CHAPTER VIII
QUICK WITH A VENGEANCE
Old Heck rode in advance of Charley and Bert as the trio returned fromrepairing the fences wrecked by the flood that had swept over the eastbottom-lands of the Quarter Circle KT. All morning he had been silentand morose. Only when necessary had he spoken while he directed thecowboys at their labor, helped them reset posts, or untangle twistedwires and build up again that which the rush of water had torn down. Thedamage had not been great and by noon the fence was as good as new. Assoon as the breaks were mended the moody owner of the Quarter Circle KTmounted his horse and started for the house.
"Them women coming or something has got Old Heck's goat," Bert remarkedto Charley as they climbed on their horses and followed a moment later.
"Something's got it," Charley answered, "he ain't acted natural allday--do you reckon he's sore because Parker took the widow to town?"
"Darned if I know," Bert said doubtfully, "that might be it."
"Well, he's feverish and disagreeable for some reason or other andthat's the way people generally get when they're jealous," Charleyobserved sagely.
"He hadn't ought to be," Bert argued, "it's Parker's day to keep companywith Ophelia, and Old Heck and him agreed to split."
"If he's in love he won't split," Charley retorted with conviction, "Inever saw two men take turn about loving the same woman yet. It can't bedone!"
"The woman wouldn't object, would she?" Bert queried.
"Probably not," Charley replied, "at least not as long as double dosesof affection was coming her way. From what I've heard most of 'em sortof enjoy having as many men make love to 'em as possible, but--" hepaused.
"But what?"
"They kick if a man loves several women at once!" was the sophisticatedreply. "But as far as that's concerned," he continued, speaking as a manwise in the ways of the world, "men and women ain't much different inthat respect. When it comes to loving, both sides are plumb willing todivide up 'a-going' but want it to be clean exclusive when it comes to'coming!'"
"It's funny, ain't it?" Bert commented.
"No, it ain't funny," Charley declared. "It's just natural--"
"Maybe Parker and Old Heck will have a fight about Ophelia," Bertsuggested hopefully. "Which do you suppose would lick?"
"It's hard telling," Charley said thoughtfully. "Old Heck's theheaviest, but Parker's pretty active."
"Well, it sure does seem like wherever women are trouble is, don't it?"Bert observed meditatively.
"Blamed if it don't," Charley agreed; "there's something about themthat's plum agitating!"
Old Heck, riding a short distance ahead of the cowboys, was troubledwith similar thoughts. He was trying to analyze his own feelings. Yearswithout association with womankind had made him come to regard them witha measure of indifference and suspicion. He had developed the idea thatwomen existed chiefly for the purpose of disorganizing the morale of themasculine members of the race. He was very sincere in this belief. Yethe was forced, now, to confess that he found something interesting inhaving a couple of attractive females at the Quarter Circle KT. Thesituation was not so disagreeable as he had expected. Already he wasproud of his kinship to Carolyn June. She was a niece worth while.Ophelia also had proved herself a pleasant surprise. He had pictured heras a strong-minded, assertive, modernized creature who would probablydiscourse continuously and raspingly about the evils of smoking,profanity, poker, drinking and other natural masculine impulses.Instead, she had proved herself, so far, a perfect lady. Without doubtshe was the most sensible widow he had ever met. The thought of Parker'slong, intimate ride with her to Eagle Butte made him uncomfortable. Itwas a darned fool arrangement--that agreement that he and his foremanwere to divide time in the entertainment of Ophelia. He could have doneit alone just as well as not. Anyway the dual plan was liable to causeconfusion. Oh, well, Parker would be out on the beef hunt next week. Byrights it ought not start for ten days yet, but--well, it wouldn't hurtto move it up a little. He would do that. Then he remembered the frankadmiration the cowboys had shown toward Carolyn June. This suggestedcomplications in that direction.
"Thunderation!" he said aloud, "it's a good thing we fixed it up forjust Skinny to make love to her--if we hadn't there'd have been aregular epidemic of bu'sted hearts on this blamed ranch! There wouldn'thave been a buckaroo on the place that could have kept from mooningaround sentimental--unless it was th' Ramblin' Kid," he added; "thatblamed cuss is too independent and indifferent to fall in love with anyfemale!"
