wyoming(怀俄明)-第15章
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〃A man doesn't know what he's missing until he gets shot up and is
brought to the Lazy D hospital； so as to let Miss Messiter exercise her
Christian duty on him；〃 he drawled； cheerfully； observing the sudden glow
on her cheek brought by the reference to his unanswered question。
He made the lounge in the big sunny window his headquarters。 From it
he could look out on some of the ranch activities when she was not with
him； could watch the line riders as they passed to and fro and command a
view of one of the corrals。 There was always； too； the turquoise sky； out of
which poured a flood of light on the roll of hilltops。 Sometimes he read to
himself； but he was still easily tired； and preferred usually to rest。 More
often she read aloud to him while he lay back with his leveled eyes
gravely on her till the gentle； cool abstraction she affected was disturbed
and her perplexed lashes rose to reproach the intensity of his gaze。
She was of those women who have the heavenborn faculty of making
home of such fortuitous elements as are to their hands。 Except her piano
and such knickknacks as she had brought in a single trunk she had had to
depend upon the resources of the establishment to which she had come；
but it is wonderful how much can be done with some Navajo rugs； a
bearskin； a few bits of Indian pottery and woven baskets and a judicious
arrangement of scenic photographs。 In a few days she would have her
pictures from Kalamazoo； pending which her touch had transformed the
big living room from a cheerless barn into a spot that was a comfort to the
eye and heart。 To the wounded man who lay there slowly renewing the
blood he had lost the room was the apotheosis of home； less； perhaps； by
reason of what it was in itself than because it was the setting for her
presencefor her grave； sympathetic eyes； the sound of her clear voice； the
light grace of her motion。 He rejoiced in the delightful intimacy the
circumstances made necessary。 To hear snatches of joyous song and gay
laughter even from a distance； to watch her as she came in and out on her
daily tasks； to contest her opinions of books and life and see how eagerly
she defended them； he wondered himself at the strength of the appeal
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these simple things made to him。 Already he was dreading the day when
he must mount his horse and ride back into the turbulent life from which
she had for a time； snatched him。
〃I'll hate to go back to sheepherding；〃 he told her one day at lunch；
looking at her across a snow…white tablecloth upon which were a service
of shining silver； fragile china teacups and plates stamped Limoges。
He was at the moment buttering a delicious French roll and she was
daintily pouring tea from an old family heirloom。 The contrast between
this and the dust and the grease of a midday meal at the end of a 〃chuck
wagon〃 lent accent to his smiling lamentation。
〃A lot of sheepherding you do；〃 she derided。
〃A shepherd has to look after his sheep； y'u know。〃
〃You herd sheep just about as much as I punch cows。〃
〃I have to herd my herders； anyhow； and that keeps me on the move。〃
〃I'm glad there isn't going to be any more trouble between you and the
Lazy D。 And that reminds me of another thing。 I've often wonered who
those men could have been that attacked you the day you were hurt。〃
She had asked the question almost carelessly； without any thought that
this might be something he wished to conceal； but she recognized her
mistake by the wariness that filmed his eyes instantly。
〃Room there for a right interesting guessing contest；〃 he replied。
〃You wouldn't need to guess；〃 she charged； on swift impulse。
〃Meaning that I know？〃
〃You do know。 You can't deny that you now。〃
〃Well； say that I know？〃
〃Aren't you going to tell？〃
He shook his head。 〃Not just yet。 I've got private reasons for keeping it
quiet a while。〃
〃I'm sure they are creditable to you；〃 came her swift ironic retort。
〃Sure；〃 he agreed； whimsically。 〃I must live up to the professional
standard。 Honor among thieves； y'u know。〃
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CHAPTER 9。 MISS DARLING
ARRIVES
Miss Messiter clung to civilization enough； at least； to prefer that her
chambermaid should be a woman rather than a Chinese。 It did not suit her
preconceived idea of the proper thing that Lee Ming should sweep floors；
dust bric…a…brac； and make the beds。 To see him slosh…sloshing around in
his felt slippers made her homesick for Kalamazoo。 There were other
reasons why the proprieties would be better served by having another
woman about the place； reasons that had to do with the chaperone system
that even in the uncombed West make its claims upon unmarried young
women of respectability。 She had with her for the present fourteen…year…
