wildfire-第46节

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she　had　done。

〃Lucy！　Lucy！　。　。　。　He　can　beat　meagain！〃　said　Slone；　low　and　hoarsely。

〃If　you　love　me　you'll　keep　out　of　his　way；〃　replied　the　girl。

〃If　I　love　you？　。　。　。　My　God！　。　。　。　I've　felt　my　heart　die　a　thousand　times
since　that　mornin'whenwhen　you〃

〃Lin；　I　didn't　know；〃　she　interrupted；　with　sweet；　grave　earnestness。　〃I　know
now！〃

And　Slone　could　not　but　know；　too；　looking　at　her；　and　the　sweetness；　the
eloquence；　the　noble　abandon　of　her　avowal　sounded　to　the　depths　of　him。　His
dread；　his　resignation；　his　shame；　all　sped　forever　in　the　deep；　full　breath
of　relief　with　which　he　cast　off　that　burden。　He　tasted　the　nectar　of
happiness；　the　first　time　in　his　life。　He　lifted　his　headnever；　he　knew；　to
lower　it　again。　He　would　be　true　to　what　she　had　made　him。

〃Come　in　the　shade；〃　he　whispered；　and　with　his　arm　round　her　he　led　her　to
the　great　tree…trunk。　〃Is　it　safe　for　you　here？　An'　how　long　can　you　stay？〃

〃I　had　it　out　with　Dadleft　him　licked　once　in　his　life；〃　she　replied。　〃Then
I　went　to　my　room；　fastened　the　door；　and　slipped　out　of　my　window。　I　can　stay
out　as　long　as　I　want。　No　one　will　know。〃

Slone's　heart　throbbed。　She　was　his。　The　clasp　of　her　hands　on　his；　the　gleam
of　her　eyes；　the　white；　daring　flash　of　her　face　in　the　shadow　of　the
moonthese　told　him　she　was　his。　How　it　had　come　about　was　beyond　him；　but　he
realized　the　truth。　What　a　girl！　This　was　the　same　nerve　which　she　showed　when
she　had　run　Wildfire　out　in　front　of　the　fleetest　horses　in　the　uplands。

〃Tell　me；　then；〃　he　began；　quietly；　with　keen　gaze　roving　under　the　trees　and
eyes　strained　tight；　〃tell　me　what's　come　off。〃

〃Don't　you　know？〃　she　queried；　in　amaze。

〃Only　that　for　some　reason　I'm　done　in　Bostil's　Ford。　It　can't　be　because　I
punched　Joel　Creech。　I　felt　it　before　I　met　Bostil　at　the　store。　He　taunted
me。　We　had　bitter　words。　He　told　before　all　of　them　how　the　outfit　I　wore　you
gave　me。　An'　then　I　dared　him　to　race　the　King。　My　horse　an'　my　life　against
YOU！〃

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　she　whispered；　softly。　〃It's　all　over　town。　。　。　。　Oh；　Lin！　it
was　a　grand　bet！　And　Bostil　four…flushed；　as　the　riders　say。　For　days　a　race
between　Wildfire　and　the　King　had　been　in　the　air。　There'll　never　be　peace　in
Bostil's　Ford　again　till　that　race　is　run。〃

〃But；　Lucy；　could　Bostil's　wantin'　Wildfire　an'　hatin'　me　because　I　won't
sellcould　that　ruin　me　here　at　the　Ford？〃

〃It　could。　But；　Lin；　there's　more。　Oh；　I　hate　to　tell　you！〃　she　whispered；
passionately。　〃I　thought　you'd　know。　。　。　。　Joel　Creech　swore　you　cut　the　ropes
on　the　ferry…boat　and　sent　it　adrift。〃

〃The　loon！〃　ejaculated　Slone；　and　he　laughed　low　in　both　anger　and　ridicule。
〃Lucy；　that's　only　a　fool's　talk。〃

〃He's　crazy。　Oh；　if　I　ever　get　him　in　front　of　me　again　when　I'm　on
SarchI'llI'll。　。　。　。〃　She　ended　with　a　little　gasp　and　leaned　a　moment
against　Slone。　He　felt　her　heart　beatfelt　the　strong　clasp　of　her　hands。　She
was　indeed　Bostil's　flesh　and　blood；　and　there　was　that　in　her　dangerous　to
arouse。

