamed grace about his movements, his gestures, which, together with his absolute unconsciousness of self, pleased and attracted her. "Yuma is a little wild, but she is a fine saddle-pony. I'm really jealous for Boyar's prestige." "I was afraid for you to ride her," said Collie. "She behaves beautifully." "Would you take her as a kind of present from me?" he asked. "Give Yuma to me? I thought you loved her?" "I do. That's why I want you to have her." "He would give you away," said Louise, stroking Yuma's neck. "Give you away just as you're learning to trust him and perhaps even like him a little--and he says he loves you! Let's run away from him, Hummingbird!" "I think I could stand it if you would just be mean once," said Collie. "Stand what, Collie?" He had been watching her shapely hand and supple, rounded wrist as she stroked the pony's neck. Swiftly she turned from the horse and faced him. "What, Collie?" There was laughter in her eyes, a laughter that challenged more than his serious mood. Her lips were smiling. Her chin was tilted provokingly. His eyes grew wide with unspoken love, unuttered longing. He delighted in the delicious curve of her cheek, and of her arm resting on the saddle. Her poise had an inexplicable suggestion of royal courage, as though she were battling for more than her lips could utter. In her absence he had adored her. Now he forgot all that he had meant to tell her in the sensuous delight of her mere presence. But even that was not enough. He dropped the pony's reins and strode toward her. Louise paled even as he drew near, but he saw nothing but her eyes and her lips, lips that curved wistfully, provoking tenderness and love. For an instant Louise held her heart aloof. "Let me just worship you--a little while--a little while," he whispered. "Only a little while?" she breathed; and the soft rose glowed in her cheeks. "Just forever," he said. And Louise Lacharme, more beautiful than the morning, Louise, his most gracious senorita, his Madonna of the Rose, lifted her arms to him. Her lips quivered like a child's, tremulous with longing to tell him silently, as his lips found hers, all that her heart was giving and all the wealth of love it yet should give. Gently his hands clasped her golden head. His whole being thrilled as he touched her hair, her cheeks, her lips. "Oh, Collie! Collie! Love me always," she whispered. And she drew him down to her breast and caressed his cheek, sighing and murmuring little endearments and sweet, broken words of love. * * * * * Moonstone Canon, coldly beautiful, echoed the hoof-beats of the ponies as they walked homeward. Louise turned in the saddle. "Collie," she said with an indescribable gesture of appeal, "you will always take care of me, won't you?" "My Rose Girl! Why do you say that?" "I was thinking of my father." Louise saw his lips stiffen and his chin lift. "Louise, I had no right, just now,--I haven't any right--I'm poor. The claim wasn't ours." "I didn't mean that," she said, smiling wistfully. "But you will always care for me, won't you? I don't care one bit about the claim. It has made trouble and sorrow enough. I can't remember my father. I can hardly think of him as my father. But it is horrible to think of his dying for water because he cared so much for gold." "But how did you know?" "I know," she answered gravely. "And I know that you are a very, very foolish boy, not to trust your friends more than you do. Did you suppose you would be happier or better in leaving Moonstone Rancho? Did you suppose I would be happier? Collie, you have so much to learn." "I guess that's so," he sighed. Then his eyes brightened with his old-time mischief. "Couldn't you begin now to teach me a little--like back there in the canon?" And being of a decisive habit of mind, he rode close to Louise and claimed immediate and delicious instruction. "But how did you know?" he asked again--"about the claim and your father and me?" "A secret that I share with Overland," she replied. "So he told you! When? Not last night. He was asleep when I came away this morning." "So he is here, then?" "Louise, you're joking. Didn't Red talk to you?" "No." "And you know all about it already?" He looked at her curiously for a moment. "Did you know that I said I was going to leave the Moonstone?" "Why?" "For the same reason that I can't now--you. Red and Billy Winthrop and I don't own a cent's worth of the claim now. I don't even own what's in the bank. All I got is Yuma." "You gave Yuma to me, Collie." "I sure did. I haven't even her. But I've got you. Oh, Louise! I can't believe it. I could just shout. Can't I have another one, Rose Girl?" "Must I teach you not to ask?" said Louise. Collie took her other meaning as she made a little mouth at him. "Not after this," he said, and gave apt proof that he meant it. "More than a whole carload of gold?" she asked, gazing at him. "You know that, too?" "Collie?" "What is it?" "Promise that you won't speak to any one about the claim, or the desert, or my father until I say you may." "Of course I promise." "Nor about ourselves, until I tell you to." "Never--if it will make you happy." * * * * * Overland Red, sitting on a boulder beside the road, stooped and gathered up a handful of pebbles. Then, for lack of other interest, he invented a game of ancient and honorable origin. "She loves me," he said tossing away a pebble. "She loves me not." And up spun another pebble. So he continued until the pebbles were gone. "She loves me not," he muttered lugubriously. Then his face brightened. "Of course she don't. She loves him. That's what I was tryin' to get at, anyway." He fumbled at a huge bunch of little red flowers called "Hummingbird's Trumpets." He arranged the hastily constructed bouquet to suit him. Then he laid it on the rock. "Accordin' to the latest book on good table-manners, or 'How to Be Happy Though Dressed Up,' this here bouquet is the proper thing. They'll think I'm some wiz' when I step out and present these here hummin'birds' bugles. Huh! I seen the two bosses gone, and I gets wise direct. But I got to brace up. Wonder what she'll think about me--after hearin' what I said last night at the Old Meadow? Gee! I wonder what I did say? Did I cuss much? I forget. H-m-m. Good-mornin', folks! I--er--This here--Them hummin'birds' bugles--flowers--Happy day--Collie, what's wrong with you? What you laughin' at?" "You, of course. Where did you get the posies?" "Picked 'em along the Golden Shore. Just got back." "You do look scared, Red." "Seein' you're gettin' personal--you needn't to think because you just been there that I never will." "Say, Overland--I--we--" began Collie. "I knowed it! I won't say a word to nobody." Collie glanced at Louise. She nodded. Then she gave Overland her hand. He seized it and stood looking into her sweet gray eyes. "Little Rose Girl," he said quietly, "you always was the best and kindest and beautifullest we ever knowed. It ain't the first time you give your hand to help them that ain't fit to touch it. If there is any Golden Shore, I guess me and Collie will be there just because we knowed you down here and couldn't stay around, nohow, where you wasn't. And, believe me, if he don't treat you from now on like you was a plumb angel, I'll--I'll ride him off the big range and into space quicker'n shootin' stars! These here flowers is for you--not for that long-legged grasshopper ridin' your hoss there. I should think Boyar would be plumb ashamed." "Then Collie can walk," said Louise promptly. "Collie, will you please let Mr. Summers take Boyar? I want to talk with the President of--of my mine a little while." "Don't faint, Chico," said Overland, swinging into the saddle. "I always was the 'cute little gopher with the ladies. You watch us ride up this trail if you want to see a pair that can ride." Collie shook his fist at the grinning Overland, who had turned as he rode away. "You want to learn to act quick when a lady asks you," called Overland. "You didn't get off this hoss any too spry." Then Collie stooped and picked up a little red flower that had dropped from the boisterous one's offering. _ |
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