wildfire-第47节

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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　hot　with　anger；　yet　weak；　too；　somehow。　But
Dad　says　I'm　never　in　any　danger　if　I　watch　out。　And　I　do。　Who　could　catch　me
on　Sarch？〃

〃Any　horse　can　be　tripped　in　the　sage。　You　told　me　how　Joel　tried　to　rope　Sage
King。　Did　you　ever　tell　your　dad　that？〃

〃I　forgot。　But　then　I'm　glad　I　didn't。　Dad　would　shoot　for　that；　quicker　than
if　Joel　tried　to　rope　him。　。　。　。　Don't　worry；　Lin；　I　always　pack　a　gun。〃

〃But　can　you　use　it？〃

Lucy　laughed。　〃Do　you　think　I　can　only　ride？〃

Slone　remembered　that　Holley　had　said　he　had　taught　Lucy　how　to　shoot　as　well
as　ride。　〃You'll　be　watchfulcareful；〃　he　said；　earnestly。

〃Oh；　Lin；　you　need　to　be　that　more　than　I。　。　。　。　What　will　you　do？〃

〃I'll　stay　up　at　the　little　cabin　I　thought　I　owned　till　to…day。〃

〃Didn't　you　buy　it？〃　asked　Lucy；　quickly。

〃I　thought　I　did。　But　。　。　。　never　mind。　Maybe　I　won't　get　put　out　just　yet。
An'　when　will　I　see　you　again？〃

〃Here；　every　night。　Wait　till　I　come；〃　she　replied。　〃Good　night；　Lin。〃

〃I'llwait！〃　he　exclaimed；　with　a　catch　in　his　voice。　〃Oh；　my　luck！　。　。　。
I'll　wait；　Lucy；　every　dayhopin'　an'　prayin'　that　this　trouble　will　lighten。
An'　I'll　wait　at　nightfor　you！〃

He　kissed　her　good…by　and　watched　the　slight　form　glide　away；　flit　to　and　fro；
white　in　the　dark　patches；　grow　indistinct　and　vanish。　He　was　left　alone　in
the　silent　grove。

Slone　stole　back　to　the　cabin　and　lay　sleepless　and　tranced；　watching　the
stars；　till　late　that　night。

All　the　next　day　he　did　scarcely　anything　but　watch　and　look　after　his　horses
and　watch　and　drag　the　hours　out　and　dream　despite　his　dread。　But　no　one
visited　him。　The　cabin　was　left　to　him　that　day。

It　had　been　a　hot　day；　with　great　thunderhead；　black　and　creamy　white　clouds
rolling　down　from　the　canyon　country。　No　rain　had　fallen　at　the　Ford；　though
storms　near　by　had　cooled　the　air。　At　sunset　Slone　saw　a　rainbow　bending　down；
ruddy　and　gold；　connecting　the　purple　of　cloud　with　the　purple　of　horizon。

Out　beyond　the　valley　the　clouds　were　broken；　showing　rifts　of　blue；　and　they
rolled　low；　burying　the　heads　of　the　monuments；　creating　a　wild　and　strange
spectacle。　Twilight　followed；　and　appeared　to　rise　to　meet　the　darkening
clouds。　And　at　last　the　gold　on　the　shafts　faded；　the　monuments　faded；　and　the
valley　grew　dark。

Slone　took　advantage　of　the　hour　before　moonrise　to　steal　down　into　the　grove；
there　to　wait　for　Lucy。　She　came　so　quickly　he　scarcely　felt　that　he　waited　at
all；　and　then　the　time　spent　with　her；　sweet；　fleeting；　precious；　left　him
stronger　to　wait　for　her　again；　to　hold　himself　in；　to　cease　his　brooding；　to
learn　faith　in　something　deeper　than　he　could　fathom。

The　next　day　he　tried　to　work；　but　found　idle　waiting　made　the　time　fly
swifter　because　in　it　he　could　dream。　In　the　dark　of　the　rustling　cottonwoods
he　met　Lucy；　as　eager　to　see　him　as　he　was　to　see　her；　tender；　loving；
remorsefula　hundred　sweet　and　bewildering　things　all　so　new；　so　unbelievable
to　Slone。

