wildfire-第3节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！





CHAPTER　II

Bostil　went　toward　the　house　with　his　daughter；　turning　at　the　door　to　call　a
last　word　to　his　riders　about　the　care　of　his　horses。

The　house　was　a　low；　flat；　wide　structure；　with　a　corridor　running　through　the
middle；　from　which　doors　led　into　the　adobe…walled　rooms。　The　windows　were
small　openings　high　up；　evidently　intended　for　defense　as　well　as　light；　and
they　had　rude　wooden　shutters。　The　floor　was　clay；　covered　everywhere　by
Indian　blankets。　A　pioneer's　home　it　was；　simple　and　crude；　yet　comfortable；
and　having　the　rare　quality　peculiar　to　desert　homes　it　was　cool　in　summer　and
warm　in　winter。

As　Bostil　entered　with　his　arm　round　Lucy　a　big　hound　rose　from　the　hearth。
This　room　was　immense；　running　the　length　of　the　house；　and　it　contained　a
huge　stone　fireplace；　where　a　kettle　smoked　fragrantly；　and　rude　home…made
chairs　with　blanket　coverings；　and　tables　to　match；　and　walls　covered　with
bridles；　guns；　pistols；　Indian　weapons　and　ornaments；　and　trophies　of　the
chase。　In　a　far　corner　stood　a　work…bench；　with　tools　upon　it　and　horse
trappings　under　it。　In　the　opposite　comer　a　door　led　into　the　kitchen。　This
room　was　Bostil's　famous　living…room；　in　which　many　things　had　happened；　some
of　which　had　helped　make　desert　history　and　were　never　mentioned　by　Bostil。

Bostil's　sister　came　in　from　the　kitchen。　She　was　a　huge　person　with　a　severe
yet　motherly　face。　She　had　her　hands　on　her　hips；　and　she　cast　a　rather
disapproving　glance　at　father　and　daughter。

〃So　you're　back　again？〃　she　queried；　severely。

〃Sure；　Auntie；〃　replied　the　girl；　complacently。

〃You　ran　off　to　get　out　of　seeing　Wetherby；　didn't　you？〃

Lucy　stared　sweetly　at　her　aunt。

〃He　was　waiting　for　hours；〃　went　on　the　worthy　woman。　〃I　never　saw　a　man　in
such　a　stew。　。　。　。　No　wonder；　playing　fast　and　loose　with　him　the　way　you　do。〃

〃I　told　him　No！〃　flashed　Lucy。

〃But　Wetherby's　not　the　kind　to　take　no。　And　I'm　not　satisfied　to　let　you　mean
it。　Lucy　Bostil；　you　don't　know　your　mind　an　hour　straight　running。　You've
fooled　enough　with　these　riders　of　your　Dad's。　If　you're　not　careful　you'll
marry　one　of　them。　。　。　。　One　of　these　wild　riders！　As　bad　as　a　Ute　Indian！　。　。
。　Wetherby　is　young　and　he　idolizes　you。　In　all　common　sense　why　don't　you
take　him？〃

〃I　don't　care　for　him；〃　replied　Lucy。

〃You　like　him　as　well　as　anybody。　。　。　。　John　Bostil；　what　do　you　say？　You
approved　of　Wetherby。　I　heard　you　tell　him　Lucy　was　like　an　unbroken　colt　and
that　you'd〃

〃Sure；　I　like　Jim；〃　interrupted　Bostil；　and　he　avoided　Lucy's　swift　look。

〃Well？〃　demanded　his　sister。

Evidently　Bostil　found　himself　in　a　corner　between　two　fires。　He　looked
sheepish；　then　disgusted。

〃Dad！〃　exclaimed　Lucy；　reproachfully。

〃See　here；　Jane；〃　said　Bostil；　with　an　air　of　finality；　〃the　girl　is　of　age
to…dayan'　she　can　do　what　she　damn　pleases！〃

〃That's　a　fine　thing　for　you　to　say；〃　retorted　Aunt　Jane。　〃Like　as　not　she'll
be　fetching　that　hang…dog　Joel　Creech　up　here　for　you　to　support。〃

〃Auntie！〃　cried　Lucy；　her　eyes　blazing。

〃Oh；　child；　you　torment　meworry　me　so；〃　said　the　disappointed　woman。　〃It's
all　for　your　sake。　。　。　。　Look　at　you；　Lucy　Bostil！　A　girl　of　eighteen　who
comes　of　a　family！　And　you　riding　around　and　going　around　as　you　are　nowin　a
man's　clothes！〃