〃Lin；　the　folks　here　are　queer；〃　she　resumed；　more　calmly。　〃For　long　years　Dad
has　ruled　them。　They　see　with　his　eyes　and　talk　with　his　voice。　Joel　Creech
swore　you　cut　those　cables。　Swore　he　trailed　you。　Brackton　believed　him。　Van
believed　him。　They　told　my　father。　And　hemy　dadGod　forgive　him！　he　jumped
at　that。　The　village　as　one　person　now　believes　you　sent　the　boat　adrift　so
Creech's　horses　could　not　cross　and　you　could　win　the　race。〃

〃Lucy；　if　it　wasn't　soso　funny　I'd　be　mad　asas〃　burst　out　Slone。

〃It　isn't　funny。　It's　terrible。　。　。　。　I　know　who　cut　those　cables。　　。　。　Holley
knows。　。　。　。　DAD　knowsan'；　oh；　LinIhateI　hate　my　own　father！〃

〃My　God！〃　gasped　Slone；　as　the　full　signification　burst　upon　him。　Then　his
next　thought　was　for　Lucy。　〃Listen；　dearyou　mustn't　say　that；〃　he　entreated。
〃He's　your　father。　He's　a　good　man　every　way　except　when　he's　after　horses。
Then　he's　half　horse。　I　understand　him。　I　feel　sorry　for　him。　。　。　。　An'　if
he's　throwed　the　blame　on　me；　all　right。　I'll　stand　it。　What　do　I　care？　I　was
queered；　anyhow；　because　I　wouldn't　part　with　my　horse。　It　can't　matter　so
much　if　people　think　I　did　that　just　to　help　win　a　race。　But　if　they　knew
youryour　father　did　it；　an'　if　Creech's　horses　starve；　why　it'd　be　a
disgrace　for　himan'　you。〃

〃Lin　Sloneyou'll　accept　the　blame！〃　she　whispered；　with　wide；　dark　eyes　on
him；　hands　at　his　shoulders。

〃Sure　I　will；〃　replied　Slone。　〃I　can't　be　any　worse　off。〃

〃You're　better　than　all　of　themmy　rider！〃　she　cried；　full…voiced　and
tremulous。　〃Lin；　you　make　me　love　you　soitit　hurts！〃　And　she　seemed　about
to　fling　herself　into　his　arms　again。　There　was　a　strangeness　about　hera
glory。　〃But　you'll　not　take　the　shame　of　that　act。　For　I　won't　let　you。　I'll
tell　my　father　I　was　with　you　when　the　boat　was　cut　loose。　He'll　believe　me。〃

〃Yes；　an'　he'll　KILL　me！〃　groaned　Slone。　〃Good　Lord！　Lucy；　don't　do　that！〃

〃I　will！　An'　he'll　not　kill　you。　Lin；　Dad　took　a　great　fancy　to　you。　I　know
that。　He　thinks　he　hates　you。　But　in　his　heart　he　doesn't。　If　he　got　hold　of
Wildfirewhy；　he'd　never　be　able　to　do　enough　for　you。　He　never　could　make　it
up。　What　do　you　think？　I　told　him　you　hugged　and　kissed　me　shamefully　that
day。〃

〃Oh；　Lucy！　you　didn't？〃　implored　Slone。

〃I　sure　did。　And　what　do　you　think？　He　said　he　once　did　the　same　to　my　mother！
。　。　。　No；　Lin；　Dad'd　never　kill　you　for　anything　except　a　fury　about　horses。
All　the　fights　he　ever　had　were　over　horse　deals。　The　two　menhehe〃　Lucy
faltered　and　her　shudder　was　illuminating　to　Slone。　〃Both　of　themfights　over
horse　trades！〃

〃Lucy；　if　I'm　ever　unlucky　enough　to　meet　Bostil　again　I'll　be　deaf　an'　dumb。
An'　now　you　promise　me　you　won't　tell　him　you　were　with　me　that　night。〃

〃Lin；　if　the　occasion　comes；　I　willI　couldn't　help　it；〃　replied　Lucy。

〃Then　fight　shy　of　the　occasion；〃　he　rejoined；　earnestly。　〃For　that　would　be
the　end　of　Lin　Slone！〃

〃Thenwhat　on　earth　canwe　do？〃　Lucy　said；　with　sudden　break　of　spirit。

〃I　think　we　must　wait。　You　wrote　in　your　letter　you'd　stick　to　me　you'd〃
He　could　not　get　the　words　out；　the　thought　so　overcame　him。

