wildfire-第8节

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of　crossing　was　to　row　up　along　the　shore　as　far　as　a　great　cape　of　rock
jutting　out；　and　there　make　into　the　current；　and　while　drifting　down　pull
hard　to　reach　the　landing　opposite。　Heavily　laden　as　the　boat　was；　the　chances
were　not　wholly　in　favor　of　a　successful　crossing。

Lucy　watched　the　slow；　laborious　struggle　of　the　boatmen　with　the　heavy　oars
until　she　suddenly　remembered　the　object　of　her　visit　down　to　the　ford。　She
appeared　to　be　alone　on　her　side　of　the　river。　At　the　landing　opposite；
however；　were　two　men；　and　presently　Lucy　recognized　Joel　Creel　and　his
father。　A　second　glance　showed　Indians　with　burros；　evidently　waiting　for　the
boat。　Joel　Creech　jumped　into　a　skiff　and　shoved　off。　The　elder　man；　judging
by　his　motions；　seemed　to　be　trying　to　prevent　his　son　from　leaving　the　shore。
But　Joel　began　to　row　up…stream；　keeping　close　to　the　shore。　Lucy　watched　him。
No　doubt　he　had　seen　her　and　was　coming　across。　Either　the　prospect　of　meeting
him　or　the　idea　of　meeting　him　there　in　the　place　where　she　was　never　herself
made　her　want　to　turn　at　once　and　ride　back　home。　But　her　stubborn　sense　of
fairness　overruled　that。　She　would　hold　her　ground　solely　in　the　hope　of
persuading　Joel　to　be　reasonable。　She　saw　the　big　flatboat　sweep　into　line　of
sight　at　the　same　time　Joel　turned　into　the　current。　But　while　the　larger
craft　drifted　slowly　the　other　way；　the　smaller　one　came　swiftly　down　and
across。　Joel　swept　out　of　the　current　into　the　eddy；　rowed　across　that；　and
slid　the　skiff　up　on　the　sand…bar。　Then　he　stepped　out。　He　was　bareheaded　and
barefooted；　but　it　was　not　that　which　made　him　seem　a　stranger　to　Lucy。

〃Are　you　lookin'　fer　me？〃　he　shouted。

Lucy　waved　a　hand　for　him　to　come　up。

Then　he　approached。　He　was　a　tall；　lean　young　man；　stoop…shouldered　and
bow…legged　from　much　riding；　with　sallow；　freckled　face；　a　thin　fuzz　of　beard；
weak　mouth　and　chin；　and　eyes　remarkable　for　their　small　size　and　piercing
quality　and　different　color。　For　one　was　gray　and　the　other　was　hazel。　There
was　no　scar　on　his　face；　but　the　irregularity　of　his　features　reminded　one　who
knew　that　he　had　once　been　kicked　in　the　face　by　a　horse。

Creech　came　up　hurriedly；　in　an　eager；　wild　way　that　made　Lucy　suddenly　pity
him。　He　did　not　seem　to　remember　that　the　stallion　had　an　antipathy　for　him。
But　Lucy；　if　she　had　forgotten；　would　have　been　reminded　by　Sarchedon's
action。

〃Look　out；　Joel！〃　she　called；　and　she　gave　the　black's　head　a　jerk。　Sarchedon
went　up　with　a　snort　and　came　down　pounding　the　sand。　Quick　as　an　Indian　Lucy
was　out　of　the　saddle。

〃Lemme　your　quirt；〃　said　Joel；　showing　his　teeth　like　a　wolf。

〃No。　I　wouldn't　let　you　hit　Sarch。　You　beat　him　once；　and　he's　never
forgotten；〃　replied　Lucy。

The　eye　of　the　horse　and　the　man　met　and　clashed；　and　there　was　a　hostile
tension　in　their　attitudes。　Then　Lucy　dropped　the　bridle　and　drew　Joel　over　to
a　huge　drift…log；　half　buried　in　the　sand。　Here　she　sat　down；　but　Joel
remained　standing。　His　gaze　was　now　all　the　stranger　for　its　wistfulness。　Lucy
was　quick　to　catch　a　subtle　difference　in　him；　but　she　could　not　tell　wherein
it　lay。

〃What'd　you　want？〃　asked　Joel。

〃I've　heard　a　lot　of　things；　Joel；〃　replied　Lucy；　trying　to　think　of　just　what
she　wanted　to　say。