That　night　he　learned　that　Bostil　had　started　for　Durango　with　some　of　his
riders。　This　trip　surprised　Slone　and　relieved　him　likewise；　for　Durango　was
over　two　hundred　miles　distant；　and　a　journey　there　even　for　the　hard　riders
was　a　matter　of　days。

〃He　left　no　orders　for　me；〃　Lucy　said；　〃except　to　behave　myself。　。　。　。　Is　this
behaving？〃　she　whispered；　and　nestled　close　to　Slone；　audacious；　tormenting　as
she　had　been　before　this　dark　cloud　of　trouble。　〃But　he　left　orders　for　Holley
to　ride　with　me　and　look　after　me。　Isn't　that　funny？　Poor　old　Holley！　He　hates
to　doublecross　Dad；　he　says。〃

〃I'm　glad　Holley's　to　look　after　you；〃　replied　Slone。　〃Yesterday　I　saw　you
tearin'　down　into　the　sage　on　Sarch。　I　wondered　what　you'd　do；　Lucy；　if　Cordts
or　that　loon　Creech　should　get　hold　of　you？〃

〃I'd　fight！〃

〃But；　child；　that's　nonsense。　You　couldn't　fight　either　of　them。〃

〃Couldn't　I？　Well；　I　just　could。　I'dI'd　shoot　Cordts。　And　I'd　whip　Joel
Creech　with　my　quirt。　And　if　he　kept　after　me　I'd　let　Sarch　run　him　down。
Sarch　hates　him。〃

〃You're　a　brave　sweetheart；〃　mused　Slone。　〃Suppose　you　were　caught　an'
couldn't　get　away。　Would　you　leave　a　trail　somehow？〃

〃I　sure　would。〃

〃Lucy；　I'm　a　wild…horse　hunter；〃　he　went　on；　thoughtfully；　as　if　speaking　to
himself。　〃I　never　failed　on　a　trail。　I　could　track　you　over　bare　rock。〃

〃Lin；　I'll　leave　a　trail；　so　never　fear；〃　she　replied。　〃But　don't　borrow
trouble。　You're　always　afraid　for　me。　Look　at　the　bright　side。　Dad　seems　to
have　forgotten　you。　Maybe　it　all　isn't　so　bad　as　we　thought。　Oh；　I　hope　so！　。
。　。　How　is　my　horse；　Wildfire？　I　want　to　ride　him　again。　I　can　hardly　keep
from　going　after　him。〃

And　so　they　whispered　while　the　moments　swiftly　passed。

It　was　early　during　the　afternoon　of　the　next　day　that　Slone；　hearing　the
clip…clop　of　unshod　ponies；　went　outside　to　look。　One　part　of　the　lane　he
could　see　plainly；　and　into　it　stalked　Joel　Creech；　leading　the　leanest　and
gauntest　ponies　Slone　had　ever　seen。　A　man　as　lean　and　gaunt　as　the　ponies
stalked　behind。

The　sight　shocked　Slone。　Joel　Creech　and　his　father！　Slone　had　no　proof；
because　he　had　never　seen　the　elder　Creech；　yet　strangely　he　felt　convinced　of
it。　And　grim　ideas　began　to　flash　into　his　mind。　Creech　would　hear　who　was
accused　of　cutting　the　boat　adrift。　What　would　he　say？　If　he　believed；　as　all
the　villagers　believed；　then　Bostil's　Ford　would　become　an　unhealthy　place　for
Lin　Slone。　Where　were　the　great　race…horsesBlue　Roan　and　Pegand　the　other
thoroughbreds？　A　pang　shot　through　Slone。

〃Oh；　not　lostnot　starved？〃　he　muttered。　〃That　would　be　hell！〃

Yet　he　believed　just　this　had　happened。　How　strange　he　had　never　considered
such　an　event　as　the　return　of　Creech。

〃I'd　better　look　him　up　before　he　looks　me；〃　said　Slone。

It　took　but　an　instant　to　strap　on　his　belt　and　gun。　Then　Slone　strode　down
his　path；　out　into　the　lane　toward　Brackton's。　Whatever　before　boded　ill　to
Slone　had　been　nothing　to　what　menaced　him　now。　He　would　have　a　man　to　facea
man　whom　repute　called　just；　but　stern。