〃If　it　comes　to　a　finish；　I'll　go　with　you；〃　Lucy　returned；　with　passion
rising　again。

〃Oh！　to　ride　off　with　you；　Lucyto　have　you　all　to　myselfI　daren't　think　of
it。　But　that's　only　selfish。〃

〃Maybe　it's　not　so　selfish　as　you　believe。　If　you　left　the　Fordnow　it'd
break　my　heart。　I'd　never　get　over　it。〃

〃Lucy！　You　love　methat　well？〃

Then　their　lips　met　again　and　their　hands　locked；　and　they　stood　silent；
straining　toward　each　other。　He　held　the　slight　form；　so　pliant；　so
responsive；　so　alive；　close　to　him；　and　her　face　lay　hidden　on　his　breast；　and
he　looked　out　over　her　head　into　the　quivering　moonlit　shadows。　The　night　was
as　still　as　one　away　on　the　desert　far　from　the　abode　of　men。　It　was　more
beautiful　than　any　dream　of　a　night　in　which　he　had　wandered　far　into　strange
lands　where　wild　horses　were　and　forests　lay　black　under　moon…silvered　peaks。

〃We'll　runthenif　it　comes　to　a　finish；〃　said　Slone；　huskily。　〃But　I'll
wait。　I'll　stick　it　out　here。　I'll　take　what　comes。　Somaybe　I'll　not
disgrace　you　more。〃

〃I　told　Van　II　gloried　in　being　hugged　by　you　that　day；〃　she　replied；　and
her　little　defiant　laugh　told　what　she　thought　of　the　alleged　disgrace。

〃You　torment　him；〃　remonstrated　Slone。　〃You　set　him　against　us。　It　would　be
better　to　keep　still。〃

〃But　my　blood　is　up！〃　she　said；　and　she　pounded　his　shoulder　with　her　fist。
〃I'll　fightI'll　fight！　。　。　。　I　couldn't　avoid　Van。　It　was　Holley　who　told　me
Van　was　threatening　you。　And　when　I　met　Van　he　told　me　how　everybody　said　you
insulted　mehad　been　worse　than　a　drunken　riderand　that　he'd　beat　you　half
to　death。　So　I　told　Van　Joel　Creech　might　have　seen　usI　didn't　doubt
thatbut　he　didn't　see　that　I　liked　being　hugged。〃

〃What　did　Van　say　then？〃　asked　Slone；　all　aglow　with　his　wonderful　joy。

〃He　wilted。　He　slunk　away。　。　。　。　And　so　I'll　tell　them　all。〃

〃But；　Lucy；　you've　always　been　soso　truthful。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Well；　to　say　you　liked　being　hugged　that　day　waswas　a　story；　wasn't　it？〃

〃That　was　what　made　me　so　furious；〃　she　admitted；　shyly。　〃I　was　surprised　when
you　grabbed　me　off　Wildfire。　And　my　heart　beatbeat　beat　so　when　you　hugged
me。　And　when　you　kissed　me　II　was　petrified。　I　knew　I　liked　it　thenand　I
was　furious　with　myself。〃

Slone　drew　a　long；　deep　breath　of　utter　enchantment。　〃You'll　take　back
Wildfire？〃

〃Oh；　Lindon'taskme；〃　she　implored。

〃Take　him　backan'　me　with　him。〃

〃Then　I　will。　But　no　one　must　know　that　yet。〃

They　drew　apart　then。

〃An'　now　you　must　go；〃　said　Slone；　reluctantly。　〃Listen。　I　forgot　to　warn　you
about　Joel　Creech。　Don't　ever　let　him　near　you。　He's　crazy　an'　he　means　evil。〃

〃Oh；　I　know；　Lin！　I'll　watch。　But　I'm　not　afraid　of　him。〃

〃He's　strong；　Lucy。　I　saw　him　lift　bags　that　were　hefty　for　me。　。　。　。　Lucy；　do
you　ride　these　days？〃

〃Every　day。　If　I　couldn't　ride　I　couldn't　live。〃

〃I'm　afraid；〃　said　Slone；　nervously。　〃There's　Creech　an'　Cordts　both　have
threatened　you。〃

〃I'm　afraid　of　Cordts；〃　replied　Lucy；　with　a　shiver。　〃You　should　have　seen　him
look　at　me　race…day。　It　made　me　h