CHAPTER X
NEIGHBORS
Sim Gage, hesitant at the door of his bare-floored tent in the cooldawn, saw smoke arising from the chimney of Wid Gardner's house. Froma sense of need he determined to pay Wid a visit. His leg was doingbadly. He needed help, and knew it. He hobbled over to the cabindoor, where all was silent; knocked, and knocked again, more loudly.She still slept--slept as she had not dreamed she could.
"Who's there?" she demanded at length. "Oh yes; wait a minute."
He waited several minutes, but at length heard her at the door. Hiseyes fell upon her hungrily. She was fresher, her air was more eager,less pitiful.
"Good morning, ma'am," said he. "I've come to get the breakfast." Allshe could do was to stand about, wistful, perplexed, dumb.
"Now, ma'am," said he, after he had cooked the breakfast--like in allways to the supper of the night before--"I'm a-going to ask you to stayhere alone a little while to-day. You ain't afraid, are you?"
"You'll not be gone long? It's lonesome to me all the time, ofcourse." In reality she was terrified beyond words at the thought ofbeing left alone.
"I know that. But we got to get a dog and some hens for you. I justthought I'd go over and see Wid Gardner, little while, and talk overthings."
"How is your knee now?" she asked. "It seemed to me you sounded ratherlimpy, Mr. Gage."
"Is that what you want to call me, ma'am?" said he at last--"Mr. Gage?It sounds sort of strange to me, but it makes me feel taller. Folksalways called me Sim."
She heard him turn, hesitant. "You'll not be gone long?" said she.
"I reckon not."
"Then bring me the pan of potatoes in here, so that I can peel them."
"You're mighty helpful, ma'am. I don't see how I kept house here atall without you.
"Ma'am," he went on, presently, hesitating, after his bashful fashion."This here is a right strange place, way you and me is throwed in heretogether. I only wish't you wouldn't git scared about anything, andyou'd sort of--_believe_ in me, till we can shape things out somehow,fairer to you. Don't be scared, please. I'll take care of you thebest I can. The only trouble is I'm afraid about folks, that's all."
"What do you mean--about folks?"
"If there was a woman within fifty miles of you knowed you wasn'tmarried to me, she'd raise hell sure. All women is that way, and somemen is, too. There ain't been no room for talk--yet."
"Yet?" she said. "What do you mean?"
But this was carrying Sim Gage into water too deep for him. He onlystepped closer to the door. "Don't you be scared to be alone a littlewhile. So long," he added, and so he left her.
She heard his hobbling footfalls across the boards at the end of thehouse, heard them pass into silence on the turf. What had he meant?How long could she maintain her supremacy over him, here alone in thewilderness, helpless, blind? And those other women? What, indeed, washer status to be here? When would he tire of this? When would hechange?
Questions came to Sim Gage's mind also. Now and again he paused andleaned against the fence. He was in much pain alike of body and ofmind.
He saw Wid himself turn out at his gate and approach him; dreaded thegrin on Wid's face even before he saw it.
"Well, there, neighbor," said the oncomer. "You're out at last. How'severything?"
Sim looked down at his bandaged leg with a gesture.
"How come that?"
"One of them damn broncs cut me with his forefoot when I wasunhitching. Did you git track of them anywhere? They run off."
"They're hanging around here," said Wid indifferently. He bent overthe wounded member. "So struck you with his front hoof? That's a badleg, Sim. It's getting black; and here's some red streaks."
"I'm some scared about it," said Sim. "Seems to me I'd better get to adoctor. I got to get me a dog first, and some hens."
Wid Gardner took a hasty but careful inventory of his friend'sappearance, his shaven face, his clean hands, his new clothing.
"How's your wife, Sim?" he said, grinning.
"That lady, she's all right. Left her paring spuds. And I want to sayto you, Wid, while I'm away from there, everybody else stays away too."
"What, not get to see the bride? That ain't very friendly, seems tome."
"Well, what I said goes."
"You're a jealous sort of bridegroom?" said Wid, laughing openly.
The dull color of Sim's face showed the anger in his heart. "Thatlady, she's there at my house," said he, "and she's going to be leftalone there. She's sort of shy. This country's plumb new to her."
"But honest, Sim"--and his neighbor's curiosity now was apparent--"whatsort of a looker is she?"
"Prettier'n a spotted pup!" said Sim succinctly.
"She like the country pretty well?"
"Says it's the prettiest she ever seen," replied Sim. "That's what shesaid."
"And you owe all this to me, come to simmer it down."
"I ain't simmering nothing down," said Sim. "Here's your gate. Downthere is mine. Don't none of you go in there until I tell you it'stime, that's all."
"Well, I dunno as I care to," replied Wid.
"Better not," said Sim Gage. "I ain't a-going to have that girlbothered by nobody. Of course, you and me both knows we ain't married,and won't never be. It was a housekeeper I was after, and I got one,and a damn good one. But I don't want her bothered by no one fer awhile. I've played this game on the level with her so far, anyways,and I allow to play it that way all the way through."
"But now," he added, wincing with pain, "let's cut out all this sort ofthing. I believe I got to get to a doctor."
"I'll tell you," said Wid Gardner, "I'll hitch up and take you down tothe doctor at the big dam, twenty-five miles below. He's taking careof all the laborers down there--they're always getting into accidents;dynamite, you know. He's got to be a good doctor. I'll take you down."
"Wid," said Sim, "I wish't you would. I don't believe I'll go backhome first. She'll be all right there alone, won't she?"
Wid still smiled at him understandingly. "Jealousest man I ever didsee! Well, have it your own way. It'll take just so much timeanyway--if we get back by nine or ten o'clock to-night we'll be lucky.She'll have to begin sometime to get used to things."
The Sagebrusher: A Story of the West Page 10