CHAPTER XXIV
DICK GORDON APOLOGIZES
Don Manuel was at first too spent a man even to wish to get well. As hiscousin's nursing dragged him farther and farther back into this worldfrom which he had so nearly slipped, he was content to lie still andtake the goods the gods provided.
She was with him for the present. That sufficed. Whether he lived ordied he did not care a hand's turn; but the while Fate flipped a coin todetermine whether it should be life or death for him, he had Valencia'slove as he feared he would never have it in case he recovered.
For these days she lived for him alone. Her every thought and desire hadbeen for him. On this his soul fed, since he felt that, as they slippedback into the ordinary tide of life, she would withdraw herself gentlybut surely from him.
He had fought against the conviction that she loved his rival, theColorado claimant to the valley. He had tried to persuade himself thather interest in the miner was natural under the circumstances andentirely independent of sentiment. But in the bottom of his heart suchassurances did not convince.
"You will be able to sit up in a few days. It's wonderful how you haveimproved," she told him one day as she finished changing his pillow.
"Yes, I shall be well soon. You will be relieved of me," he said with akind of gentle sadness.
"As if I wanted to be," she reproved softly, her hand smoothing down hishair.
"No. You're very good to me. You don't want to be rid of me. But it'sbest you should be. I have had all of you that's good for me, my cousin,unless I could have more than I dare hope."
She looked through the window at the sunlit warmth of the land, and,after a long time, said:
"Must we talk of that, Manuel?"
"No, _nina_--not if I am once sure. I have guessed; but I must becertain beyond the possibility of mistake. Is my guess right? That itcan never be."
She turned dim eyes on him and nodded. A lump had risen to her throatthat forbade speech.
"I can still say, dearest, that I am glad to have loved you," heanswered cheerfully, after an instant's silence. "And I can promise thatI shall trouble you no more. Shall we talk of something else?"
"There is one thing I should like to tell you first," she said withpretty timidity. "How proud I am that such a man could have loved me.You are the finest man I know. I must be a foolish girl not to--care foryou--that way."
"No. A woman's heart goes where it must. If a man loses, he loses."
She choked over her words. "It doesn't seem fair. I promised. I woreyour ring. I said that if you saved ... him ... I would marry you.Manuel, I ... I'll keep faith if you'll take me and be content to waitfor ... that kind of love to grow."
"No, my cousin. I have wooed and lost. Why should you be bound by apledge made at such a time? As your heart tells you to do, so you mustdo." He added after a pause: "It is this American, is it not?"
Again she nodded twice, not looking at him lest she see the pain in hiseyes.
"I wish you joy, Valencia--a world full of it, so long as life lasts."
He took her fingers in his, and kissed them before he passed lightly toanother subject:
"Have you heard anything yet of the tin box of Mr. Gordon's?"
She accepted the transition gratefully, for she was so moved she wasafraid lest she break down.
"Not yet. It is strange, too, where it has gone. I have had inquiriesmade every where."
"For me, I hope it is never found. Why should you feel responsibility tosearch for these papers that will ruin you and your tenants?"
"If my men had not attacked and tried to murder him he would still havehis evidence. I seek only to put him in the position he was in before weinjured him."
"You must judge for yourself, Valencia. But, if you don't mind, I shallcontinue to wish you failure in your search," he replied.
It was now that Jimmie Corbett came into the room to say that Mr. Gordonwould like to call on Don Manuel, if the latter felt able to receivehim.
Pesquiera did not glance at his cousin. He answered the boy at once.
"Tell Mr. Gordon I shall be very glad to see him," he said quietly.
Nor did he look at her after the boy had left the room, lest his gazeembarrass her, but gave his attention wholly to propping himself up onhis elbow.
Dick stood a moment filling the doorway before he came limping into theroom. From that point he bowed to Miss Valdes, then moved forward to thebed.
He did not offer to shake hands, but stood looking down at his rival,with an odd look of envy on his face. But it was the envy of a brave andgenerous man, who acknowledged victory to his foe.
"I give you best, Don Manuel," he finally said. "You've got me beat atevery turn of the road. You saved my life again, and mighty near paidwith your own. There ain't anything to say that will cover that, Ireckon."
The Spaniard's eyes met his steadily, but Pesquiera did not say a word.He was waiting to see what the other meant.
"You're a gamer man than I am, and a better one. All I can say is thatI'm sorry and ashamed of myself for the way I treated you. If you stillwant to fight me, I'll stand up and give you a chance to pepper me.Anything you think right."
