Hardys little mirror,and could not believe the
evidence of her own eyes. Crook sent me outwith some soldiers to round up Matazel
and his braves. She felt a growing tumult within, but outwardly she wascomposed.
Sure, Illtalk your head off about cattle and range, bears and cougars, Indians
andall thats wild. The crickets, the wind, the brook had allbut ceased their sounds.
Logans grave elation kept herfrom complete collapse. When she awakened, Logan
informed her that the lake was in sight. There I have to take to the saddle and
rustle my cattle through. Sure, Illtalk your head off about cattle and range, bears
and cougars, Indians andall thats wild.
Theres an old homestead half-way to our place. Her
strong,capable hands trembled slightly as she opened her pocket-book. Logan bolted
into the station and sent Lucinda a telegramasking her to come West to marry
him.
Then he loosened several buckets that fitted
oneinto the other.
Its not so funny, said Lucinda petulantly. It was
still, shadowed, lighted by golden shafts,and strangely haunting.
But Arizona, the next day, crowned Lucindas
magnified expectations.
Logan did not even read the message over, but sent
it rushed uptown. With outward composure Lucinda took the whip he tendered her, and
avertedher face. She chose not to lethim guess her perturbation. She walked a few
rods up the platform, and when she turned back she wasrevelling in the situation. Yu
can be our schoolmarm an spank us if you wear thempants!
Lucinda made overtures to the unwanted wolf-dog,
and they were accepted.
Well have to hustle, too, to get that done before
the snowflies.
Here was her husbandencroaching on the preserves of
a housewife. It looked like a collapsedcircus-tent hooped over a long box on wheels.
My lucks in, exulted Logan, and on the strength of that belief hehurried to the
railroad station.
The boy she knew had grown into a man, hard, stern,
even in thatexpectant moment. Ill shoot him and cure his hide for a rug. It would be
fun to accost Logan before thesebold westerners.
This, added to thecold, induced Lucinda to crawl
back over the eat and wrap herself in theblankets.
It looked like a collapsedcircus-tent hooped over a
long box on wheels. Id like that better, said Lucinda, with a sense of
relief.
There would not have been anysense in rebelling
even if she wanted to.
Lucinda, dig out your old clothes before I pack
these bags. Before he arrived at thecamp Lucinda had washed her face and hands and
combed her hair. Then she packed away thetravelling-dress, wondering if or when she
would ever wear it again. The wagging beasts plodded on unmindful of her
tightlyoppressed breast and staring dyes.
The operator grinned at Logan and drawled as he
handed out ayellow envelope: Logan Huett. And Ive a hunch no pioneer ever had a
better one. Sunshine, Canyon Diablo were butwayside stations.