Desert Dust

  CHAPTER XIII

  SOMEONE FEARS

  A note from a pretty woman always is a potential thing, no matter in whathumor it may have been received. The mere possession titillates; andalthough the contents may be most exemplary to the eye, the mind is apt togo hay-making between the lines and no offense intended.

  All the fatuousness that had led me astray to the lure of her blue eyes,upon the train and in hollow Benton, surged anew now--perhaps seasoned topresent taste by my peppery defiance of Daniel. A man could do no lessthan bristle a little, under the circumstances; could do no less thanchallenge the torpedoes, like Farragut in Mobile Bay. Whether the game wasworth the candle, I was not to be bullied out of my privileges by a clownswash-buckler who aped the characteristics of a pouter pigeon.

  Mr. Jenks was just going to bed under the wagon. With pretext of warmingup the coffee I kicked the fire together; while squatting and sipping Imanaged to unfold the note and read it by the flicker, my back to thecamp.

  All that it said, was:

  If you are not disgusted with me I will walk a stretch with you on the trail, during the morning.

  The engagement sent me to my blanket cogitating. When a woman proposes,one never knows precisely the reason. Anyway, I was young enough so tofancy. For a long time I lay outside the wagons, apart in the desert camp,gazing up at the twinkling stars, while the wolves whimpered around, andsomewhere she slept beside the gentle Rachael, and somewhere Danielsnored, and here I conned her face and her words, elatedly finding themvery pleasing.

  Salt Lake was far, the Big Tent farther by perspective if not by miles. Irecognized the legal rights of her husband, but no ruffling Daniel shouldquash the undeniable rights of Yours Truly. I indeed felt virtuous andpassing valorous, with that commonplace note in my pocket.

  We all broke camp at sunrise. She rode for a distance upon the seat ofDaniel's wagon--he lustily trudging alongside. Then I marked her walking,herself; she had shortened her skirt; and presently lingering by the trailshe dropped behind, leaving the wagon to lumber on, with Daniel helplesslyturning head over shoulder, bereft.

  "Bet you the lady up yonder is aimin' to pay you a visit," quoth friendJenks the astute. "And Dan'l, he don't cotton to it. You ain't greatshakes with a gun, I reckon?"

  "I've never had use for one," said I. "But her whereabouts in the train isnot a matter of shooting, is it?"

  "A feller quick on the draw, like him, is alluz wantin' to practice, tokeep his hand in. Anyhow I'd advise you to stay clear of her, else watchhim mighty sharp. He's thinkin' of takin' a squaw."

  We rolled on, in the dust, while the animals coughed and the teamsterschewed and swore. And next, here she was, idling until our outfit drewabreast.

  "Mornin'," Jenks grunted, with a shortness that bespoke his disapproval;whereupon he fell back and left us.

  She smiled at me.

  "Will you offer me a ride, sir?"

  My response was instant: a long "Whoa-oa!" in best mule-whacker. Theeight-team hauled negligent, their mulish senses steeped in the drudgeryof the trail; only the wheel pair flopped inquiring ears. When I hailedagain, Jenks came puffing.

  "What's the matter hyar?" He ran rapid eye over wagon and animals and sawnothing amiss.

  "Mrs. Montoyo wishes to ride."

  "The hell, man!" He snatched whip and launched it, up the faltering team.The cracker popped an inch above the off lead mule's cringing haunchtwenty feet before. "You can't stop hyar! Can't hold the rest of thetrain. Joe! Baldy! Hep with you!" The team straightened out; he restoredme the whip. His wrath subsided, for in less dudgeon he addressed her.

  "Want to ride, do ye?"

  "I did, sir."

  "Wall, in Gawd's name ride, then. But we don't stop for passengers."

  With that, in another white heat he had picked her up bodily, swung herupon the nearest mule; so that before she knew (she scarce had time toutter an astonished little ejaculation as she yielded to his arms) thereshe was, perched, breathless, upon the sweaty hide. I awaited results.

  Jenks chuckled.

  "What you need is an old feller, lady. These young bucks ain't broke tothe feed canvas. Now when you want to get off you call me. You don't weighmore'n a peck of beans."

  With a bantering wink at me he again fell back. Once more I had beenforestalled. There should be no third time.

  My Lady sat clinging, at first angry-eyed, but in a moment softened by mydiscomfiture.

  "Your partner is rather sudden," she averred. "He asked permission ofneither me nor the mule."