Before　Slone　reached　the　vicinity　of　the　store　he　saw　riders　come　out　to　meet
the　Creech　party。　It　so　happened　there　were　more　riders　than　usually
frequented　Brackton's　at　that　hour。　The　old　storekeeper　came　stumbling　out　and
raised　his　hands。　The　riders　could　be　heard；　loud…voiced　and　excited。　Slone
drew　nearer；　and　the　nearer　he　got　the　swifter　he　strode。　Instinct　told　him
that　he　was　making　the　right　move。　He　would　face　this　man　whom　he　was　accused
of　ruining。　The　poor　mustangs　hung　their　heads　dejectedly。

〃Bags　of　bones；〃　some　rider　loudly　said。

And　then　Slone　drew　dose　to　the　excited　group。　Brackton　held　the　center；　he
was　gesticulating；　his　thin　voice　rose　piercingly。

〃Creech！　Whar's　Peg　an'　the　Roan？　Gawd　Almighty；　man！　You　ain't　meanin'　them
cayuses　thar　are　all　you've　got　left　of　thet　grand　bunch　of　hosses？〃

There　was　scarcely　a　sound。　All　the　riders　were　still。　Slone　fastened　his　eyes
on　Creech。　He　saw　a　gaunt；　haggard　face　almost　black　with　dust　worn　and
sadwith　big　eyes　of　terrible　gloom。　He　saw　an　unkempt；　ragged　form　that　had
been　wet　and　muddy；　and　was　now　dust…caked。

Creech　stood　silent　in　a　dignity　of　despair　that　wrung　Slone's　heart。　His
silence　was　an　answer。　It　was　Joel　Creech　who　broke　the　suspense。

〃Didn't　I　tell　you…all　what'd　happen？〃　he　shrilled。　〃PARCHED　AN'　STARVED！〃

〃Aw　no！〃　chorused　the　riders。

Brackton　shook　all　over。　Tears　dimmed　his　eyestears　that　he　had　no　shame
for。　〃So　help　me　GawdI'm　sorry！〃　was　his　broken　exclamation。

Slone　had　forgotten　himself　and　possible　revelation　concerning　him。　But　when
Holley　appeared　close　to　him　with　a　significant　warning　look；　Slone　grew　keen
once　more　on　his　own　account。　He　felt　a　hot　flame　inside　hima　deep　and
burning　anger　at　the　man　who　might　have　saved　Creech's　horses。　And　he；　like
Brackton；　felt　sorrow　for　Creech；　and　a　rider's　sense　of　loss；　of　pain。　These
horsesthese　dumb　brutes　faithful　and　sometimes　devoted；　had　to　suffer　an
agonizing　death　because　of　the　selfishness　of　men。

〃I　reckon　we'd　all　like　to　hear　what　come　off；　Creech；　if　you　don't　feel　too
bad　to　tell　us；〃　said　Brackton。

〃Gimme　a　drink；〃　replied　Creech。

〃Wal；　dn　my　old　head！〃　exclaimed　Brackton。　〃I'm　gittin'　old。　Come　on　in。　All
of　you！　We're　glad　to　see　Creech　home。〃

The　riders　filed　in　after　Brackton　and　the　Creeches。　Holley　stayed　close
beside　Slone；　both　of　them　in　the　background。

〃I　heerd　the　flood　comin'　thet　night；〃　said　Creech　to　his　silent　and
tense…faced　listeners。　〃I　heerd　it　miles　up　the　canyon。　'Peared　a　bigger　roar
than　any　flood　before。　As　it　happened；　I　was　alone；　an'　it　took　time　to　git
the　hosses　up。　If　there'd　been　an　Indian　with　meor　even　Joelmebbe〃　His
voice　quavered　slightly；　broke；　and　then　he　resumed。　〃Even　when　I　got　the
hosses　over　to　the　landin'　it　wasn't　too　lateif　only　some　one　had　heerd　me
an'　come　down。　I　yelled　an'　shot。　Nobody　heerd。　The　river　was　risin'　fast。　An'
thet　roar　had　begun　to　make　my　hair　raise。　It　seemed　like　years　the　time　I
waited　there。　。　。　。　Then　the　flood