Bostil went toward the house with his daughter, turning at the door to
call a last word to his riders about the care of his horses.
The house was a low, flat, wide structure, with a corridor running
through the middle, from which doors led into the adobe-walled rooms.
The windows were small openings high up, evidently intended for defense
as well as light, and they had rude wooden shutters. The floor was
clay, covered everywhere by Indian blankets. A pioneer's home it was,
simple and crude, yet comfortable, and having the rare quality peculiar
to desert homes it was cool in summer and warm in winter.
As Bostil entered with his arm round Lucy a big hound rose from the
hearth. This room was immense, running the length of the house, and it
contained a huge stone fireplace, where a kettle smoked fragrantly, and
rude home-made chairs with blanket coverings, and tables to match, and
walls covered with bridles, guns, pistols, Indian weapons and
ornaments, and trophies of the chase. In a far corner stood a
work-bench, with tools upon it and horse trappings under it. In the
opposite corner a door led into the kitchen. This room was Bostil's
famous living-room, in which many things had happened, some of which
had helped make desert history and were never mentioned by Bostil.
Bostil's sister came in from the kitchen. She was a huge person with a
severe yet motherly face. She had her hands on her hips, and she cast a
rather disapproving glance at father and daughter.
"So you're back again?" she queried, severely.
"Sure, Auntie," replied the girl, complacently.
"You ran off to get out of seeing Wetherby, didn't you?"
Lucy stared sweetly at her aunt.
"He was waiting for hours," went on the worthy woman. "I never saw a
man in such a stew.... No wonder, playing fast and loose with him the
way you do."
"I told him No!" flashed Lucy.
"But Wetherby's not the kind to take no. And I'm not satisfied to let
you mean it. Lucy Bostil, you don't know your mind an hour straight
running. You've fooled enough with these riders of your Dad's. If
you're not careful you'll marry one of them.... One of these wild
riders! As bad as a Ute Indian! ... Wetherby is young and he idolizes
you. In all common sense why don't you take him?"
"I don't care for him," replied Lucy.
"You like him as well as anybody.... John Bostil, what do you say? You
approved of Wetherby. I heard you tell him Lucy was like an unbroken
colt and that you'd--"
"Sure, I like Jim," interrupted Bostil; and he avoided Lucy's swift
look.
"Well?" demanded his sister.
Evidently Bostil found himself in a corner between two fires. He looked
sheepish, then disgusted.
"Dad!" exclaimed Lucy, reproachfully.
"See here, Jane," said Bostil, with an air of finality, "the girl is of
age to-day--an' she can do what she damn pleases!"
"That's a fine thing for you to say," retorted Aunt Jane. "Like as not
she'll be fetching that hang-dog Joel Creech up here for you to
support."
"Auntie!" cried Lucy, her eyes blazing.
"Oh, child, you torment me--worry me so," said the disappointed woman.
"It's all for your sake.... Look at you, Lucy Bostil! A girl of
eighteen who comes of a family! And you riding around and going around
as you are now--in a man's clothes!"
"But, you dear old goose, I can't ride in a woman's skirt,"
expostulated Lucy. "Mind you, Auntie, I can RIDE!"
"Lucy, if I live here forever I'd never get reconciled to a Bostil
woman in leather pants. We Bostils were somebody once, back in
Missouri."
Bostil laughed. "Yes, an' if I hadn't hit the trail west we'd be
starvin' yet. Jane, you're a sentimental old fool. Let the girl alone
an' reconcile yourself to this wilderness."
Aunt Jane's eyes were wet with tears. Lucy, seeing them, ran to her and
hugged and kissed her.
"Auntie, I will promise--from to-day--to have some dignity. I've been
free as a boy in these rider clothes. As I am now the men never seem to
regard me as a girl. Somehow that's better. I can't explain, but I like
it. My dresses are what have caused all the trouble. I know that. But
if I'm grown up--if it's so tremendous--then I'll wear a dress all the
time, except just WHEN I ride. Will that do, Auntie?"
"Maybe you will grow up, after all," replied Aunt Jane, evidently
surprised and pleased.
Then Lucy with clinking spurs ran away to her room.
