wildfire-第29节

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hotly。　〃I　found　you　out　here。　I　did　you　aa　little　service。　We　planned　to
race　Wildfire。　And　I　came　out　to　ride　him。　。　。　。　That's　all。〃

Slone's　dark；　steady　gaze　disconcerted　Lucy。　〃But；　no　one　knows　me；　and　we've
been　alone　in　secret。〃

〃It's　not　altogetherthat。　II　told　Auntie；〃　faltered　Lucy。

〃Yes；　just　lately。〃

〃Lin　Slone；　I'll　never　forgive　you　if　you　ask　Dad　that；〃　declared　Lucy；　with
startling　force。

〃I　reckon　that's　not　so　important。〃

〃Oh！so　you　don't　care。〃　Lucy　felt　herself　indeed　in　a　mood　not
comprehensible　to　her。　Her　blood　raced。　She　wanted　to　be　furious　with　Slone；
but　somehow　she　could　not　wholly　be　so。　There　was　something　about　him　that
made　her　feel　small　and　thoughtless　and　selfish。　Slone　had　hurt　her　pride。　But
the　thing　that　she　feared　and　resented　and　could　not　understand　was　the
strange　gladness　Slone's　declaration　roused　in　her。　She　tried　to　control　her
temper　so　she　could　think。　Two　emotions　contended　within　herone　of　intense
annoyance　at　the　thought　of　embarrassment　surely　to　follow　Slone's　action；　and
the　other　a　vague；　disturbing　element；　all　sweet　and　furious　and　inexplicable。
She　must　try　to　dissuade　him　from　approaching　her　father。

〃Please　don't　go　to　Dad。〃　She　put　a　hand　on　Slone's　arm　as　he　stood　close　up
to　Wildfire。

〃I　reckon　I　will；〃　he　said。

〃Lin！〃　In　that　word　there　was　the　subtle；　nameless　charm　of　an　intimacy　she
had　never　granted　him　until　that　moment。　He　seemed　drawn　as　if　by　invisible
wires。　He　put　a　shaking　hand　on　hers　and　crushed　her　gauntleted　fingers。　And
Lucy；　in　the　current　now　of　her　woman's　need　to　be　placated　if　not　obeyed；
pressed　her　small　hand　to　his。　How　strange　to　what　lengths　a　little　submission
to　her　feeling　had　carried　her！　Every　spoken　word；　every　movement；　seemed　to
exact　more　from　her。　She　did　not　know　herself。

〃Lin！　。　。　。　Promise　not　tospeak　to　Dad！〃

〃No。〃　His　voice　rang。

〃Don't　give　me　awaydon't　tell　my　Dad！〃

〃What？〃　he　queried；　incredulously。

Lucy　did　not　understand　what。　But　his　amazed　voice；　his　wide…open　eyes　of
bewilderment；　seemed　to　aid　her　into　piercing　the　maze　of　her　own　mind。　A
hundred　thoughts　whirled　together；　and　all　around　them　was　wrapped　the　warm；
strong　feeling　of　his　hand　on　hers。　What　did　she　mean　that　he　would　tell　her
father？　There　seemed　to　be　a　deep；　hidden　self　in　her。　Up　out　of　these　depths
came　a　whisper；　like　a　ray　of　light；　and　it　said　to　her　that　there　was　more
hope　for　Lin　Slone　than　he　had　ever　had　in　one　of　his　wildest　dreams。

〃Lin；　if　you　tell　Dadthen　he'll　knowand　there　WON'T　be　any　hope　for　you！〃
cried　Lucy；　honestly。

If　Slone　caught　the　significance　of　her　words　he　did　not　believe　it。

〃I'm　goin'　to　Bostil　after　the　race　an'　ask　him。　That's　settled；〃　declared
Slone；　stubbornly。

At　this　Lucy　utterly　lost　her　temper。　〃Oh！　youyou　fool！〃　she　cried。

Slone　drew　back　suddenly　as　if　struck；　and　a　spot　of　dark　blood　leaped　to　his
lean　face。　〃No！　It　seems　to　me　the　right　way。〃

〃Right　or　wrong　there's　no　sense　in　itbecausebecause。　Oh！　can't　you　see？〃

〃I　see　more　than　I　used　to；〃　he　replied。　〃I　was　a　fool　over　a　horse。　An'　now
I'm　a　fool　over　a　girl。　。　。　。　I　wish　you'd　never　found　me　that　day！〃

