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第73部分

time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第73部分


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  When that wagon was maybe a kilometer away; I rode out to meet them…then was surprised and disappointed。 A family; yes; if you count a man and two grown sons as a family。 No women; no children。 I wondered how they thought they were going to pioneer。
  
  The younger son was not fully grown;; his beard was sparse and scraggly。 Nevertheless; he was taller and heavier than I was; and he was the smallest of the three。 His father and brother were mounted; he was driving…actually driving; they
  
  were not using a mule boss。 No livestock other than mules that I could see; although I did not attempt to look into their wagon。
  
  I did not like their looks and reversed my idea about neighbors。 I hoped they would move on down the valley; at least fifty kilometers。
  
  The mounted two were carrying guns at their belts…reasonable in loper country。 I had a needle gun in sight myself; as well as a belt knife…and maybe other things not in sight; as I don't consider it diplomatic to show much hardware in meeting strangers。
  
  As I approached; they stopped; The driver reining up his mules。 I had Beulah stop。 about ten paces short of the lead pair。 〃Howdy;〃 I said。 〃Wele to Happy Valley。 I'm Bill Smith。〃
  
  The oldest of the three looked me up and down。 It is hard to tell a man's expression when lie wears a full beard; but what little I could see was no expression at all…wariness; perhaps。 My own face was smooth…freshly shaved anc~ clean overalls; in honor of visitors。 I wa~ keeping my face smooth both because Dora preferred it so and because I was staying 〃young〃 to match Dora。 I was wearing my best friendly look… but was saying to myself; 〃You've got ten seconds to answer my greeting and say who you are…or you're going to miss some of the best cooking on New Beginnings。〃
  
  He just slid under the deadline; I had silently counted seven chimpanzees when he suddenly grinned through that face moss。 〃Why; that's mighty friendly of you; young man。〃
  
  〃Bill Smith;〃 I repeated; 〃and I didn't catch your name。〃
  
  〃Probably because I didn't say;〃 he answered。 〃Name's Montgomery。 'Monty' to my friends; and I don't have any enemies; at least not for long。 Right; Darby?〃
  
  〃Right; Pop;〃 agreed the other mounted one。
  
  〃And this is my son Darby and that's Dan driving the jugheads。 Say 'Howdy;' boys。〃
  
  〃Howdy;〃 they each answered。
  
  〃Howdy; Darby。 Howdy; Dan。 Monty; is Mrs。 Montgomery with you?〃 I nodded at the wagon; still did not attempt to see into it…a man's wagon is as private as his house。
  
  〃Now why would you be asking that?〃
  
  〃Because;〃 I said; still holding Onto n~v friendly…idiot look; 〃I want to trot back to the house and tell Mrk Smith how many there'll be for supper。〃 …
  
  〃Well! Did you hear that; boys? We've been invited to supper。 1~iat's mighty friendly; too; isn't it; Dan?〃
  
  〃Right; Pop。〃
  
  〃And we most kindly accept。 Don't we; Darby?〃
  
  〃Right; Pop。〃 …
  
  I was getting tired of the echo; but I kept my sweet expression。 〃Monty; you still haven't told me how many。〃 〃Oh。 Just three。 But we eat enough for six。〃 He slapped his thigh and laughed at his own joke。 〃Right; Dan?〃
  
  〃Right; Pop。〃
  
  〃So you stir up those jugheads; Dan; we've got reason to hurry now。〃
  
  I interrupted the echo to say; 〃Hold it; Monty。 No need to overheat your mules。〃
  
  〃What? They're my mules; son。〃
  
  〃So they are and do as you please about them; but I was sent out ahead so that Mrs。 Smith would have time to be ready 'for you。 I see you're wearing a watch〃…I glanced at
  
  …my own…〃your hostess will expect you in; one hour。 Unless you need more time to get there and unharness and water your mules?〃
  
  〃Oh; them jugheads will keep until after supper。 If we're early; we'll set awhile。〃
  
  …〃No;〃 I said firmly。 〃One hour; no sooner。 You know how a lady feels about guests arriving before she's ready for them。 Crowd her; and she might ruin your supper。 Do as you please about your mules…but there is an easy place to water them; a little beach; where the river~es closest to the house。 Nice place to spruce up a bit yourself; too… before dining with a lady。 But don't e up to the house short of one hour。〃 …
  
  〃Your wife sounds mighty particular 。 。 for way out here in the wilds。〃
  
  〃She is;〃 I answei'ed。 〃Home; Beulah。〃
  
  I moved from a trot into Beulah's fast lope and did not get over an uneasy feeling between my shoulder blades until I; was certain I~ was too far away to be a target。 There is only one dangerous animal; yet at times you're forced to pretend that he's as sweet and innocent as a cobra。 …
  
  I didn't stop to unsaddle Beulah; I hurried inside。 Dora heard my slam…bang arrival; was at the pound's door。 〃What is i~; dear? Trouble?〃
  
  〃Could be。 Three men; I don't like them。 Nevertheless; I've promised them supper。 Have 'the kids 'eaten? Can we put them
  