"Jane, what's this nonsense about young Joel Creech?" asked Bostil,
gruffly.
"I don't know any more than is gossiped. That I told you. Have you ever
asked Lucy about him?"
"I sure haven't," said Bostil, bluntly.
"Well, ask her. If she tells you at all she'll tell the truth. Lucy'd
never sleep at night if she lied."
Aunt Jane returned to her housewifely tasks, leaving Bostil
thoughtfully stroking the hound and watching the fire. Presently Lucy
returned--a different Lucy--one that did not rouse his rider's pride,
but thrilled his father's heart. She had been a slim, lithe, supple,
disheveled boy, breathing the wild spirit of the open and the horse she
rode. She was now a girl in the graceful roundness of her slender form,
with hair the gold of the sage at sunset, and eyes the blue of the deep
haze of distance, and lips the sweet red of the upland rose. And all
about her seemed different.
"Lucy--you look--like--like she used to be," said Bostil, unsteadily.
"My mother!" murmured Lucy.
But these two, so keen, so strong, so alive, did not abide long with
sad memories.
"Lucy, I want to ask you somethin'," said Bostil, presently. "What
about this young Joel Creech?"
Lucy started as if suddenly recalled, then she laughed merrily. "Dad,
you old fox, did you see him ride out after me?"
"No. I was just askin' on--on general principles."
"What do you mean?"
"Lucy, is there anythin' between you an' Joel?" he asked, gravely.
"No," she replied, with her clear eyes up to his.
Bostil thought of a bluebell. "I'm beggin' your pardon," he said,
hastily.
"Dad, you know how Joel runs after me. I've told you. I let him till
lately. I liked him. But that wasn't why. I felt sorry for him--pitied
him."
"You did? Seems an awful waste," replied Bostil.
"Dad, I don't believe Joel is--perfectly right in his mind," Lucy said,
solemnly.
"Haw! haw! Fine compliments you're payin' yourself."
"Listen. I'm serious. I mean I've grown to see---looking back--that a
slow, gradual change has come over Joel since he was kicked in the head
by a mustang. I'm sure no one else has noticed it."
"Goin' batty over you. That's no unusual sign round this here camp.
Look at--"
"We're talking about Joel Creech. Lately he has done some queer things.
To-day, for instance. I thought I gave him the slip. But he must have
been watching. Anyway, to my surprise he showed up on Peg. He doesn't
often get Peg across the river. He said the feed was getting scarce
over there. I was dying to race Buckles against Peg, but I remembered
you wouldn't like that."
"I should say not," said Bostil, darkly.
"Well, Joel caught up to me--and he wasn't nice at all. He was worse
to-day. We quarreled. I said I'd bet he'd never follow me again and he
said he'd bet he would. Then he got sulky and hung back. I rode away,
glad to be rid of him, and I climbed to a favorite place of mine. On my
way home I saw Peg grazing on the rim of the creek, near that big
spring-hole where the water's so deep and clear. And what do you think?
There was Joel's head above the water. I remembered in our quarrel I
had told him to go wash his dirty face. He was doing it. I had to
laugh. When he saw me--he--then--then he--" Lucy faltered, blushing
with anger and shame.
"Well, what then?" demanded Bostil, quietly.
"He called, 'Hey, Luce--take off your clothes and come in for a swim!'"
Bostil swore.
"I tell you I was mad," continued Lucy, "and just as surprised. That
was one of the queer things. But never before had he dared to--to-"
"Insult you. Then what 'd you do?" interrupted Bostil, curiously.
"I yelled, 'I'll fix you, Joel Creech!'... His clothes were in a pile
on the bank. At first I thought I'd throw them in the water, but when I
got to them I thought of something better. I took up all but his shoes,
for I remembered the ten miles of rock and cactus between him and home,
and I climbed up on Buckles. Joel screamed and swore something fearful.
But I didn't look back. And Peg, you know--maybe you don't know--but
Peg is fond of me, and he followed me, straddling his bridle all the
way in. I dropped Joel's clothes down the ridge a ways, right in the
trail, so he can't miss them. And that's all.... Dad, was it--was it
very bad?"
"Bad! Why, you ought to have thrown your gun on him. At least bounced a
rock off his head! But say, Lucy, after all, maybe you've done enough.