Lucy　whirled　in　the　saddle　and　made　Wildfire　jump。　She　quieted　him；　and；
leaping　off；　threw　the　bridle　to　Slone。　〃I　won't　ride　your　horse　in　the　race！〃
she　declared　with　sudden　passion。　She　felt　herself　shaking　all　over。

〃Lucy　Bostil；　I　wish　I　was　as　sure　of　Heaven　as　I　am　you'll　be　up　on　Wildfire
in　that　race；〃　he　said。

〃I　won't　ride　your　horse。〃

〃MY　horse。　Oh；　I　see。　。　。　。　But　you'll　ride　Wildfire。〃

〃I　won't。〃

Slone　suddenly　turned　white；　and　his　eyes　flashed　dark　fire。　〃You　won't　be
able　to　help　ridin'　him　any　more　than　I　could　help　it。〃

〃A　lot　you　know　about　me；　Lin　Slone！〃　returned　Lucy；　with　scorn。　〃I　can　be
asas　bull…headed　as　you；　any　day。〃

Slone　evidently　controlled　his　temper；　though　his　face　remained　white。　He　even
smiled　at　her。

〃You　are　Bostil's　daughter；〃　he　said。

〃Yes。〃

〃You　are　blood　an'　bone；　heart　an'　soul　a　rider；　if　any　girl　ever　was。　You're
a　wonder　with　a　horseas　good　as　any　man　I　ever　saw。　You　love　Wildfire。　An'
lookhow　strange！　That　wild　stallionthat　killer　of　horses；　why　he　follows
you；　he　whistles　for　you；　he　runs　like　lightnin'　for　you；　he　LOVES　you。〃

Slone　had　attacked　Lucy　in　her　one　weak　point。　She　felt　a　force　rending　her。
She　dared　not　look　at　Wildfire。　Yesall；　that　was　true　Slone　had　said。　How
desperately　hard　to　think　of　forfeiting　the　great　race　she　knew　she　could　win！

〃Never！　I'll　never　ride　your　Wildfire　AGAIN！〃　she　said；　very；　low。

〃MINE！　。　。　。　So　that's　the　trouble。　Well；　Wildfire　won't　be　mine　when　you　ride
the　race。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　demanded　Lucy。　〃You'll　sell　him　to　Bostil。　。　。　。　Bah！　you
couldn't〃

〃Sell　Wildfire！after　what　it　cost　me　to　catch　an'　break　him？　。　。　。　Not　for
all　your　father's　lands　an'　horses　an'　money！〃

Slone's　voice　rolled　out　with　deep；　ringing　scorn。　And　Lucy；　her　temper
quelled；　began　to　feel　the　rider's　strength；　his　mastery　of　the　situation；　and
something　vague；　yet　splendid　about　him　that　hurt　her。

Slone　strode　toward　her。　Lucy　backed　against　the　cedar…tree　and　could　go　no
farther。　How　white　he　was　now！　Lucy's　heart　gave　a　great；　fearful　leap；　for
she　imagined　Slone　intended　to　take　her　in　his　arms。　But　he　did　not。

〃When　you　rideWildfire　in　thatrace　he'll　beYOURS！〃　said　Slone；　huskily。

〃How　can　that　be？〃　questioned　Lucy；　in　astonishment。

〃I　give　him　to　you。〃

〃YougiveWildfireto　me？〃　gasped　Lucy。

〃Yes。　Right　now。〃

The　rider's　white　face　and　dark　eyes　showed　the　strain　of　great　and　passionate
sacrifice。

〃Lin　Slone！　。　。　。　I　can'tunderstand　you。〃

〃You've　got　to　ride　Wildfire　in　that　race。　You've　got　to　beat　the　King。　。　。　。
So　I　give　Wildfire　to　you。　An'　now　you　can't　help　but　ride　him。〃

〃Whywhy　do　you　give　himto　me？〃　faltered　Lucy。

All　her　pride　and　temper　had　vanished；　and　she　seemed　lost　in　blankness。

〃Because　you　love　Wildfire。　An'　Wildfire　loves　you。　。　。　。　If　that　isn't　reason
enoughthen　。　。　。　because　I　love　himas　no　rider　ever　loved　a　horse。　。　。　。
An'　I　love　you　as　no　man　ever　loved　a　girl！〃