〃But；　you　dear　old　goose；　I　can't　ride　in　a　woman's　skirt；〃　expostulated　Lucy。
〃Mind　you；　Auntie；　I　can　RIDE！〃

〃Lucy；　if　I　live　here　forever　I'd　never　get　reconciled　to　a　Bostil　woman　in
leather　pants。　We　Bostils　were　somebody　once；　back　in　Missouri。〃

Bostil　laughed。　〃Yes；　an'　if　I　hadn't　hit　the　trail　west　we'd　be　starvin'　yet。
Jane；　you're　a　sentimental　old　fool。　Let　the　girl　alone　an'　reconcile　yourself
to　this　wilderness。〃

Aunt　Jane's　eyes　were　wet　with　tears。　Lucy；　seeing　them；　ran　to　her　and　hugged
and　kissed　her。

〃Auntie；　I　will　promisefrom　to…dayto　have　some　dignity。　I've　been　free　as
a　boy　in　these　rider　clothes。　As　I　am　now　the　men　never　seem　to　regard　me　as　a
girl。　Somehow　that's　better。　I　can't　explain；　but　I　like　it。　My　dresses　are
what　have　caused　all　the　trouble。　I　know　that。　But　if　I'm　grown　upif　it's　so
tremendous　then　I'll　wear　a　dress　all　the　time；　except　just　WHEN　I　ride。
Will　that　do；　Auntie？〃

〃Maybe　you　will　grow　up；　after　all；〃　replied　Aunt　Jane；　evidently　surprised
and　pleased。

Then　Lucy　with　clinking　spurs　ran　away　to　her　room。

〃Jane；　what's　this　nonsense　about　young　Joel　Creech？〃　asked　Bostil；　gruffly。

〃I　don't　know　any　more　than　is　gossiped。　That　I　told　you。　Have　you　ever　asked
Lucy　about　him？〃

〃I　sure　haven't；〃　said　Bostil；　bluntly。

〃Well；　ask　her。　If　she　tells　you　at　all　she'll　tell　the　truth。　Lucy'd　never
sleep　at　night　if　she　lied。〃

Aunt　Jane　returned　to　her　housewifely　tasks；　leaving　Bostil　thoughtfully
stroking　the　hound　and　watching　the　fire。　Presently　Lucy　returneda　different
Lucyone　that　did　not　rouse　his　rider's　pride；　but　thrilled　his　father's
heart。　She　had　been　a　slim；　lithe；　supple；　disheveled　boy；　breathing　the　wild
spirit　of　the　open　and　the　horse　she　rode。　She　was　now　a　girl　in　the　graceful
roundness　of　her　slender　form；　with　hair　the　gold　of　the　sage　at　sunset；　and
eyes　the　blue　of　the　deep　haze　of　distance；　and　lips　the　sweet　red　of　the
upland　rose。　And　all　about　her　seemed　different。

〃Lucyyou　looklikelike　she　used　to　be；〃　said　Bostil；　unsteadily。

〃My　mother！〃　murmured　Lucy。

But　these　two；　so　keen；　so　strong；　so　alive；　did　not　abide　long　with　sad
memories。

〃Lucy；　I　want　to　ask　you　somethin'；〃　said　Bostil；　presently。　〃What　about　this
young　Joel　Creech？〃

Lucy　started　as　if　suddenly　recalled；　then　she　laughed　merrily。　〃Dad；　you　old
fox；　did　you　see　him　ride　out　after　me？〃

〃No。　I　was　just　askin'　onon　general　principles。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Lucy；　is　there　anythin'　between　you　an'　Joel？〃　he　asked；　gravely。

〃No；〃　she　replied；　with　her　clear　eyes　up　to　his。

Bostil　thought　of　a　bluebell。　〃I'm　beggin'　your　pardon；〃　he　said；　hastily。

〃Dad；　you　know　how　Joel　runs　after　me。　I've　told　you。　I　let　him　till　lately。　I
liked　him。　But　that　wasn't　why。　I　felt　sorry　for　himpitied　him。〃