I guess you never thought of it."
"What?"
"The sun is hot to-day. Hot! An' if Joel's as crazy an' mad as you say
he'll not have sense enough to stay in the water or shade till the
sun's gone down. An' if he tackles that ten miles before he'll sunburn
himself within an inch of his life."
"Sunburn? Oh, Dad! I'm sorry," burst out Lucy, contritely. "I never
thought of that. I'll ride back with his clothes."
"You will not," said Bostil.
"Let me send some one, then," she entreated.
"Girl, haven't you the nerve to play your own game? Let Creech get his
lesson. He deserves it.... An' now, Lucy, I've two more questions to
ask."
"Only two?" she queried, archly. "Dad, don't scold me with questions."
"What shall I say to Wetherby for good an' all?"
Lucy's eyes shaded dreamily, and she seemed to look beyond the room,
out over the ranges.
"Tell him to go back to Durango and forget the foolish girl who can
care only for the desert and a horse."
"All right. That is straight talk, like an Indian's. An' now the last
question--what do you want for a birthday present?"
"Oh, of course," she cried, gleefully clapping her hands. "I'd
forgotten that. I'm eighteen!"
"You get that old chest of your mother's. But what from me?"
"Dad, will you give me anything I ask for?"
"Yes, my girl."
"Anything--any HORSE?"
Lucy knew his weakness, for she had inherited it.
"Sure; any horse but the King."
"How about Sarchedon?"
"Why, Lucy, what'd you do with that big black devil? He's too high.
Seventeen hands high! You couldn't mount him."
"Pooh! Sarch KNEELS for me."
"Child, listen to reason. Sarch would pull your arms out of their
sockets."
"He has got an iron jaw," agreed Lucy. "Well, then--how about Dusty
Ben?" She was tormenting her father and she did it with glee.
"No--not Ben. He's the faithfulest hoss I ever owned. It wouldn't be
fair to part with him, even to you. Old associations ... a rider's
loyalty ... now, Lucy, you know--"
"Dad, you're afraid I'd train and love Ben into beating the King. Some
day I'll ride some horse out in front of the gray. Remember, Dad! ...
Then give me Two Face."
"Sure not her, Lucy. Thet mare can't be trusted. Look why we named her
Two Face."
"Buckles, then, dear generous Daddy who longs to give his grown-up girl
ANYTHING!"
"Lucy, can't you be satisfied an' happy with your mustangs? You've got
a dozen. You can have any others on the range. Buckles ain't safe for
you to ride."
Bostil was notably the most generous of men, the kindest of fathers. It
was an indication of his strange obsession, in regard to horses, that
he never would see that Lucy was teasing him. As far as horses were
concerned he lacked a sense of humor. Anything connected with his
horses was of intense interest.
"I'd dearly love to own Plume," said Lucy, demurely.
Bostil had grown red in the face and now he was on the rack. The
monstrous selfishness of a rider who had been supreme in his day could
not be changed.
"Girl, I--I thought you hadn't no use for Plume," he stammered.
"I haven't--the jade! She threw me once. I've never forgiven her ....
Dad, I'm only teasing you. Don't I know you couldn't give one of those
racers away? You couldn't!"
"Lucy, I reckon you're right," Bostil burst out in immense relief.
"Dad, I'll bet if Cordts gets me and holds me as ransom for the
King--as he's threatened--you'll let him have me!"
"Lucy, now thet ain't funny!" complained the father.
"Dear Dad, keep your old racers! But, remember, I'm my father's
daughter. I can love a horse, too. Oh, if I ever get the one I want to
love! A wild horse--a desert stallion--pure Arabian--broken right by an
Indian! If I ever get him, Dad, you look out! For I'll run away from
Sarch and Ben--and I'll beat the King!"
The hamlet of Bostil's Ford had a singular situation, though,
considering the wonderful nature of that desert country, it was not
exceptional. It lay under the protecting red bluff that only Lucy
Bostil cared to climb. A hard-trodden road wound down through rough
breaks in the canyon wall to the river. Bostil's house, at the head of
the village, looked in the opposite direction, down the sage slope that
widened like a colossal fan. There was one wide street bordered by
cottonwoods and cabins, and a number of gardens and orchards, beginning
to burst into green and pink and white. A brook ran out of a ravine in
the huge bluff, and from this led irrigation ditches. The red earth
seemed to blossom at the touch of water.