Slone　had　never　before　spoken　words　of　love　to　Lucy。　She　dropped　her　head。　She
knew　of　his　infatuation。　But　he　had　always　been　shy　except　once　when　he　had
been　bold；　and　that　had　caused　a　quarrel。　With　a　strange　pain　at　her　breast
Lucy　wondered　why　Slone　had　not　spoken　that　way　before？　It　made　as　great　a
change　in　her　as　if　she　had　been　born　again。　It　released　something。　A　bolt
shot　back　in　her　heart。　She　knew　she　was　quivering　like　a　leaf；　with　no　power
to　control　her　muscles。　She　knew　if　she　looked　up　then　Slone　might　see　the
depths　of　her　soul。　Even　with　her　hands　shutting　out　the　light　she　thought　the
desert　around　had　changed　and　become　all　mellow　gold　and　blue　and　white；
radiant　as　the　moonlight　of　dreamsand　that　the　monuments　soared　above　them
grandly；　and　were　beautiful　and　noble；　like　the　revelations　of　love　and　joy　to
her。　And　suddenly　she　found　herself　sitting　at　the　foot　of　the　cedar；　weeping；
with　tear…wet　hands　over　her　face。

〃There's　nothin'　to…to　cry　about；〃　Slone　was　saying。　〃But　I'm　sorry　if　I
hurt　you。〃

〃Willyoupleasefetch　Sarch？〃　asked　Lucy；　tremulously。

While　Slone　went　for　the　horse　and　saddled　him　Lucy　composed　herself
outwardly。　And　she　had　two　very　strong　desiresone　to　tell　Slone　something；
and　the　other　to　run。　She　decided　she　would　do　both　together。

Slone　brought　Sarchedon。　Lucy　put　on　her　gauntlets；　and；　mounting　the　horse；
she　took　a　moment　to　arrange　her　skirts　before　she　looked　down　at　Slone。　He
was　now　pale；　rather　than　white；　and　instead　of　fire　in　his　eyes　there　was
sadness。　Lucy　felt　the　swelling　and　pounding　of　her　heartand　a　long；
delicious　shuddering　thrill　that　ran　over　her。

〃Lin；　I　won't　take　Wildfire；〃　she　said。

〃Yes；　you　will。　You　can't　refuse。　Remember　he's　grown　to　look　to　you。　It
wouldn't　be　right　by　the　horse。〃

〃But　he's　all　you　have　in　the　world；〃　she　protested。　Yet　she　knew　any
protestations　would　be　in　vain。

〃No。　I　have　good　old　faithful　Nagger。〃

〃Would　you　go　try　to　hunt　another　wild　stallionlike　Wildfire？〃　asked　Lucy；
curiously。　She　was　playing　with　the　wonderful　sweet　consciousness　of　her　power
to　render　happiness　when　she　chose。

〃No　more　horse…huntin'　for　me；〃　declared　Slone。　〃An'　as　for　findin'　one　like
Wildfirethat'd　never　be。〃

〃Suppose　I　won't　accept　him？〃

〃How　could　you　refuse？　Not　for　me　but　for　Wildfire's　sake！　。　。　。　But　if　you
could　be　mean　an'　refuse；　why；　Wildfire　can　go　back　to　the　desert。〃

〃No！〃　exclaimed　Lucy。

〃I　reckon　so。〃

Lucy　paused　a　moment。　How　dry　her　tongue　seemed！　And　her　breathing　was
labored！　An　unreal　shimmering　gleam　shone　on　all　about　her。　Even　the　red
stallion　appeared　enveloped　in　a　glow。　And　the　looming　monuments　looked　down
upon　her；　paternal；　old；　and　wise；　bright　with　the　color　of　happiness

〃Wildfire　ought　to　have　several　more　days'　trainingthen　a　day　of　restand
then　the　race；〃　said　Lucy；　turning　again　to　look　at　Slone。

A　smile　was　beginning　to　change　the　hardness　of　his　face。　〃Yes；　Lucy；〃　he
said。

〃And　I'll　HAVE　to　ride　him？〃

〃You　sure　wi