  "He meant well. He isn't used to women," I apologized.

  "More used to mules, I judge."

  "Yes. If he had asked the mule it would have objected, whereas it'sdelighted."

  "Perhaps he knows there's not much difference between a woman and a mule,in that respect," she proffered. "You need not apologize for him."

  "I apologize for myself," I blurted. "I see I'm a little slow for thiscountry."

  "You?" She soberly surveyed me as I ploughed through the dust, at herknees. "I think you'll catch up. If you don't object to my company,yourself, occasionally, maybe I can help you."

  "I certainly cannot object to your company whenever it is available,madam," I assured.

  "You do not hold your experience in Benton against me?"

  "I got no more than I deserved, in the Big Tent," said I. "I went in as afool and I came out as a fool, but considerably wiser."

  "You reproached me for it," she accused. "You hated me. Do you hate mestill, I wonder? I tell you I was not to blame for the loss of yourmoney."

  "The money has mattered little, madam," I informed. "It was only a fewdollars, and it turned me to a job more to my liking and good health thanfiddling my time away, back there. I have you to thank for that."

  "No, no! You are cruel, sir. You thank me for the good and you saddle mewith the bad. I accept neither. Both, as happened, were misplays. Youshould not have lost money, you should not have changed vocation. Youshould have won a little money and you should have pursued health inBenton." She sighed. "And we all would have been reasonably content. Nowhere you and I are--and what are we going to do about it?"

  "We?" I echoed, annoyingly haphazard. "Why so? You're being well caredfor, I take it; and I'm under engagement for Salt Lake myself."

  The answer did sound rude. I was still a cad. She eyed me, with a certainwhiteness, a certain puzzled intentness, a certain fugitive wistfulness--amute estimation that made me too conscious of her clear appraising gazeand rack my brain for some disarming remark.

  "You're not responsible for me, you would say?"

  "I'm at your service," I corrected. The platitude was the best that Icould muster to my tongue.

  "That is something," she mused. "Once you were not that--when I proposed apartnership. You are afraid of me?" she asked.

  "Why should I be?" I parried. But I was beginning; or continuing. I hadthat curious inward quiver, not unpleasant, anticipatory of possibleevents.

  "You are a cautious Yankee. You answer one question with another." Shelaughed lightly. "Yes, why should you be? I cannot run away with you; notwhen Daniel and your Mr. Jenks are watching us so closely. And you haveno desire to be run away with. And Pedro must be considered. Altogether,you are well protected, even if your conscience slips. But tell me: Do youblame me for running away from Montoyo?"

  "Not in the least," I heartily assured.

  "You would have helped me, at the last?"

  "I think I should have felt fully warranted." Again I floundered.

  "Even to stowing me with a bull train?"

  "Anywhere, madam, for your betterment, to free you from that brute."

  "Oh!" She clapped her hands. "But you didn't have to. I only embarrassedyou by appearing on my own account. You have some spirit, though. You cameto the Adams circle, last night. You did your duty. I expected you. Butyou must not do it again."

  "Why not?"

  "There are objections, there."

  "From
you?"

  "No."

  "From Hyrum?"

  "Not yet."

  "From that Daniel, then. Well, I will come to Captain Adams' camp as oftenas I like, if with the Captain's permission. And I shall come to see you,whether with his permission or not."

  "I don't know," she faltered. "I--you would have helped me once, you say?And once you refused me. Would you help me next time?"

  "As far as I could," said I--another of those damned hedging responsesthat for the life of me I could not manipulate properly.

  "Oh!" she cried. "Of course! The queen deceived you; now you are wise. Youare afraid. But so am I. Horribly afraid. I have misplayed again." Shelaughed bitterly. "I am with Daniel--it is to be Daniel and I in theLion's den. You know they call Brigham Young the Lion of the Lord. I doubtif even Rachael is angel enough." She paused. "They're going to makenooning, aren't they? I mustn't stay. Good-bye."

  I sprang to lift her, but with gay shake of head she slipped off ofherself and landed securely.

  "I can stand alone. I have to. Men are always ready to do what I don't askthem to do, as long as I can serve as a tool or a toy. You will be very,very careful. Good-day, sir."

  She flashed just the trace of a smile; gathering her skirt she ran on,undeterred by the teamsters applauding her spryness.

  "Swing out!" shouted Jenks, from rear. "We're noonin'." The lead wagonshad halted beside the trail and all the wagons following began to imitate.