  。~1 a
  
  right to bed and convince them that if they so much as lel out a peep; they'll be flayed alive? I didn't mention children; we aren't going to mention them; and I'm going to take a fasi look around to make sure there is nothing in sight that says 'kids。'
  
  〃I'll try。 Yes; I've fed them。〃
  
  *
  
  Right on the hour Lazarus Long met his guests at the doot of the pound。 They drove and rode up from the direction of the beach he had described; so he assumed that they had watered their animals; but he noted with mild scorn that t?ey now did not bother to unharness their team for what was sure to be a long wait。 But he was pleased to note that all three Montgomerys had made some effort to spruce up…perhaps they w~ere going to behave; perhaps his sixth sense for trouble was hypersensitive from too long in the wilderness。 …
  
  Lazarus was dressed in his best…kilt with full kit save that the effect was marred by a faded work shirt of New Pittsburgh origin。 But it was indeed his best; worn only for children's birthdays。 On other days he wore anything from overalls to skin; depending on work and weather。 …
  
  After Montgomery dismounted; he paused and looked over his host。 〃My; aren't we fancy!〃
  
  〃In your honor; gentlemen。 I save it for very special occasions。〃
  
  〃So? It's mighty nice of you to honor us; Red。 Isn't it; Dan?〃
  
  〃Right; Pop。〃 ……
  
  〃My name is Bill; Monty。 Not 'Red。' You can leave your guns in your wagon。〃
  
  〃Well! Now that's not very friendly。 We always wear our guns。 Don't we; Darby?〃 …
  
  〃Right; Pop。 And if Pop says your name is 'Red;' that's your name。〃
  
  〃Now; tiow; Darby; I didn't say that。 If Red wants to call himself Tom; Dick; or Harry; that's his choice。 But we wouldn't feel dressed without our guns; and that's the truth; uh; Bill。 Why; I even wear mine to bed。 Out here。〃
  
  Lazarus was standing in the opened door of the pound。 He made no move to step aside and let his visitors in。 〃That's a reasonable precaution 。 。 on the trail。 But gentlemen don't wear arms when they dine with a lady。 Drop them here or put them in your wagon; whichever you wish。〃 '
  
  Lazarus could feel the tension grow; could see the younger
  
  two watching their father for instructions。 Lazarus ignored them and kept his easy smile on Montgomery; while forcing his muscles to stay loose as cotton。 Right now? Would the bear back off? Or treat it as a challenge?
  
  Montgomery split his face in his widest grin。 〃Why; sure; neighbor…if that's how you want it。 Shall I take off my pants; too?〃 …
  
  〃Just yeur guns; sir。〃 (He's right…handed。 If I were righthanded and wearing what you are wearing; where would my second gun be? There; I think…but; if so; …it must be small
  
  either a ;needle gun or possibly an old…fashioned snubnoted assassin's gun。 Are his sons both right。~handed?)
  
  … The Montgomerys put their gun belts on the seat of their wagon; caine back。 Lazarus stood aside and weled them in; then slid the bar into place as he closed the door。 Dora was waiting; dressed in her 〃party dress。〃 For the first time since a very hot day on the prairie she did not wear her rubies at the evening meal。 …
  
  〃Dear; this is Mr。 Montgomery and his sons; Darby and Dan。 My wife; Mrs。 Smith。〃
  
  Dora bobbed a curtsy。 〃Wele; Mr。 Montgomery; and Darby; and Dan。〃
  
  〃Call me 'Monty;' Mrs。 Smith…and what's your name? Mighty pretty place you've got here 。 。 for so far out in the country。〃
  
  〃If you gentlemen will excuse me; I have a couple of things to do to get supper onto the table。〃 She turned quickly and hurried back into her kitchen。
  
  Lazarus answered; 〃I'm glad you like it; Monty。 It's the best we've been able to do so far; while getting a farm started。〃 The back wall of the pound had four rooms built against it: storeroom; kitchen; bedroom; and nursery。 All had doors into the pound; but only the kitchen door was open。 The rooms interconnected。
  
  Outside the kitchen door was a Dutch oven; in the kitchen was a fireplace used for other cooking and for all cooking when it rained。 That and a water barrel were as yet Dora's major kitchen equipment…but her husband had promised her running water 〃sometime before you are a grandmother; my lovely。〃 She had not pressed him about it; the house grew larger and better equipped each year。 …
  
  Beyond the Dutch oven and paralleling the bedrooms was
  
  …a long table with matching stools。 At the other wall by the storeroom was an outhouse; it and a water barrel and two wooden tubs made by cutting another barrel in two consti
  
  toted; so far; their 〃ba~broom…toilet…refresher。〃 A pile of earth with a shovel stuck into it was by the outhou?e; the ceaspit was being slowly backfilled。 …
  
  〃You've done pretty well;〃 … Montgomery conceded。 〃But you shouldn't have put your privy inside。 Don't you know that?〃
  
  〃There is another privy outside;〃 Lazarus Long told him。 〃We use this one as little as possible and I try~ to keep it from being too whiff。 But you can't expect a woman to go 

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