友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
读书室 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

the man of the forest-第45部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!

got to be honest with yourself。  Did that act of his win or
lose you?  In other words; do you love him or not?〃

Bo hid her face。

〃Oh; Nell!  it made me see how I loved him  and that made
me so  so sick I hated him。 。 。 。  But now  the hate is
all gone。〃



CHAPTER XVII

When spring came at last and the willows drooped green and
fresh over the brook and the range rang with bray of burro
and whistle of stallion; old Al Auchincloss had been a month
in his grave。

To Helen it seemed longer。  The month had been crowded with
work; events; and growing; more hopeful duties; so that it
contained a world of living。  The uncle had not been
forgotten; but the innumerable restrictions to development
and progress were no longer manifest。  Beasley had not
presented himself or any claim upon Helen; and she;
gathering confidence day by day; began to believe all that
purport of trouble had been exaggerated。

In this time she had come to love her work and all that
pertained to it。  The estate was large。  She had no accurate
knowledge of how many acres she owned; but it was more than
two thousand。  The fine; old; rambling ranch…house; set like
a fort on the last of the foot…hills; corrals and fields and
barns and meadows; and the rolling green range beyond; and
innumerable sheep; horses; cattle  all these belonged to
Helen; to her ever…wondering realization and ever…growing
joy。  Still; she was afraid to let herself go and be
perfectly happy。  Always there was the fear that had been too
deep and strong to forget so soon。

This bright; fresh morning; in March; Helen came out upon
the porch to revel a little in the warmth of sunshine and
the crisp; pine…scented wind that swept down from the
mountains。  There was never a morning that she did not gaze
mountainward; trying to see; with a folly she realized; if
the snow had melted more perceptibly away on the bold white
ridge。  For all she could see it had not melted an inch; and
she would not confess why she sighed。  The desert had become
green and fresh; stretching away there far below her range;
growing dark and purple in the distance with vague buttes
rising。  The air was full of sound  notes of blackbirds and
the baas of sheep; and blasts from the corrals; and the
clatter of light hoofs on the court below。

Bo was riding in from the stables。  Helen loved to watch her
on one of those fiery little mustangs; but the sight was
likewise given to rousing apprehensions。  This morning Bo
appeared particularly bent on frightening Helen。  Down the
lane Carmichael appeared; waving his arms; and Helen at once
connected him with Bo's manifest desire to fly away from
that particular place。  Since that day; a month back; when Bo
had confessed her love for Carmichael; she and Helen had not
spoken of it or of the cowboy。  The boy and girl were still
at odds。  But this did not worry Helen。  Bo had changed much
for the better; especially in that she devoted herself to
Helen and to her work。  Helen knew that all would turn out
well in the end; and so she had been careful of her rather
precarious position between these two young firebrands。

Bo reined in the mustang at the porch steps。  She wore a
buckskin riding…suit which she had made herself; and its
soft gray with the touches of red beads was mightily
becoming to her。  Then she had grown considerably during the
winter and now looked too flashing and pretty to resemble a
boy; yet singularly healthy and strong and lithe。  Red spots
shone in her cheeks and her eyes held that ever…dangerous
blaze。

〃Nell; did you give me away to that cowboy?〃 she demanded。

〃Give you away!〃 exclaimed Helen; blankly。

〃Yes。  You know I told you  awhile back  that I was
wildly in love with him。  Did you give me away  tell on me?


She might have been furious; but she certainly was not
confused。

〃Why; Bo!  How could you?  No。  I did not;〃 replied Helen。

〃Never gave him a hint?〃

〃Not even a hint。  You have my word for that。  Why?  What's
happened?〃

〃He makes me sick。〃

Bo would not say any more; owing to the near approach of the
cowboy。

〃Mawnin'; Miss Nell;〃 he drawled。  〃I was just tellin' this
here Miss Bo…Peep Rayner 〃

〃Don't call me that!〃 broke in Bo; with fire in her voice。

〃Wal; I was just tellin' her thet she wasn't goin' off on
any more of them long rides。  Honest now; Miss Nell; it ain't
safe; an' 〃

〃You're not my boss;〃 retorted Bo。

〃Indeed; sister; I agree with him。  You won't obey me。〃

〃Reckon some one's got to be your boss;〃 drawled Carmichael。
〃Shore I ain't hankerin' for the job。  You could ride to
Kingdom Come or off among the Apaches  or over here a
ways〃  at this he grinned knowingly  〃or anywheres; for
all I cared。  But I'm workin' for Miss Nell; an' she's boss。
An' if she says you're not to take them rides  you won't。
Savvy that; miss?〃

