the man of the forest-第52章
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draw on Beasley the first chance I got。〃
Helen strove for utterance； but it was denied her。 Roy's
simple statement of Dale's love had magnified her emotion by
completely changing its direction。 She forgot what she had
felt wretched about。 She could not look at Roy。
〃Miss Helen； don't feel bad；〃 he said； kindly。 〃Shore you're
not to blame。 Your comin' West hasn't made any difference in
Beasley's fate； except mebbe to hurry it a little。 My dad is
old； an' when he talks it's like history。 He looks back on
happenin's。 Wal； it's the nature of happenin's that Beasley
passes away before his prime。 Them of his breed don't live
old in the West。 。 。 。 So I reckon you needn't feel bad or
worry。 you've got friends。〃
Helen incoherently thanked him； and； forgetting her usual
round of corrals and stables； she hurried back toward the
house； deeply stirred； throbbing and dim…eyed； with a
feeling she could not control。 Roy Beeman had made a
statement that had upset her equilibrium。 It seemed simple
and natural； yet momentous and staggering。 To hear that Dale
loved her to hear it spoken frankly； earnestly； by Dale's
best friend； was strange； sweet； terrifying。 But was it
true？ Her own consciousness had admitted it。 Yet that was
vastly different from a man's open statement。 No longer was
it a dear dream； a secret that seemed hers alone。 How she
had lived on that secret hidden deep in her breast！
Something burned the dimness from her eyes as she looked
toward the mountains and her sight became clear； telescopic
with its intensity。 Magnificently the mountains loomed。
Black inroads and patches on the slopes showed where a few
days back all bad been white。 The snow was melting fast。
Dale would soon be free to ride down to Pine。 And that was
an event Helen prayed for； yet feared as she had never
feared anything。
The noonday dinner…bell startled Helen from a reverie that
was a pleasant aftermath of her unrestraint。 How the hours
had flown！ This morning at least must be credited to
indolence。
Bo was not in the dining…room； nor in her own room； nor was
she in sight from window or door。 This absence had occurred
before； but not particularly to disturb Helen。 In this
instance； however； she grew worried。 Her nerves presaged
strain。 There was an overcharge of sensibility in her
feelings or a strange pressure in the very atmosphere。 She
ate dinner alone； looking her apprehension； which was not
mitigated by the expressive fears of old Maria； the Mexican
woman who served her。
After dinner she sent word to Roy and Carmichael that they
had better ride out to look for Bo。 Then Helen applied
herself resolutely to her books until a rapid clatter of
hoofs out in the court caused her to jump up and hurry to
the porch。 Roy was riding in。
〃Did you find her？〃 queried Helen； hurriedly。
〃Wasn't no track or sign of her up the north range；〃 replied
Roy； as he dismounted and threw his bridle。 〃An' I was
ridin' back to take up her tracks from the corral an' trail
her。 But I seen Las Vegas comin' an' he waved his sombrero。
He was comin' up from the south。 There he is now。〃
Carmichael appeared swinging into the lane。 He was mounted
on Helen's big black Ranger； and he made the dust fly。
〃Wal； he's seen her； thet's shore；〃 vouchsafed Roy； with
relief； as Carmichael rode up。
〃Miss Neil； she's comin'；〃 said the cowboy； as he reined in
and slid down with his graceful single motion。 Then in a
violent action； characteristic of him； he slammed his
sombrero down on the porch and threw up both arms。 〃I've a
hunch it's come off！〃
〃Oh； what？〃 exclaimed Helen。
〃Now； Las Vegas； talk sense；〃 expostulated Roy。 〃Miss Helen
is shore nervous to…day。 Has anythin' happened？〃
〃I reckon； but I don't know what；〃 replied Carmichael；
drawing a； long breath。 〃Folks； I must be gettin' old。 For I
shore felt orful queer till I seen Bo。 She was ridin' down
the ridge across the valley。 Ridin' some fast； too； an'
she'll be here right off； if she doesn't stop in the