The place resembled an Indian encampment--quiet, sleepy, colorful, with
the tiny-streams of water running everywhere, and lazy columns of blue
wood-smoke rising. Bostil's Ford was the opposite of a busy village,
yet its few inhabitants, as a whole, were prosperous. The wants of
pioneers were few. Perhaps once a month the big, clumsy flatboat was
rowed across the river with horses or cattle or sheep. And the season
was now close at hand when for weeks, sometimes months, the river was
unfordable. There were a score of permanent families, a host of merry,
sturdy children, a number of idle young men, and only one girl--Lucy
Bostil. But the village always had transient inhabitants--friendly Utes
and Navajos in to trade, and sheep-herders with a scraggy, woolly
flock, and travelers of the strange religious sect identified with Utah
going on into the wilderness. Then there were always riders passing to
and fro, and sometimes unknown ones regarded with caution.
Horse-thieves sometimes boldly rode in, and sometimes were able to sell
or trade. In the matter of horse-dealing Bostil's Ford was as bold as
the thieves.
Old Brackton, a man of varied Western experience, kept the one store,
which was tavern, trading-post, freighter's headquarters, blacksmith's
shop, and any thing else needful. Brackton employed riders, teamsters,
sometimes Indians, to freight supplies in once a month from Durango.
And that was over two hundred miles away. Sometimes the supplies did
not arrive on time--occasionally not at all. News from the outside
world, except that elicited from the taciturn travelers marching into
Utah, drifted in at intervals. But it was not missed. These wilderness
spirits were the forerunners of a great, movement, and as such were
big, strong, stern, sufficient unto themselves. Life there was made
possible by horses. The distant future, that looked bright to
far-seeing men, must be and could only be fulfilled through the
endurance and faithfulness of horses. And then, from these men, horses
received the meed due them, and the love they were truly worth. The
Navajo was a nomad horseman, an Arab of the Painted Desert, and the Ute
Indian was close to him. It was they who developed the white riders of
the uplands as well as the wild-horse wrangler or hunter.
Brackton's ramshackle establishment stood down at the end of the
village street. There was not a sawed board in all that structure, and
some of the pine logs showed how they had been dropped from the bluff.
Brackton, a little old gray man, with scant beard, and eyes like those
of a bird, came briskly out to meet an incoming freighter. The wagon
was minus a hind wheel, but the teamster had come in on three wheels
and a pole. The sweaty, dust-caked, weary, thin-ribbed mustangs, and
the gray-and-red-stained wagon, and the huge jumble of dusty packs,
showed something of what the journey had been.
"Hi thar, Red Wilson, you air some late gettin' in," greeted old
Brackton.
Red Wilson had red eyes from fighting the flying sand, and red dust
pasted in his scraggy beard, and as he gave his belt an upward hitch
little red clouds flew from his gun-sheath.
"Yep. An' I left a wheel an' part of the load on the trail," he said.
With him were Indians who began to unhitch the teams. Riders lounging
in the shade greeted Wilson and inquired for news. The teamster replied
that travel was dry, the water-holes were dry, and he was dry. And his
reply gave both concern and amusement.
"One more trip out an' back--thet's all, till it rains," concluded
Wilson.
Brackton led him inside, evidently to alleviate part of that dryness.
Water and grass, next to horses, were the stock subject of all riders.
"It's got oncommon hot early," said one.
"Yes, an' them northeast winds--hard this spring," said another.
"No snow on the uplands."
"Holley seen a dry spell comin'. Wal, we can drift along without
freighters. There's grass an' water enough here, even if it doesn't
rain."
"Sure, but there ain't none across the river."
"Never was, in early season. An' if there was it'd be sheeped off."
"Creech'll be fetchin' his hosses across soon, I reckon."
"You bet he will. He's trainin' for the races next month."
"An' when air they comin' off?"
"You got me. Mebbe Van knows."