It was a treat for Helen to see Bo look at the cowboy。

〃Mis…ter Carmichael; may I ask how you are going to prevent
me from riding where I like?〃

〃Wal; if you're goin' worse locoed this way I'll keep you
off'n a hoss if I have to rope you an' tie you up。  By golly;
I will!〃

His dry humor was gone and manifestly he meant what he said。

〃Wal;〃 she drawled it very softly and sweetly; but
venomously; 〃if  you  ever  touch  me again!〃

At this he flushed; then made a quick; passionate gesture
with his hand; expressive of heat and shame。

〃You an' me will never get along;〃 he said; with a dignity
full of pathos。  〃I seen thet a month back when you changed
sudden…like to me。  But nothin' I say to you has any
reckonin' of mine。  I'm talkin' for your sister。  It's for her
sake。  An' your own。 。 。 。  I never told her an' I never told
you thet I've seen Riggs sneakin' after you twice on them
desert rides。  Wal; I tell you now。〃

The intelligence apparently had not the slightest effect on
Bo。  But Helen was astonished and alarmed。

〃Riggs!  Oh; Bo; I've seen him myself  riding around。  He
does not mean well。  You must be careful。〃

〃If I ketch him again;〃 went on Carmichael; with his mouth
lining hard; 〃I'm goin' after him。〃

He gave her a cool; intent; piercing look; then he dropped
his head and turned away; to stride back toward the corrals。

Helen could make little of the manner in which her sister
watched the cowboy pass out of sight。

〃A month back  when I changed sudden…like;〃 mused Bo。  〃I
wonder what he meant by that。 。 。 。  Nell; did I change 
right after the talk you had with me  about him?〃

〃Indeed you did; Bo;〃 replied Helen。  〃But it was for the
better。  Only he can't see it。  How proud and sensitive he is!
You wouldn't guess it at first。  Bo; your reserve has wounded
him more than your flirting。  He thinks it's indifference。〃

〃Maybe that 'll be good for him;〃 declared Bo。  〃Does he
expect me to fall on his neck?  He's that thick…headed!  Why;
he's the locoed one; not me。〃

〃I'd like to ask you; Bo; if you've seen how he has
changed?〃 queried Helen; earnestly。  〃He's older。  He's
worried。  Either his heart is breaking for you or else he
fears trouble for us。  I fear it's both。  How he watches you!
Bo; he knows all you do  where you go。  That about Riggs
sickens me。〃

〃If Riggs follows me and tries any of his four…flush
desperado games he'll have his hands full;〃 said Bo; grimly。
〃And that without my cowboy protector!  But I just wish Riggs
would do something。  Then we'll see what Las Vegas Tom
Carmichael cares。  Then we'll see!〃

Bo bit out the last words passionately and jealously; then
she lifted her bridle to the spirited mustang;

〃Nell; don't you fear for me;〃 she said。  〃I can take care of
myself。〃

Helen watched her ride away; all but willing to confess that
there might be truth in what Bo said。  Then Helen went about
her work; which consisted of routine duties as well as an
earnest study to familiarize herself with continually new
and complex conditions of ranch life。  Every day brought new
problems。  She made notes of all that she observed; and all
that was told her; which habit she had found; after a few
weeks of trial; was going to be exceedingly valuable to her。
She did not intend always to be dependent upon the knowledge
of hired men; however faithful some of them might be。

This morning on her rounds she had expected developments; of
some kind; owing to the presence of Roy Beeman and two of
his brothers; who had arrived yesterday。  And she was to
discover that Jeff Mulvey; accompanied by six of his
co…workers and associates; had deserted her without a word
or even sending for their pay。  Carmichael had predicted
this。  Helen had half doubted。  It was a relief now to be
confronted with facts; however disturbing。  She had fortified
herself to withstand a great deal more trouble than had
happened。  At the gateway of the main corral; a huge
inclosure fenced high with peeled logs; she met Roy Beeman;
lasso in hand; the same tall; lean; limping figure she
remembered so well。  Sight of him gave her an inexplicable
thrill  a flashing memory of an unforgettable night ride。
Roy was to have charge of the horses on the ranch; of which
there were several hundred; not counting many lost on range
and mountain; or 
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!