At the barn Charley and Bert overtook Old Heck. The three unsaddled andfed their horses and started toward the house for dinner. Sing Pete hadseen them coming and immediately pounded the triangle.
"Th' Ramblin' Kid's gone somewhere again," Bert observed as he noticedthe Gold Dust maverick alone in the circular corral. "Captain Jack's notwith the filly--"
"Yonder th' Ramblin' Kid comes now," Charley said, looking toward thenorth; "he's been over to the river--what the devil kind of acombination is that?" he exclaimed as he got a better view of the horsecoming up the lane. "Him and that girl both are riding Captain Jack."
"Blamed if they ain't," Bert said curiously; "it's a wonder CaptainJack'll let them. But how does that come, anyhow? Where's Skinny? Ithought it was his job to ride herd on Carolyn June--"
"It is his job," Old Heck interrupted, "I don't understand--somethingmust have gone wrong," he added excitedly as the stallion with hisdouble burden drew near. "Carolyn June's all wet and she's lost herhat."
Turning his horse toward the house, when he reached the end of the laneand with but a glance at the trio standing at the barn, the Ramblin' Kidrode straight to the back-yard gate. Old Heck and the cowboys hurriedacross the open space and reached the gate just as Carolyn June ratherstiffly dismounted from the little roan. Her hair was disarranged, herriding suit soiled and wet from the sand and water, but her eyes werebright, cheeks flushed, and she showed only a trace of nervousness.
"What's the matter?" Old Heck asked uneasily, "what's happened? Where'sSkinny?"
In a few words, while the Ramblin' Kid sat silently on the back ofCaptain Jack, Carolyn June told of the ride across the river; themeeting with Pedro and the message he brought that the cattle were outand some had been killed by lightning; of sending Skinny with theMexican to help with the steers; of her return alone toward the ranch,the struggle in the quicksand and the death of the horse she had beenriding.
"Poor Old Blue--poor old fellow!" she finished with a little catch inher voice.
Old Heck's cheeks whitened as he listened.
"Good lord," he half-groaned, "you had a close call! It's lucky th'Ramblin' Kid saw you coming toward the upper ford--if he hadn't--you'dnever got out! But go on into the house and get some dry clothes on.Boys, we'll have to hurry up and eat dinner and then go help get themsteers back. I wish Parker was here--we'll need all the help we can get.You'd better catch up another horse," he continued, speaking to theRamblin' Kid, "Captain Jack is probably worn out from chasing that GoldDust maverick last night, and if you ain't too tired yourself, go withus--"
"I ain't too tired," the Ramblin' Kid replied quietly, "I'll go--an'ride Captain Jack--he ain't done up." He took the broncho to the corral,removed the saddle and turned him in with the outlaw mare. After givingthe horses fresh hay--there was water in the corral, supplied by a smallditch that was fed from the larger irrigation canal and which ran underone side of the fence--he joined the others at dinner.
An hour later Old Heck, Bert, Charley and the Ramblin' Kid rode awayfrom the ranch to help Chuck, Skinny and Pedro round up and return tothe big pasture the cattle that had broken out and were rushing towardtheir old range on the Purgatory.
Carolyn June was left alone with Sing Pete, the Chinese cook at theQuarter Circle KT. She still felt somewhat shaken from her experience ofthe morning, although a bath, clean dry clothing and the meal hadrefreshed her considerably. She carried a chair to the front porch,thinking to spend the afternoon resting. The
events of the day raced inreview through her mind. It did not seem possible so much could havehappened in so short a time. Only yesterday had Ophelia and she arrivedat the ranch. Already she had the feeling that they both were fixtures,and had been indefinitely, at the Quarter Circle KT. The elementalatmosphere of the range country had completely enveloped her, seemed tohave absorbed her, and made her a part of it. Some way she ratherdelighted in this sensation of permanency. Her rescue by the Ramblin'Kid and the close view she had been able to get of his impulses made herthrill with a queer mixture of admiration and pity for him even whilehis brutal answer when she had apologized for her harsh words stillechoed in her mind.
"Gracious," she thought with a whimsical smile, "things move fast inthis western country!"
