第68章

Lucy did not catch the slip of tongue.She was flushing now."He said he'd never have let me meet him out there alone--unless --he--he loved me--and as our neighbors and the riders would learn of it--and talk--he wanted you and them to know he'd asked to--to marry me.""Wal, he's a square young man!" ejaculated Bostil, involuntarily.It was hard for Bostil to hide his sincerity and impulsiveness; much harder than to hide unworthy attributes.Then he got back on the other track."That'll make me treat him decent, so when he rides up to ask for you I'll let him off with, 'No!"Lucy dropped her head.Bostil would have given all he had, except his horses, to feel sure she did not care for Slone.

"Dad--I said--'No'--for myself," she murmured.

This time Bostil did not withhold the profane word of surprise."...So he's asked you, then? Wal, wal! When?""To-day--out there in the rocks where he waited with Wildfire for me.

He--he--"

Lucy slipped into her father's arms, and her slender form shook.Bostil instinctively felt what she then needed was her mother.Her mother was dead, and he was only a rough, old, hard rider.He did not know what to do--to say.

His heart softened and he clasped her close.It hurt him keenly to realize that he might have been a better, kinder father if it were not for the fear that she would find him out.But that proved he loved her, craved her respect and affection.

"Wal, little girl, tell me," he said.

"He--he broke his word to me."

"A-huh! Thet's too bad.An' how did he?"

"He--he--" Lucy seemed to catch her tongue.

Bostil was positive she had meant to tell him something and suddenly changed her mind.Subtly the child vanished--a woman remained.Lucy sat up self-possessed once more.Some powerfully impelling thought had transformed her.Bostil's keen sense gathered that what she would not tell was not hers to reveal.For herself, she was the soul of simplicity and frankness.

"Days ago I told him I cared for him, she went on."But I forbade him to speak of it to me.He promised.I wanted to wait till after the race--till after Ihad found courage to confess to you.He broke his word....Today when he put me up on Wildfire he--he suddenly lost his head."The slow scarlet welled into Lucy's face and her eyes grew shamed, but bravely she kept facing her father.

"He--he pulled me off--he hugged me--he k-kissed me....Oh, it was dreadful-shameful!...Then I gave him back--some--something he had given me.And I told him I--I hated him--and I told him, 'No!'""But you rode his hoss in the race," said Bostil.

Lucy bowed her head at that."I--I couldn't resist!"Bostil stroked the bright head.What a quandary for a thick-skulled old horseman! "Wal, it seems to me Slone didn't act so bad, considerin'.You'd told him you cared for him.If it wasn't for thet!...I remember I did much the same to your mother.She raised the devil, but I never seen as she cared any less for me.""I'll never forgive him," Lucy cried, passionately."I hate him.A man who breaks his word in one thing will do it in another."Bostil sadly realized that his little girl had reached womanhood and love, and with them the sweet, bitter pangs of life.He realized also that here was a crisis when a word--an unjust or lying word from him would forever ruin any hope that might still exist for Slone.Bostil realized this acutely, but the realization was not even a temptation.

"Wal, listen.I'm bound to confess your new rider is sure swift.An', Lucy, to-day if he hadn't been as swift with a rope as he is in love--wal, your old daddy might be dead!"She grew as white as her dress."Oh, Dad! I KNEW something had happened," she cried, reaching for him.

Then Bostil told her how Dick Sears had menaced him--how Slone had foiled the horse-thief.He told the story bluntly, but eloquently, with all a rider's praise.Lucy rose with hands pressed against her breast.When had Bostil seen eyes like those--dark, shining, wonderful? Ah! he remembered her mother's once--only once, as a girl.

Then Lucy kissed him and without a word fled from the room.

Bostil stared after her."D--n me!" he swore, as he threw a boot against the wall."I reckon I'll never let her marry Slone, but I just had to tell her what I think of him!"