the man of the forest-第41部分

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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　the　unbranded　colts。

Roy　took　off　his　sombrero　and　greeted　her。　　This　Mormon　had　a
courtesy　for　women　that　spoke　well　for　him。　　Helen　wished　she
had　more　employees　like　him。

〃It's　jest　as　Las　Vegas　told　us　it　'd　be；〃　he　said；
regretfully。　　〃Mulvey　an'　his　pards　lit　out　this　mornin'。　　I'm
sorry；　Miss　Helen。　　Reckon　thet's　all　because　I　come　over。〃

〃I　heard　the　news；〃　replied　Helen。　　〃You　needn't　be　sorry；
Roy；　for　I'm　not。　　I'm　glad。　　I　want　to　know　whom　I　can
trust。〃

〃Las　Vegas　says　we're　shore　in　for　it　now。〃

〃Roy；　what　do　you　think？〃

〃I　reckon　so。　　Still；　Las　Vegas　is　powerful　cross　these　days
an'　always　lookin'　on　the　dark　side。　　With　us　boys；　now；　it's
sufficient　unto　the　day　is　the　evil　thereof。　　But；　Miss
Helen；　if　Beasley　forces　the　deal　there　will　be　serious
trouble。　　I've　seen　thet　happen。　　Four　or　five　years　ago
Beasley　rode　some　greasers　off　their　farms　an'　no　one　ever
knowed　if　he　had　a　just　claim。〃

〃Beasley　has　no　claim　on　my　property。　　My　uncle　solemnly
swore　that　on　his　death…bed。　　And　I　find　nothing　in　his　books
or　papers　of　those　years　when　he　employed　Beasley。　　In　fact；
Beasley　was　never　uncle's　partner。　　The　truth　is　that　my
uncle　took　Beasley　up　when　he　was　a　poor；　homeless　boy。〃

〃So　my　old　dad　says；〃　replied　Roy。　　〃But　what's　right　don't
always　prevail　in　these　parts。〃

〃Roy；　you're　the　keenest　man　I've　met　since　I　came　West。
Tell　me　what　you　think　will　happen。〃

Beeman　appeared　flattered；　but　be　hesitated　to　reply。　　Helen
had　long　been　aware　of　the　reticence　of　these　outdoor　men。

〃I　reckon　you　mean　cause　an'　effect；　as　Milt　Dale　would
say；〃　responded　Roy；　thoughtfully。

〃Yes。　　If　Beasley　attempts　to　force　me　off　my　ranch　what　will
happen？〃

Roy　looked　up　and　met　her　gaze。　　Helen　remembered　that
singular　stillness；　intentness　of　his　face。

〃Wal；　if　Dale　an'　John　get　here　in　time　I　reckon　we　can
bluff　thet　Beasley　outfit。〃

〃You　mean　my　friends　　my　men　would　confront　Beasley　
refuse　his　demands　　and　if　necessary　fight　him　off？〃

〃I　shore　do；〃　replied　Roy。

〃But　suppose　you're　not　all　here？　　Beasley　would　be　smart
enough　to　choose　an　opportune　time。　　Suppose　he　did　put　me
off　and　take　possession？　　What　then？〃

〃Then　it　'd　only　be　a　matter　of　how　soon　Dale　or　Carmichael
　or　I　　got　to　Beasley。〃

〃Roy！　　I　feared　just　that。　　It　haunts　me。　　Carmichael　asked　me
to　let　him　go　pick　a　fight　with　Beasley。　　Asked　me；　just　as
he　would　ask　me　about　his　work！　　I　was　shocked。　　And　now　you
say　Dale　　and　you　〃

Helen　choked　in　her　agitation。

〃Miss　Helen；　what　else　could　you　look　for？　　Las　Vegas　is　in
love　with　Miss　Bo。　　Shore　he　told　me　so。　　An'　Dale's　in　love
with　you！　　。　。　。　　Why；　you　couldn't　stop　them　any　more　'n　you
could　stop　the　wind　from　blowin'　down　a　pine；　when　it　got
ready。　。　。　。　　Now；　it's　some　different　with　me。　　I'm　a　Mormon
an'　I'm　married。　　But　I'm　Dale's　pard；　these　many　years。　　An'
I　care　a　powerful　sight　for　you　an'　Miss　Bo。　　So　I　reckon　I'd
draw　on　Beasley　the　first　chance　I　got。〃

Helen　strove　for　utterance；　but　it　was　denied　her。　　Roy's
simple　statement　of　Dale's　love　had　magnified　her　emotion　by
completely　changing　its　direction。　　She　forgot　what　she　had
felt　wretched　about。　　She　could　not　look　at　Roy。

〃Miss　Helen；　don't　feel　bad；〃　he　said；　kindly。　　〃Shore　you're
not　to　blame。　　Your　comin'　West　hasn't　made　any　difference　in
Beasley's　fate；　except　mebbe　to　hurry　it　a　little。　　My　dad　is
old；　an'　when　he　talks　it's　like　history。　　He　looks　back　on
happenin's。　　Wal；　it's　the　nature　of　happenin's　that　Beasley
passes　away　before　his　prime。　　Them　of　his　breed　don't　live
old　in　the　West。　。　。　。　　So　I　reckon　you　needn't　feel　bad　or
worry。　　you've　got　friends。〃

Helen　incoherently　thanked　him；　and；　forgetting　her　usual
round　of　corrals　and　stables；　she　hurried　back　toward　the
house；　deeply　stirred；　throbbing　and　dim…eyed；　with　a
feeling　she　could　not　control。　　Roy　Beeman　had　made　a
statement　that　had　upset　her　equilibrium。　　It　seemed　simple
and　natural；　yet　momentous　and　staggering。　　To　hear　that　Dale
loved　her　　to　hear　it　spoken　frankly；　earnestly；　by　Dale's
best　friend；　was　strange；　sweet；　terrifying。　　But　was　it
true？　　Her　own　consciousness　had　admitted　it。　　Yet　that　was
vastly　different　from　a　man's　open　statement。　　No　longer　was
it　a　dear　dream；　a　secret　that　seemed　hers　alone。　　How　she
had　lived　on　that　secret　hidden　deep　in　her　breast！

Something　burned　the　dimness　from　her　eyes　as　she　looked
toward　the　mountains　and　her　sight　became　clear；　telescopic
with　its　intensity。　　Magnificently　the　mountains　loomed。
Black　inroads　and　patches　on　the　slopes　showed　where　a　few
days　back　all　bad　been　white。　　The　snow　was　melting　fast。
Dale　would　soon　be　free　to　ride　down　to　Pine。　　And　that　was
an　event　Helen　prayed　for；　yet　feared　as　she　had　never
feared　anything。


The　noonday　dinner…bell　startled　Helen　from　a　reverie　that
was　a　pleasant　aftermath　of　her　unrestraint。　　How　the　hours
had　flown！　　This　morning　at　least　must　be　credited　to
indolence。

Bo　was　not　in　the　dining…r