〃Reckon　you　have；〃　said　Joel；　dejectedly；　and　then　he　sat　down　on　the　log　and
dug　holes　in　the　sand　with　his　bare　feet。

Lucy　had　never　before　seen　him　look　tired；　and　it　seemed　that　some　of　the
healthy　brown　of　his　cheeks　had　thinned　out。　Then　Lucy　told　him；　guardedly；　a
few　of　the　rumors　she　had　heard。

〃All　thet　you　say　is　nothin'　to　what's　happened；〃　he　replied；　bitterly。　〃Them
riders　mocked　the　life　an'　soul　out　of　me。〃

〃But；　Joel；　you　shouldn't　be　soso　touchy；〃　said　Lucy；　earnestly。　〃After　all；
the　joke　WAS　on　you。　Why　didn't　you　take　it　like　a　man？〃

〃But　they　knew　you　stole　my　clothes；〃　he　protested。

〃Suppose　they；　did。　That　wasn't　much　to　care　about。　If　you　hadn't　taken　it　so
hard　they'd　have　let　up　on　you。〃

〃Mebbe　I　might　have　stood　that。　But　they　taunted　me　with　bein'　loony　about
you。〃

Joel　spoke　huskily。　There　was　no　doubt　that　he　had　been　deeply　hurt。　Lucy　saw
tears　in　his　eyes；　and　her　first　impulse　was　to　put　a　hand　on　his　and　tell　him
how　sorry　she　was。　But　she　desisted。　She　did　not　feel　at　her　ease　with　Joel。

〃What'd　you　and　Van　fight　about？〃　she　asked；　presently。　Joel　hung　his　head。　〃I
reckon　I　ain't　a…goin'　to　tell　you。〃

〃You're　ashamed　of　it？〃

Joel's　silence　answered　that。

〃You　said　something　about　me？〃　Lucy　could　not　resist　her　curiosity；　back　of
which　was　a　little　heat。　〃It　must　have　beenbadelse　Van　wouldn't　have
struck　you。　〃　

〃He　hit　mehe　knocked　me　flat；〃　passionately　said　Joel。

〃And　you　drew　a　gun　on　him？〃

〃I　did；　an'　like　a　fool　I　didn't　wait　till　I　got　up。　Then　he　kicked　me！　。　。　。
Bostil's　Ford　will　never　be　big　enough　fer　me　an'　Van　now。〃

〃Don't　talk　foolish。　You　won't　fight　with　Van。　。　。　。　Joel；　maybe　you　deserved
what　you　got。　You　say　somesome　rude　things。〃

〃I　only　said　I'd　pay　you　back；〃　burst　out　Joel。

〃How？〃

〃I　swore　I'd　lay　fer　youan'　steal　your　clothesso　you'd　have　to　run　home
naked。〃

There　was　indeed　something　lacking　in　Joel；　but　it　was　not　sincerity。　His　hurt
had　rankled　deep　and　his　voice　trembled　with　indignation。

〃But；　Joel；　I　don't　go　swimming　in　spring…holes；〃　protested　Lucy；　divided
between　amusement　and　annoyance。

〃I　meant　it；　anyhow；〃　said　Joel；　doggedly。

〃Are　you　absolutely　honest？　Is　that　all　you　said　to　provoke　Van？〃

〃It's　all；　Lucy；　I　swear。〃

She　believed　him；　and　saw　the　unfortunate　circumstance　more　than　ever　her
fault。　〃I'm　sorry；　Joel。　I'm　much　to　blame。　I　shouldn't　have　lost　my　temper
and　played　that　trick　with　your　clothes。　。　。　。　If　you'd　only　had　sense　enough
to　stay　out　till　after　dark！　But　no　use　crying　over　spilt　milk。　Now；　if　you'll
do　your　share　I'll　do　mine。　I'll　tell　the　boys　I　was　to　blame。　I'll　persuade
them　to　let　you　alone。　I'll　go　to　Muncie〃