〃You　did？　Seems　an　awful　waste；〃　replied　Bostil。

〃Dad；　I　don't　believe　Joel　isperfectly　right　in　his　mind；〃　Lucy　said；
solemnly。

〃Haw！　haw！　Fine　compliments　you're　payin'　yourself。〃

〃Listen。　I'm　serious。　I　mean　I've　grown　to　see…looking　back　that　a　slow；
gradual　change　has　come　over　Joel　since　he　was　kicked　in　the　head　by　a
mustang。　I'm　sure　no　one　else　has　noticed　it。〃

〃Goin'　batty　over　you。　That's　no　unusual　sign　round　this　here　camp。　Look　at〃

〃We're　talking　about　Joel　Creech。　Lately　he　has　done　some　queer　things。
To…day；　for　instance。　I　thought　I　gave　him　the　slip。　But　he　must　have　been
watching。　Anyway；　to　my　surprise　he　showed　up　on　Peg。　He　doesn't　often　get　Peg
across　the　river。　He　said　the　feed　was　getting　scarce　over　there。　I　was　dying
to　race　Buckles　against　Peg；　but　I　remembered　you　wouldn't　like　that。〃

〃I　should　say　not；〃　said　Bostil；　darkly。

〃Well；　Joel　caught　up　to　meand　he　wasn't　nice　at　all。　He　was　worse　to…day。
We　quarreled。　I　said　I'd　bet　he'd　never　follow　me　again　and　he　said　he'd　bet
he　would。　Then　he　got　sulky　and　hung　back。　I　rode　away；　glad　to　be　rid　of　him；
and　I　climbed　to　a　favorite　place　of　mine。　On　my　way　home　I　saw　Peg　grazing　on
the　rim　of　the　creek；　near　that　big　spring…hole　where　the　water's　so　deep　and
clear。　And　what　do　you　think？　There　was　Joel's　head　above　the　water。　I
remembered　in　our　quarrel　I　had　told　him　to　go　wash　his　dirty　face。　He　was
doing　it。　I　had　to　laugh。　When　he　saw　mehethenthen　he〃　Lucy　faltered；
blushing　with　anger　and　shame。

〃Well；　what　then？〃　demanded　Bostil；　quietly。

〃He　called；　'Hey；　Lucetake　off　your　clothes　and　come　in　for　a　swim！'〃

Bostil　swore。

〃I　tell　you　I　was　mad；〃　continued　Lucy；　〃and　just　as　surprised。　That　was　one
of　the　queer　things。　But　never　before　had　he　dared　toto…〃

〃Insult　you。　Then　what　'd　you　do？〃　interrupted　Bostil；　curiously。

〃I　yelled；　'I'll　fix　you；　Joel　Creech！'。　。　。　His　clothes　were　in　a　pile　on　the
bank。　At　first　I　thought　I'd　throw　them　in　the　water；　but　when　I　got　to　them　I
thought　of　something　better。　I　took　up　all　but　his　shoes；　for　I　remembered　the
ten　miles　of　rock　and　cactus　between　him　and　home；　and　I　climbed　up　on
Buckles。　Joel　screamed　and　swore　something　fearful。　But　I　didn't　look　back。
And　Peg；　you　knowmaybe　you　don't　knowbut　Peg　is　fond　of　me；　and　he
followed　me；　straddling　his　bridle　all　the　way　in。　I　dropped　Joel's　clothes
down　the　ridge　a　ways；　right　in　the　trail；　so　he　can't　miss　them。　And　that's
all。　。　。　。　Dad；　was　itwas　it　very　bad？〃

〃Bad！　Why；　you　ought　to　have　thrown　your　gun　on　him。　At　least　bounced　a　rock
off　his　head！　But　say；　Lucy；　after　all；　maybe　you've　done　enough。　I　guess　you
never　thought　of　it。〃

〃What？〃

〃The　sun　is　hot　to…day。　Hot！　An'　if　Joel's　as　crazy　an'　mad　as　you　say　he'll
not　have　sense　enough　to　stay　in　the　water　or　shade　till　the　sun's　gone　down。
An'　if　he　tackles　that　ten　miles　before　he'll　sunburn　himself　within　an　inch
of　his　life。〃

〃Sunburn？　Oh；　Dad！　I'm　sorry；〃　burst　out　Lucy；　contritely。　〃I　never　thought　of
that。　I'll　ride　back　with　his　clothes。〃

〃You