wildfire-第3部分

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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　will　not；〃　said　Bostil。

〃Let　me　send　some　one；　then；〃　she　entreated。

〃Girl；　haven't　you　the　nerve　to　play　your　own　game？　Let　Creech　get　his　lesson。
He　deserves　it。　。　。　。　An'　now；　Lucy；　I've　two　more　questions　to　ask。〃

〃Only　two？〃　she　queried；　archly。　〃Dad；　don't　scold　me　with　questions。〃

〃What　shall　I　say　to　Wetherby　for　good　an'　all？〃

Lucy's　eyes　shaded　dreamily；　and　she　seemed　to　look　beyond　the　room；　out　over
the　ranges。

〃Tell　him　to　go　back　to　Durango　and　forget　the　foolish　girl　who　can　care　only
for　the　desert　and　a　horse。〃

〃All　right。　That　is　straight　talk；　like　an　Indian's。　An'　now　the　last
questionwhat　do　you　want　for　a　birthday　present？〃

〃Oh；　of　course；〃　she　cried；　gleefully　clapping　her　hands。　I'd　forgotten　that。
I'm　eighteen！〃

〃You　get　that　old　chest　of　your　mother's。　But　what　from　me？〃

〃Dad；　will　you　give　me　anything　I　ask　for？〃

〃Yes；　my　girl。〃

〃Anythingany　HORSE？〃

Lucy　knew　his　weakness；　for　she　had　inherited　it。

〃Sure；　any　horse　but　the　King。〃

〃How　about　Sarchedon？〃

〃Why；　Lucy；　what'd　you　do　with　that　big　black　devil？　He's　too　high。　Seventeen
hands　high！　You　couldn't　mount　him。〃

〃Pooh！　Sarch　KNEELS　for　me。〃

〃Child；　listen　to　reason。　Sarch　would　pull　your　arms　out　of　their　sockets。〃

〃He　has　got　an　iron　jaw；〃　agreed　Lucy。　〃Well；　thenhow　about　Dusty　Ben？〃　She
was　tormenting　her　father　and　she　did　it　with　glee。

〃Nonot　Ben。　He's　the　faithfulest　hoss　I　ever　owned。　It　wouldn't　be　fair　to
part　with　him；　even　to　you。　Old　associations　。　。　。　a　rider's　loyalty　。　。　。
now；　Lucy；　you　know〃

〃Dad；　you're　afraid　I'd　train　and　love　Ben　into　beating　the　King。　Some　day
I'll　ride　some　horse　out　in　front　of　the　gray。　Remember；　Dad！　。　。　。　Then　give
me　Two　Face。〃

〃Sure　not　her；　Lucy。　Thet　mare　can't　be　trusted。　Look　why　we　named　her　Two
Face。〃

〃Buckles；　then；　dear　generous　Daddy　who　longs　to　give　his　grown…up　girl
ANYTHING！〃

〃Lucy；　can't　you　be　satisfied　an'　happy　with　your　mustangs？　You've　got　a
dozen。　You　can　have　any　others　on　the　range。　Buckles　ain't　safe　for　you　to
ride。〃

Bostil　was　notably　the　most　generous　of　men；　the　kindest　of　fathers。　It　was　an
indication　of　his　strange　obsession；　in　regard　to　horses；　that　he　never　would
see　that　Lucy　was　teasing　him。　As　far　as　horses　were　concerned　he　lacked　a
sense　of　humor。　Anything　connected　with　his　horses　was　of　intense　interest。

〃I'd　dearly　love　to　own　Plume；〃　said　Lucy；　demurely。

Bostil　had　grown　red　in　the　face　and　now　he　was　on　the　rack。　The　monstrous
selfishness　of　a　rider　who　had　been　supreme　in　his　day　could　not　be　changed。

〃Girl；　II　thought　you　hadn't　no　use　for　Plume；〃　he　stammered。

〃I　haven'tthe　jade！　She　threw　me　once。　I've　never　forgiven　her　。　。　。　。　Dad；
I'm　only　teasing　you。　Don't　I　know　you　couldn't　give　one　of　those　racers　away？
You　couldn't！〃

〃Lucy；　I　reckon　you're　right；〃　Bostil　burst　out　in　immense　relief。

〃Dad；　I'll　bet　if　Cordts　gets　me　and　holds　me　as　ransom　for　the　King　as　he's
threatenedyou'll　let　him　have　me！〃

〃Lucy；　now　thet　ain't　funny！〃　complained　the　father。