Some one prodded a sleepy rider who lay all his splendid lithe length,
hat over his eyes. Then he sat up and blinked, a lean-faced, gray-eyed
fellow, half good-natured and half resentful.
"Did somebody punch me?"
"Naw, you got nightmare! Say, Van, when will the races come off?"
"Huh! An' you woke me for thet? ... Bostil says in a few weeks, soon as
he hears from the Indians. Plans to have eight hundred Indians here,
an' the biggest purses an' best races ever had at the Ford."
"You'll ride the King again?"
"Reckon so. But Bostil is kickin' because I'm heavier than I was,"
replied the rider.
"You're skin an' bones at thet."
"Mebbe you'll need to work a little off, Van. Some one said Creech's
Blue Roan was comin' fast this year."
"Bill, your mind ain't operatin'," replied Van, scornfully. "Didn't I
beat Creech's hosses last year without the King turnin' a hair?"
"Not if I recollect, you didn't. The Blue Roan wasn't runnin'."
Then they argued, after the manner of friendly riders, but all earnest,
an eloquent in their convictions. The prevailing opinion was that
Creech's horse had a chance, depending upon condition and luck.
The argument shifted upon the arrival of two new-comers, leading
mustangs and apparently talking trade. It was manifest that these
arrivals were not loath to get the opinions of others.
"Van, there's a hoss!" exclaimed one.
"No, he ain't," replied Van.
And that diverse judgment appeared to be characteristic throughout. The
strange thing was that Macomber, the rancher, had already traded his
mustang and money to boot for the sorrel. The deal, whether wise or
not, had been consummated. Brackton came out with Red Wilson, and they
had to have their say.
"Wal, durned if some of you fellers ain't kind an' complimentary,"
remarked Macomber, scratching his head. "But then every feller can't
have hoss sense." Then, looking up to see Lucy Bostil coming along the
road, he brightened as if with inspiration.
Lucy was at home among them, and the shy eyes of the younger riders,
especially Van, were nothing if not revealing. She greeted them with a
bright smile, and when she saw Brackton she burst out:
"Oh, Mr. Brackton, the wagon's in, and did my box come? ... To-day's my
birthday."
"'Deed it did, Lucy; an' many more happy ones to you!" he replied,
delighted in her delight. "But it's too heavy for you. I'll send it
up--or mebbe one of the boys--"
Five riders in unison eagerly offered their services and looked as if
each had spoken first. Then Macomber addressed her:
"Miss Lucy, you see this here sorrel?"
"Ah! the same lazy crowd and the same old story--a horse trade!"
laughed Lucy.
"There's a little difference of opinion," said Macomber, politely
indicating the riders. "Now, Miss Lucy, we-all know you're a judge of a
hoss. And as good as thet you tell the truth. Thet ain't in some
hoss-traders I know.... What do you think of this mustang?"
Macomber had eyes of enthusiasm for his latest acquisition, but some of
the cock-sureness had been knocked out of him by the blunt riders.
"Macomber, aren't you a great one to talk?" queried Lucy, severely.
"Didn't you get around Dad and trade him an old, blind, knock-kneed bag
of bones for a perfectly good pony--one I liked to ride?"
The riders shouted with laughter while the rancher struggled with
confusion.
"'Pon my word, Miss Lucy, I'm surprised you could think thet of such an
old friend of yours--an' your Dad's, too. I'm hopin' he doesn't side
altogether with you."
"Dad and I never agree about a horse. He thinks he got the best of you.
But you know, Macomber, what a horse-thief you are. Worse than Cordts!"
"Wal, if I got the best of Bostil I'm willin' to be thought bad. I'm
the first feller to take him in.... An' now, Miss Lucy, look over my
sorrel."
Lucy Bostil did indeed have an eye for a horse. She walked straight up
to the wild, shaggy mustang with a confidence born of intuition and
experience, and reached a hand for his head, not slowly, nor yet
swiftly. The mustang looked as if he was about to jump, but he did not.
His eyes showed that he was not used to women.
"He's not well broken," said Lucy. "Some Navajo has beaten his head in
breaking him."
Then she carefully studied the mustang point by point.