She had seen, already, that both her Uncle Josiah and Parker wereyielding to the charms of Ophelia. The fancy made her chuckle. Sheremembered Skinny's too rapidly developing tenderness toward herself."Poor fellow," she murmured, slowly shaking her head, "I wish hewouldn't! But I suppose he can't help it--I wonder why men are alwaysfalling in love with me, anyhow? I'm sure I don't try to make them! Inever saw one yet I really wanted to care--" she stopped suddenly whilea warm flush spread over her body as the Ramblin' Kid was imaged rathervividly in her mind. "Nonsense!" she said aloud with a soft, throatylaugh. "Carolyn June, you are getting silly!"
She sprang up and went into the house.
"Sing Pete," she said, stepping into the kitchen, "may I have somesugar--I'd like the lumpy kind if you have it?"
"Sure! You have him sugal--how muchee you want?" as he held out to her atin containing squares of the desired article.
"Oh, enough to win a heart!" Carolyn June answered laughing, at the sametime taking a handful from the can.
"You eat him?" Sing Pete asked with a grin.
"No," she replied, "I feed it to broncho--to Gold Dust maverick. Somefolks sprinkle salt on bird's tail to catch him--I put sugar on horse'stongue to make him love me--"
"Lamblin' Kid, he do that. Allee time him gettee sugal for Clap'n Jack!"
"Feeds 'Clap'n Jack' sugar, does he?" Carolyn June said pensively."Captain Jack's a nice little broncho," she added, "he deserves sugar."She paused a moment. "'Lamblin' Kid's' a funny fellow, don't you thinkso, Sing Pete?" she finished idly.
"Not funny--him dangelous!" the Chinaman replied earnestly. "He getteevelly mad 'cause I puttee butter in can so cat catchee his head in an'go lound an' lound--buckee like a bloncho--havee lots a good time! Henot talkee much, Lamblin' Kid don't--just dangelous--that's all!"
Carolyn June felt sudden interest.
"When did he get mad about the cat?" she asked quietly.
"Allee same to-day--when you an' Skinny go 'way. Lamblin' Kid cussee melot--tellee me not do him any more. Him dangelous! I not do him nexttime!" Sing Pete explained seriously.
"You are wise, Sing Pete," Carolyn June laughed as she left the kitchenby the back door and started toward the corral where the Gold Dustmaverick was restlessly pacing about. "Don't do it any more! 'Lamblin'Kid' is 'dangelous'--dangerous in ways that you don't understand!" shefinished softly, her eyes lit with a strange light and her heart elatedand beating quickly because of what the Chinese cook had told her.
The outlaw filly leaped to the far side of the corral and stoodtrembling, her head up and breath coming in whistling snorts ofdefiance and fear, as Carolyn June opened the gate and stepped boldlyinside. Apparently paying no attention to the frightened horse, the girlwalked to the center of the corral and facing the mare leaned her backagainst the snubbing post. Both stood perfectly still while the eyes ofeach appraised the other.
After a time the filly seemed to relax and she slowly lowered her head,yet watching, alertly, the motionless figure of Carolyn June. The girltalked to the horse, her words gentle, her voice soothing and low. TheGold Dust maverick became quieter still. Presently she circled thecorral, trotting swiftly and crowding closely against the fence. CarolynJune turned, keeping her eyes always on the broncho, and continued thequiet pleading of her voice. It was an hour before the filly shyly andcautiously came up to the girl--before curiosity mastered her fear.Carolyn June held out her hand and the outlaw nosed it timidly, readyinstantly to spring away. A lump of sugar was pressed into the Gold Dustmaverick's mouth--she drew back, working the morsel about with hertongue and lips and finally spitting it out. Several times this wasrepeated. At last the beautiful creature tasted the sugar and greedilyate the lumps, permitting Carolyn June gently to stroke the velvetymuzzle. Then the girl's hand crept higher and higher on the horse's neckand after a little an arm was slipped over the filly's neck.
"You darling!" Carolyn June breathed softly, "I love you! I wonder whatthe Ramblin' Kid would say if he knew I was stealing your heart?" sheadded demurely as she laid her face against the silky mane of the mare.
She remained at the corral until the afternoon was nearly gone. Thepoplars along the front-yard fence were beginning to throw their shadowsacross the corral. When at last Carolyn June started to return to thehouse the filly followed her to the gate of the corral and whinnied alittle protest against her going.
