Chapter 15
CONVALESCENCE
Four mornings later we were aboard the stage, riding down the mainstreet, on the way out of Linrock. The whole town turned out to bid usfarewell. The cheering, the clamor, the almost passionate fervor of thepopulace irritated me, and I could not see the incident from their pointof view. Never in my life had I been so eager to get out of a place. Butthen I was morbid, and the whole world hinged on one thing. Mortoninsisted on giving us an escort as far as Del Rio. It consisted of sixcowboys, mounted, with light packs, and they rode ahead of the stage.
We had the huge vehicle to ourselves. A comfortable bed had been riggedup for me by placing boards across from seat to seat, and furnishing itwith blankets and pillows. By some squeezing there was still room enoughinside for my three companions; but Steele expressed an intention ofriding mostly outside, and Miss Sampson's expression betrayed her. I wasto be alone with Sally. The prospect thrilled while it saddened me. Howdifferent this ride from that first one, with all its promise ofadventure and charm!
"It's over!" said Steele thickly. "It's done! I'm glad, for theirsakes--glad for ours. We're out of town."
I had been quick to miss the shouts and cheers. And I had been just asquick to see, or to imagine, a subtle change in Sally Langdon's face. Wehad not traveled a mile before the tension relaxed about her lips, thedowncast eyelids lifted, and I saw, beyond any peradventure of doubt, alighter spirit. Then I relaxed myself, for I had keyed up every nerve tomake myself strong for this undertaking. I lay back with closed eyes,weary, aching, in more pain than I wanted them to discover. And Ithought and thought.
Miss Sampson had said to me: "Russ, it'll all come right. I can tell younow what you never guessed. For years Sally had been fond of our cousin,George Wright. She hadn't seen him since she was a child. But sheremembered. She had an only brother who was the image of George. Sallydevotedly loved Arthur. He was killed in the Rebellion. She never gotover it. That left her without any family. George and I were her nearestkin.
"How she looked forward to meeting George out here! But he disappointedher right at the start. She hates a drinking man. I think she came tohate George, too. But he always reminded her of Arthur, and she couldnever get over that. So, naturally, when you killed George she wasterribly shocked. There were nights when she was haunted, when I had tostay with her. Vaughn and I have studied her, talked about her, and wethink she's gradually recovering. She loved you, too; and Sally doesn'tchange. Once with her is for always. So let me say to you what you saidto me--do not brood. All will yet be well, thank God!"
Those had been words to remember, to make me patient, to lessen myinsistent fear. Yet, what did I know of women? Had not Diane Sampson andSally Langdon amazed and nonplused me many a time, at the very momentwhen I had calculated to a nicety my conviction of their action, theirfeeling? It was possible that I had killed Sally's love for me, though Icould not believe so; but it was very possible that, still loving me,she might never break down the barrier between us. The beginning ofthat journey distressed me physically; yet, gradually, as I grewaccustomed to the roll of the stage and to occasional jars, I foundmyself easier in body. Fortunately there had been rain, which settledthe dust; and a favorable breeze made riding pleasant, where ordinarilyit would have been hot and disagreeable.
We tarried long enough in the little hamlet of Sampson for Steele to getletters from reliable ranchers. He wanted a number of references toverify the Ranger report he had to turn in to Captain Neal. Thisprecaution he took so as to place in Neal's hands all the evidenceneeded to convince Governor Smith. And now, as Steele returned to us andentered the stage, he spoke of this report. "It's the longest and thebest I ever turned in," he said, with a gray flame in his eyes. "Ishan't let Russ read it. He's peevish because I want his part put onrecord. And listen, Diane. There's to be a blank line in this report.Your father's name will never be recorded. Neither the Governor, nor theadjutant-general, nor Captain Neal, nor any one back Austin way willever know who this mysterious leader of the Pecos gang might have been.
"Even out here very few know. Many supposed, but few knew. I've shut themouths of those few. That blank line in the report is for a supposed andmysterious leader who vanished. Jack Blome, the reputed leader, and allhis lawless associates are dead. Linrock is free and safe now, itsfuture in the hands of roused, determined, and capable men."
We were all silent after Steele ceased talking. I did not believe Dianecould have spoken just then. If sorrow and joy could be perfectlyblended in one beautiful expression, they were in her face. By and by Idared to say: "And Vaughn Steele, Lone Star Ranger, has seen his lastservice!"
"Yes," he replied with emotion.
Sally stirred and turned a strange look upon us all. "In that case,then, if I am not mistaken, there were two Lone Star Rangers--and bothhave seen their last service!" Sally's lips were trembling, the way theytrembled when it was impossible to tell whether she was about to laughor cry. The first hint of her old combative spirit or her old archness!A wave of feeling rushed over me, too much for me in my weakenedcondition. Dizzy, racked with sudden shooting pains, I closed my eyes;and the happiness I embraced was all the sweeter for the suffering itentailed. Something beat into my ears, into my brain, with theregularity and rapid beat of pulsing blood--not too late! Not too late!