village。〃
〃Wal； I hear her comin' now；〃 said Roy。 〃An' if you asked
me I'd say she WAS ridin' some fast。〃
Helen heard the light； swift； rhythmic beat of hoofs； and
then out on the curve of the road that led down to Pine she
saw Bo's mustang； white with lather； coming on a dead run。
〃Las Vegas； do you see any Apaches？〃 asked Roy； quizzingly。
The cowboy made no reply； but he strode out from the porch；
directly in front of the mustang。 Bo was pulling hard on the
bridle； and had him slowing down； but not controlled。 When
he reached the house it could easily be seen that Bo had
pulled him to the limit of her strength； which was not
enough to halt him。 Carmichael lunged for the bridle and；
seizing it； hauled him to a standstill。
At close sight of Bo Helen uttered a startled cry。 Bo was
white； her sombrero was gone and her hair undone； there were
blood and dirt on her face； and her riding…suit was torn and
muddy。 She had evidently sustained a fall。 Roy gazed at her
in admiring consternation； but Carmichael never looked at
her at all。 Apparently he was examining the horse。 〃Well；
help me off somebody；〃 cried Bo； peremptorily。 Her voice
was weak； but not her spirit。
Roy sprang to help her off； and when she was down it
developed that she was lame。
〃Oh； Bo！ You've had a tumble；〃 exclaimed Helen； anxiously；
and she ran to assist Roy。 They led her up the porch and to
the door。 There she turned to look at Carmichael； who was
still examining the spent mustang。
〃Tell him to come in；〃 she whispered。
〃Hey； there； Las Vegas！〃 called Roy。 〃Rustle hyar； will
you？〃
When Bo had been led into the sitting…room and seated in a
chair Carmichael entered。 His face was a study； as slowly he
walked up to Bo。
〃Girl； you ain't hurt？〃 he asked； huskily。
〃It's no fault of yours that I'm not crippled or dead or
worse；〃 retorted Bo。 〃You said the south range was the only
safe ride for me。 And there I it happened。〃
She panted a little and her bosom heaved。 One of her
gauntlets was gone； and the bare band； that was bruised and
bloody； trembled as she held it out。
〃Dear； tell us are you badly hurt？〃 queried Helen； with
hurried gentleness。
〃Not much。 I've had a spill；〃 replied Bo。 〃But oh！ I'm mad
I'm boiling！〃
She looked as if she might have exaggerated her doubt of
injuries； but certainly she had not overestimated her state
of mind。 Any blaze Helen had heretofore seen in those quick
eyes was tame compared to this one。 It actually leaped。 Bo
was more than pretty then。 Manifestly Roy was admiring her
looks； but Carmichael saw beyond her charm。 And slowly he
was growing pale。
〃I rode out the south range as I was told；〃 began Bo；
breathing hard and trying to control her feelings。 〃That's
the ride you usually take； Nell； and you bet if you'd
taken it to…day you'd not be here now。 。 。 。 About three
miles out I climbed off the range up that cedar slope。 I
always keep to high ground。 When I got up I saw two horsemen
ride out of some broken rocks off to the east。 They rode as
if to come between me and home。 I didn't like that。 I
circled south。 About a mile farther on I spied another
horseman and he showed up directly in front of me and came
along slow。 That I liked still less。 It might have been
accident； but it looked to me as if those riders had some
intent。 All I could do was head off to the southeast and
ride。 You bet I did ride。 But I got into rough ground where
I'd never been before。 It was slow going。 At last I made the
cedars and here I cut loose； believing I could circle ahead
of those strange riders and come round through Pine。 I had
it wrong。〃
Here she hesitated； perhaps for breath； for she had spoken
rapidly； or perhaps to get better hold on her subject。 Not
improbably the effect she was creating on her listeners
began to be significant。 Roy sat absorbed； perfectly
motionless； eyes keen as steel； his mouth open。 Carmichael
was gazing over Bo's head； out of the window； and it seemed
that he must know the rest of her narrative。 Helen knew that
her own wide…eyed attention alone wou
