"There's another thing. Ellis wants to take her to a New Year's dance at
Laramie. He said they'll go one day and come back the next, and Barbara
can stay with Ynez Driscoll overnight."
"What did you say to that?"
"I said he'd have to ask you."
Emma said hesitantly, "It may be a good idea and it may not. I'll have
to think about it." Joe saw that she had clasped her hands together, and
that the knuckles showed white. Unquestionably she was worried about
Barbara and Ellis, more worried than _he_ was. Joe knew, too, that Emma
would leave no stone unturned to learn more about Ellis before things
went much further, and he suspected that she would learn about Ellis not
by asking questions of Snedeker, but by talking with Ellis himself.
The fire blazed brightly, casting shadows on the rough-hewn beams that
supported the ceiling and on the uneven floor. There was a spot of dirt
on the floor, and Emma stooped mechanically to brush it up. Joe looked
fondly at her, and knew that she had already borne trials which only a
strong person could bear. His brow clouded when he thought of trials
still to come.