〃No　you　won't　go　cryin'　small　fer　me！〃　blurted　out　Joel。

Lucy　was　surprised　to　see　pride　in　him。　〃Joel；　I'll　not　make　it　appear〃

〃You'll　not　say　one　word　about　me　to　any　one；〃　he　went　on；　with　the　blood
beginning　to　darken　his　face。　And　now　he　faced　her。　How　strange　the　blaze　in
his　differently　colored　eyes！　〃Lucy　Bostil；　there's　been　thet　done　an'　said　to
me　which　I'll　never　forgive。　I'm　no　good　in　Bostil's　Ford。　Mebbe　I　never　was
much。　But　I　could　get　a　job　when　I　wanted　it　an'　credit　when　I　needed　it。　Now
I　can't　get　nothin'。　I'm　no　good！　。　。　。　I'm　no　good！　An'　it's　your　fault！〃

〃Oh；　Joel；　what　can　I　do？〃　cried　Lucy。

〃I　reckon　there's　only　one　way　you　can　square　me；〃　he　replied；　suddenly
growing　pale。　But　his　eyes　were　like　flint。　He　certainly　looked　to　be　in
possession　of　all　his　wits。

〃How？〃　queried　Lucy；　sharply。

〃You　can　marry　me。　Thet'll　show　thet　gang！　An'　it'll　square　me。　Then　I'll　go
back　to　work　an'　I'll　stick。　Thet's　all；　Lucy　Bostil。〃

Manifestly　he　was　laboring　under　strong　suppressed　agitation。　That　moment　was
the　last　of　real　strength　and　dignity　ever　shown　by　Joel　Creech。

〃But；　Joel；　I　can't　marry　youeven　if　I　am　to　blame　for　your　ruin；〃　said
Lucy；　simply。

〃Why？〃

〃Because　I　don't　love　you。〃

〃I　reckon　thet　won't　make　any　difference；　if　you　don't　love　some　one　else。〃

Lucy　gazed　blankly　at　him。　He　began　to　shake；　and　his　eyes　grew　wild。　She　rose
from　the　log。

〃Do　you　love　anybody　else？〃　he　asked；　passionately。

〃None　of　your　business！〃　retorted　Lucy。　Then；　at　a　strange　darkening　of　his
face；　an　aspect　unfamiliar　to　her；　she　grew　suddenly　frightened。

〃It's　Van！〃　he　said；　thickly。

〃Joel；　you're　a　fool！〃

That　only　infuriated　him。

〃So　they　all　say。　An'　they　got　my　old　man　believin'　it；　too。　Mebbe　I　am。　。　。　。
But　I'm　a…goin'　to　kill　Van！〃

〃No！　No！　Joel；　what　are　you　saying？　I　don't　love　Van。　I　don't　care　any　more
for　him　than　for　any　other　rideroror　you。〃

〃Thet's　a　lie；　Lucy　Bostil！〃

〃How　dare　you　say　I　lie？〃　demanded　Lucy。　〃I've　a　mind　to　turn　my　back　on　you。
I'm　trying　to　make　up　for　my　blunder　and　youyou　insult　me！〃

〃You　talk　sweet　。　。　。　but　talk　isn't　enough。　You　made　me　no…good　。　。　。　。　Will
you　marry　me？〃

〃I　will　not！〃　And　Lucy；　with　her　blood　up；　could　not　keep　contempt　out　of
voice　and　look；　and　she　did　not　care。　That　was　the　first　time　she　had　ever
shown　anything；　approaching　ridicule　for　Joel。　The　effect　was　remarkable。　Like
a　lash　upon　a　raw　wound　it　made　him　writhe；　but　more　significant　to　Lucy　was
the　sudden　convulsive　working　of　his　features　and　the　wildness　of　his　eyes。
Then　she　turned　her　back；　not　from　contempt；　but　to　hurry　away　from　him。

He　leaped　after　her　and　grasped　her　with　rude　hands。

〃Let　me　go！〃　cried　Lucy；　standing　perfectly　motionless。　The　hard　clutch　of　his
fingers　roused　a　fierce；　hot　anger。

Joel　did　not　heed　her　command。　He　was　forcing　her　back。　He　talked
incoherently。　One　glimpse　of　his　face　added　terror　to　Lucy's　fury。

〃Joel；　you're　out　of　your　head！〃　she　cried；　and　she　began　to　wrench　and　writhe
out　of　his　grasp。　Then　ensued　a　short；　sharp　struggle。　Joel　could　not　hold
Lucy；　but　he　tore　her　blouse　into　shreds。　It　seemed　to　Lucy　that　he　di