From that moment the ride grew different, even as I improved with leapsand bounds. Sanderson behind us, the long gray barren between Sandersonand the Rio Grande behind us, Del Rio for two days, where I was able tosit up, all behind us--and the eastward trail to Uvalde before us! Wewere the only passengers on the stage from Del Rio to Uvalde. PerhapsSteele had so managed the journey. Assuredly he had become an individualwith whom traveling under the curious gaze of strangers would have beenembarrassing. He was most desperately in love. And Diane, all in a fewdays, while riding these long, tedious miles, ordinarily so fatiguing,had renewed her bloom, had gained what she had lost. She, too, wasdesperately in love, though she remembered her identity occasionally,and that she was in the company of a badly shot-up young man and abroken-hearted cousin.
Most of the time Diane and Steele rode on top of the stage. When theydid ride inside their conduct was not unbecoming; indeed, it was sweetto watch; yet it loosed the fires of jealous rage and longing in me; andcertainly had some remarkable effect upon Sally. Gradually she had beenlosing that strange and somber mood she had acquired, to brighten andchange more and more. Perhaps she divined something about Diane andSteele that escaped me. Anyway, all of a sudden she was transformed."Look here, if you people want to spoon, please get out on top," shesaid.
If that was not the old Sally Langdon I did not know who it was. MissSampson tried to appear offended, and Steele tried to look insulted, butthey both failed. They could not have looked anything but happy. Youthand love were too strong for this couple, whom circumstances might wellhave made grave and thoughtful. They were magnet and steel, powder andspark. Any moment, right before my eyes, I expected them to rush rightinto each other's arms. And when they refrained, merely substitutingclasped hands for a dearer embrace, I closed my eyes and rememberedthem, as they would live in my memory forever, standing crushed togetheron the ridge that day, white lips to white lips, embodying all that wasbeautiful, passionate and tragic.
And I, who had been their undoing, in the end was their salvation. How Ihugged that truth to my heart!
It seemed, following Sally's pert remark, that after an interval ofdecent dignity, Diane and Steele did go out upon the top of the stage."Russ," whispered Sally, "they're up to something. I heard a few words.I bet you they're going to get married in San Antonio."
"Well, it's about time," I replied.
"But oughtn't they take us into their confidence?"
"Sally, they have forgotten we are upon the earth."
"Oh, I'm so glad they're happy!"
Then there was a long silence. It was better for me to ride lying down,in which position I was at this time. After a mile Sally took my
handand held it without speaking. My heart leaped, but I did not open myeyes or break that spell even with a whisper. "Russ, I must say--tellyou--"
She faltered, and still I kept my eyes closed. I did not want to wake upfrom that dream. "Have I been very--very sad?" she went on.
"Sad and strange, Sally. That was worse than my bullet-holes." Shegripped my hand. I felt her hair on my brow, felt her breath on mycheek.
"Russ, I swore--I'd hate you if you--if you--"
"I know. Don't speak of it," I interposed hurriedly.
"But I don't hate you. I--I love you. And I can't give you up!"
"Darling! But, Sally, can you get over it--can you forget?"
"Yes. That horrid black spell had gone with the miles. Little by little,mile after mile, and now it's gone! But I had to come to the point. Togo back on my word! To tell you. Russ, you never, _never_ had anysense!"
Then I opened my eyes and my arms, too, and we were reunited. It musthave been a happy moment, so happy that it numbed me beyondappreciation. "Yes, Sally," I agreed; "but no man ever had such awonderful girl."
"Russ, I never--took off your ring," she whispered.
"But you hid your hand from my sight," I replied quickly.
"Oh dear Russ, we're crazy--as crazy as those lunatics outside. Let'sthink a little."
I was very content to have no thought at all, just to see and feel herclose to me.
"Russ, will you give up the Ranger Service for me?" she asked.
"Indeed I will."
"And leave this fighting Texas, never to return till the day of guns andRangers and bad men and even-breaks is past?"
"Yes."
"Will you go with me to my old home? It was beautiful once, Russ, beforeit was let run to rack and ruin. A thousand acres. An old stone house.Great mossy oaks. A lake and river. There are bear, deer, panther, wildboars in the breaks. You can hunt. And ride! I've horses, Russ, suchhorses! They could run these scrubby broncos off their legs. Will youcome?"
"Come! Sally, I rather think I will. But, dearest, after I'm well againI must work," I said earnestly. "I've got to have a job."
"You're indeed a poor cowboy out of a job! Remember your deceit. Oh,Russ! Well, you'll have work, never fear."
"Sally, is this old home of yours near the one Diane speaks of so much?"I asked.
"Indeed it is. But hers has been kept under cultivation and in repair,while mine has run down. That will be our work, to build it up. So it'ssettled then?"
"Almost. There are certain--er--formalities--needful in a compact ofthis kind." She looked inquiringly at me, with a soft flush. "Well, ifyou are so dense, try to bring back that Sally Langdon who used totorment me. How you broke your promises! How you leaned from yoursaddle! Kiss me, Sally!"
Later, as we drew close to Uvalde, Sally and I sat in one seat, afterthe manner of Diane and Vaughn, and we looked out over the west wherethe sun was setting behind dim and distant mountains. We were fastleaving the wild and barren border. Already it seemed far beyond thatbroken rugged horizon with its dark line silhouetted against the rosyand golden sky. Already the spell of its wild life and the grim andhaunting faces had begun to fade out of my memory. Let newer Rangers,with less to lose, and with the call in their hearts, go on with ourwork 'till soon that wild border would be safe!
The great Lone Star State must work out its destiny. Some distant day,in the fulness of time, what place the Rangers had in that destiny wouldbe history.
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