"I don't believe you are a bit mean," the girl said as she looked backaffectionately at the nervous, high-strung animal; "you are just lonelyand want to be loved--and understood--that is all, and I doubt if you'dbuck a single buck if I rode you right this minute!"
As she reached the gate the Clagstone "Six" glided quietly down thegrade from the bench and a moment later Ophelia and Parker joinedCarolyn June on the porch. The widow's cheeks were glowing and Parkerlooked embarrassed and rather upset. His arms were full of bundles.
"Have a good time?" Carolyn June greeted them.
"Fine," Ophelia replied, "spent oodles of money shopping, saw theminister's wife, talked with the editor of the paper and we are going toorganize a Chapter--I think we shall call it 'The Amazons of EagleButte.'"
"Great," Carolyn June laughed, "you are a hustler, Ophelia! UncleJosiah will have a fit. Does Parker know?"
"Yes," the widow answered, her eyes twinkling, as she looked at thesweating foreman of the Quarter Circle KT. "I told him all about it andhe is going to give us his moral support."
"Where is Skinny?" Parker interrupted hastily, looking more uneasy andfoolish than ever; "why ain't he here?"
Carolyn June told of the happenings of the morning.
"My dear, my dear!" Ophelia cried, shuddering when she heard of CarolynJune's narrow escape from the quicksand. "You must never cross thatterrible river again! It's too horrible to think about!"
"It was just 'experience,'" Carolyn June said lightly. "I don't mind ita bit now that it is over. Of course," she added seriously, "I feelbadly about Old Blue--and losing Parker's saddle."
"Don't worry about the saddle, I can get new riding gear lots easierthan Old Heck could have got another niece!"
"Carolyn June needs a saddle of her own," Ophelia suggested.
"I am going to get one; and then I'll ride the Gold Dust maverick!"
"I doubt if th' Ramblin' Kid will let you ride the filly," Parker said,"he's funny that way--"
"I think he will," Carolyn June interposed. "I'll steal her if no otherway!"
"Maybe he will, but it's doubtful," Parker continued, "but Old Heck isaiming to get you a saddle. He spoke about it this morning when we weregetting the car out to go to town--"
"Dear old uncle," Carolyn June said warmly, "I love him already--don'tyou, Ophelia?"
Parker colored and looked quickly, with a worried expression on hisface, at the widow. She flushed also.
"That's personal, my dear," she answered, "and rather abrupt!"
Parker went out to put the Clagstone "Six" in the garage.
"Carolyn June," Ophelia said when they were alone, "I have made adiscovery--"
"It is?" questioningly.
"That western Texas is the 'quickest' country in the world!" the widowanswered.
"Please explain," Carolyn June said, "although," demurely, wit
h certainmemories fresh in her mind, "I fancy I can almost guess--"
"Yesterday," Ophelia continued rather breathlessly, "we arrived at theQuarter Circle KT; last night at the supper table I met Mr. Parker forthe first time; ten minutes later he kicked me--accidentally, Ithink--on the shins; I saw him again at breakfast this morning; to-daywe drove to Eagle Butte and this afternoon"--she paused and then with aquick, nervous laugh finished--"he asked me to marry him!"
"Good lord," Carolyn June gasped, "that is--'pronto'--as these cowboyssay! 'Quick' with a vengeance! There must be something in this westernair that makes them do it!"
"It was all I could do this morning to keep Skinny from--" she startedto say, then shifted again to the subject of Parker. "Did he know thatyou are--"
"National Organizer for the 'Movement,'" Ophelia filled in. "Yes, I hadalready confessed. I told him as we were driving to town--and theother--the shock--came just after we crossed the bridge when we werereturning home!"
"He is a bold, dangerous man!" Carolyn June exclaimed, in mockseriousness, "trying to get ahead of Uncle Josiah!"
"I inferred as much," the widow explained; "he told me that to-morrowwould be your uncle's 'day'--whatever he meant by that; the next he, Mr.Parker himself, would be 'around' again. 'Unless Old Heck took some foolnotion or other;' before long he would be away on the beef hunt and onecan never tell what might happen while one is gone and, well, that's theway he felt about it, so he just said it--"
"And you?"
"Naturally was completely surprised, entirely non-committal, and made nodefinite agreement!" Ophelia laughed softly.
The Ramblin' Kid Page 8