"He's deceiving at first because he's good to look at," said Lucy. "But
I wouldn't own him. A saddle will turn on him. He's not vicious, but
he'll never get over his scare. He's narrow between the eyes--a bad
sign. His ears are stiff--and too close. I don't see anything more
wrong with him."
"You seen enough," declared Macomber. "An' so you wouldn't own him?"
"You couldn't make me a present of him--even on my birthday."
"Wal, now I'm sorry, for I was thinkin' of thet," replied Macomber,
ruefully. It was plain that the sorrel had fallen irremediably in his
estimation.
"Macomber, I often tell Dad all you horse-traders get your deserts now
and then. It's vanity and desire to beat the other man that's your
downfall."
Lucy went away, with Van shouldering her box, leaving Macomber trying
to return the banter of the riders. The good-natured raillery was
interrupted by a sharp word from one of them.
"Look! Darn me if thet ain't a naked Indian comin'!"
The riders whirled to see an apparently nude savage approaching, almost
on a run.
"Take a shot at thet, Bill," said another rider. "Miss Lucy might
see--No, she's out of sight. But, mebbe some other woman is around."
"Hold on, Bill," called Macomber. "You never saw an Indian run like
thet."
Some of the riders swore, others laughed, and all suddenly became keen
with interest.
"Sure his face is white, if his body's red!"
The strange figure neared them. It was indeed red up to the face, which
seemed white in contrast. Yet only in general shape and action did it
resemble a man.
"Damned if it ain't Joel Creech!" sang out Bill Stark.
The other riders accorded their wondering assent.
"Gone crazy, sure!"
"I always seen it comin'."
"Say, but ain't he wild? Foamin' at the mouth like a winded hoss!"
Young Creech was headed down the road toward the ford across which he
had to go to reach home. He saw the curious group, slowed his pace, and
halted. His face seemed convulsed with rage and pain and fatigue. His
body, even to his hands, was incased in a thick, heavy coating of red
adobe that had caked hard.
"God's sake--fellers--" he panted, with eyes rolling, "take this--'dobe
mud off me! ... I'm dyin'!"
Then he staggered into Brackton's place. A howl went up from the riders
and they surged after him.
That evening after supper Bostil stamped in the big room, roaring with
laughter, red in the face; and he astonished Lucy and her aunt to the
point of consternation.
"Now--you've--done--it--Lucy Bostil!" he roared.
"Oh dear! Oh dear!" exclaimed Aunt Jane.
"Done what?" asked Lucy, blankly.
Bostil conquered his paroxysm, and, wiping his moist red face, he eyed
Lucy in mock solemnity.
"Joel!" whispered Lucy, who had a guilty conscience.
"Lucy, I never heard the beat of it.... Joel's smarter in some ways
than we thought, an' crazier in others. He had the sun figgered, but
what'd he want to run through town for? Why, never in my life have I
seen such tickled riders."
"Dad!" almost screamed Lucy. "What did Joel do?"
"Wal, I see it this way. He couldn't or wouldn't wait for sundown. An'
he wasn't hankerin' to be burned. So he wallows in a 'dobe mud-hole an'
covers himself thick with mud. You know that 'dobe mud! Then he starts
home. But he hadn't figgered on the 'dobe gettin' hard, which it
did--harder 'n rock. An' thet must have hurt more 'n sunburn. Late this
afternoon he came runnin' down the road, yellin' thet he was dyin'. The
boys had conniption fits. Joel ain't over-liked, you know, an' here
they had one on him. Mebbe they didn't try hard to clean him off. But
the fact is not for hours did they get thet 'dobe off him. They washed
an' scrubbed an' curried him, while he yelled an' cussed. Finally they
peeled it off, with his skin I guess. He was raw, an' they say, the
maddest feller ever seen in Bostil's Ford!"
Lucy was struggling between fear and mirth. She did not look sorry.
"Oh! Oh! Oh, Dad!"
"Wasn't it great, Lucy?"
"But what--will he--do?" choked Lucy.
"Lord only knows. Thet worries me some. Because he never said a word
about how he come to lose his clothes or why he had the 'dobe on him.
An' sure I never told. Nobody knows but us."
"Dad, he'll do something terrible to me!" cried Lucy, aghast at her
premonition.