"If you put it so, sir, I have no choice but to join you in regrets andhopes of future amity."
"I can understand that you'd like to spill me over a ten-acre lot, andthat you don't listen to my apologies with any joy," said theColoradoan, smiling whimsically down at his former foe.
"I do not forget that the first offense was mine, _Senor Gordon_," theSpaniard answered.
Then came Jimmie Corbett again with a message for Miss Valdes.
"Pablo wants to see you, ma'am. Just rode over from the ranch. Says it'simportant."
The hands of the two men met in a strong grip as Valencia left the room,and so, too, did their steady gazes. Each of them knew that the otherwas his rival for the heart of the girl. Oddly enough, each thought theother was the successful suitor. But there was in each some quality ofmanliness that drew them together in spite of themselves.
Valencia found Pablo sitting on the porch. A rifle lay across his kneesready for emergencies. The deputies had ridden away to the other end ofthe valley that morning, but Menendez did not intend to be caughtnapping in case of their unexpected return.
Miss Valdes smiled. "You needn't be so careful, Pablo. I bring you goodnews--better than you deserve. Mr. Gordon has promised to drop the casesagainst you and Sebastian. Even if the officers arrest you, nothing cancome of it except a trip to Santa Fe for a few days. If I were you Iwould give myself up. The rewards have been withdrawn, so it is notlikely your friends will betray you."
"But, _Dona_, are you sure? Will this _Americano_ keep his word? Is itcertain they will not hold me in prison?"
"I tell you it is sure. Is that not enough? Did you find Mr. Gordon soready to give you his word and break it when he was your prisoner?"
"True, _Dona_. He laughed at us and told us to kill him. He is a braveman."
"And brave men do not lie."
Pablo turned to his horse and took down from the horn of the saddle agunny sack tied to it. This he opened. From it he drew a tin box thathad been badly blistered with heat.
"It is _Senor_ Gordon's tin box. After you carried him to the house herethe other night I found it under a cottonwood. So I took it home withme. They are papers. Important---- Is it not so?"
"Yes. I have been looking everywhere for them. You did right to bringthem back to me."
"Perhaps they may help you win the land. Eh, _Dona_?"
"Perhaps. You know I offered a reward of twenty-five dollars for thebox. It is yours. Buy some furniture with it when you and Juanita go tohousekeeping."
"That is all past, alas, _Senorita_. Juanita looks down her nose when Iam near. She does not speak to me."
"Foolish boy! That is a sign she thinks much of you. Tell her you didwrong to accuse her. Beg her to forgive you. Do not sulk, but love herand she will smile on you."
"But--this _Sen
or_ Gordon?"
"All nonsense, Pablo. I have talked with Juanita. It is you she loves.Go to her and be good to her. She is back there in the milkhousechurning. But remember she is only a girl--so young, and motherless,too. It is the part of a man to be kind and generous and forbearing to awoman. He must be gentle--always gentle, if he would hold her love. Canyou do that, Pablo? Or are you only a hot-headed, selfish, foolish boy?"
"I will try, _Dona_," he answered humbly. "For always have I love' hersince she was such a little _muchacha_."
"Then go. Don't tell her I sent you. She must feel you have come becauseyou could no longer stay away."
Pablo flashed his teeth in a smile of understanding and took the paththat led round the house. He followed it to the sunken cellar that hadbeen built for a milkhouse. Noiselessly he tiptoed down the steps andinto the dark room. The plop-plop of a churn dasher told him Juanita washere even before his eyes could make her out in the darkness.
Presently he saw more clearly the slender figure bent a little wearilyover the churn. Softly he trod forward. His hand went out and closed onthe handle above hers. In startled surprise she turned.
"You--Pablo!" she cried faintly.
"I have so longed to see you--to come to you and tell you I was wrong,_nina_---- Oh, you don't know how I have wanted to come. But mypride--my hard, foolish pride--it held me back. But no longer, heart ofmy heart, can I wait. Tell me that you forgive--that you will love meagain--in spite of what I said and have done. I cannot get along withoutmy little Juanita," he cried in the soft Spanish that was native to themboth.
She was in his arms, crying softly, nestling close to him so that hislove might enfold her more warmly. Always Juanita had been a soft,clinging child, happy only in an atmosphere of affection. She respondedto caresses as a rose does to the sunlight. Pablo had been her firstlover, the most constant of them all. She had relied upon him as a childdoes upon its mother. When he had left her in anger and not returned shehad been miserably unhappy. Now all was well again, since Pablo had comeback to her.