old Ida Henderson； but this arrangement was merely temporary。
Wherefore on the morning after her arrival Helen had sent two letters
back to 〃the States。〃 One of these had been to Mrs。 Winslow； a widow of
fifty…five； inviting her to come out on a business basis as housekeeper of
thc Lazy D。 The buxom widow had loved Helen since she had been a
toddling baby； and her reply was immediate and enthusiastic。 Eight days
later she had reported in person。 The second letter bore the affectionate
address of Nora Darling； Detroit； Michigan。 This also in time bore fruit at
the ranch in a manner worthy of special mention。
It was the fourth day after Ned Bannister had been carried back to the
Lazy D that Helen Messiter came out to the porch of the house with a
letter in her hand。 She found her foreman sitting on the steps waiting for
her； but he got up as soon as he heard the fall of her light footsteps behind
him。
〃You sent for me； ma'am？〃 he asked； hat in hand。
〃Yes； I want you to drive into Gimlet Butte and bring back a person
whom you'll find at the Elk House waiting for you。 I had rather you would
go yourself； because I know you're reliable。〃
〃Thank you； ma'am。 How will I know him？〃
〃It's a womana spinster。 She's coming to help Mrs。 Winslow。 Inquire
for Miss Darling。 She isn't used to jolting two days in a rig； but I know
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you will be careful of her。〃
〃I'll surely be as careful of the old lady as if she was my own mother。〃
The mistress of the ranch smothered a desire to laugh。
〃I'm sure you will。 At her age she may need a good deal of care。 Be
certain you take rug enough。〃
〃I'll take care of her the best I know how。 expect she's likely rheumatic；
but I'll wrop her up till she looks like a Cheyenne squaw when tourist is
trying to get a free shoot at her with camera。〃
〃Please do。 I want her to get a good impression of Wyoming so that
she will stay。 I don' know about the rheumatism； but you might ask her。〃
There were pinpoints of merriment behind th guileless innocence of
her eyes； but they came to the surface only after the foreman had departed。
McWilliams ordered a team of young horse hitched； and presently set
out on his two day； journey to Gimlet Butte。 He reached that town in good
season； left the team at a corral and walked back to the Elk House。 The
white dust of the plains was heavy on him； from the bandanna that loosely
embraced the brown throat above the flannel shirt to the encrusted boots
but through it the good humor of his tanned face smiled fraternally on a
young woman he passes at the entrance to the hotel。 Her gay smile met his
cordially； and she was still in his mind while he ran his eye down the
register in search of the name he wanted。 There it wasMiss Nora Darling；
Detroit； Michiganin the neatest of little round letters； under date of the
previous day's arrivals。
〃Is Miss Darling in？〃 asked McWilliams of the half…grown son of the
landlady who served in lieu of clerk and porter。
〃Nope！ Went out a little while ago。 Said to tell anybody to wait that
asked for her。〃
Mac nodded； relieved to find that duty had postponed itself long
enough for him to pursue the friendly smile that had not been wasted on
him a few seconds before。 He strolled out to the porch and decided at once
that he needed a cigar more than anything else on earth。 He was helped to
a realization of his need by seeing the owner of the smile disappear in an
adjoining drug store。
She was beginning on a nut sundae when the puncher drifted in。 She
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continued to devote even her eyes to its consumption； while the foreman
opened a casual conversation with the drug clerk and lit his cigar。
〃How are things coming in Gimlet Butte？〃 he asked； by way of
prolonging his stay rather than out of desire for information。
Yes； she certainly had the longest； softest lashes he had ever seen； and
the ripest of cherry lips； behind the smiling depths of which sparkled two
rows of tiny pearls。 He wished she would look at HIM and smile again。
There wasn't any use trying to melt a sundae with it； anyhow。
〃Sure； it's a good year on the range and the price of cows jumping；〃 he
heard his sub…conscious self make answer to the patronizing inquiries of
him of the 〃boiled〃 shirt。
Funny how pretty hair of that color was especially when there was so
much of it。 You might call it a sort of coppery gold where the little curls
escaped in tendrils and ran wild。 A fellow〃
〃Yes； I reckon most of the boys will drop around to the Fourth of July
celebration。 Got to cut loose once in a while； y'u know。〃
A shy glance shot him and set him a…tingle with a queer delight。
Gracious； what pretty dark velvety lashes she had！
She was rising already； and as she paid for the ice cream that innocent
gaze
