riders of the purple sage-第37章

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〃Of　course；〃　replied　Jane。　〃My　horses　are　all　there；　except　the　blooded　stock　I　keep　here。〃

〃Haven't　you　heardthen？〃

〃Heard？　No！　What's　happened　to　them？〃

〃They're　gone；　Miss　Withersteen；　gone　these　ten　days　past。　Dorn　told　me；　and　I　rode　down　to　see　for　myself。〃

〃Lassiterdid　you　know？〃　asked　Jane；　whirling　to　him。

〃I　reckon　so。。。。But　what　was　the　use　to　tell　you？〃

It　was　Lassiter　turning　away　his　face　and　Blake　studying　the　stone　flags　at　his　feet　that　brought　Jane　to　the　understanding　of　what　she　betrayed。　She　strove　desperately；　but　she　could　not　rise　immediately　from　such　a　blow。

〃My　horses！　My　horses！　What's　become　of　them？〃

〃Dorn　said　the　riders　report　another　drive　by　Oldring。。。。And　I　trailed　the　horses　miles　down　the　slope　toward　Deception　Pass。〃

〃My　red　herd's　gone！　My　horses　gone！　The　white　herd　will　go　next。　I　can　stand　that。　But　if　I　lost　Black　Star　and　Night；　it　would　be　like　parting　with　my　own　flesh　and　blood。　LassiterBlakeam　I　in　danger　of　losing　my　racers？〃

〃A　rustleroror　anybody　stealin'　hosses　of　yours　would　most　of　all　want　the　blacks；〃　said　Lassiter。　His　evasive　reply　was　affirmative　enough。　The　other　rider　nodded　gloomy　acquiescence。

〃Oh！　Oh！〃　Jane　Withersteen　choked；　with　violent　utterance。

〃Let　me　take　charge　of　the　blacks？〃　asked　Blake。　〃One　more　rider　won't　be　any　great　help　to　Judkins。　But　I　might　hold　Black　Star　and　Night；　if　you　put　such　store　on　their　value。〃

〃Value！　Blake；　I　love　my　racers。　Besides；　there's　another　reason　why　I　mustn't　lose　them。　You　go　to　the　stables。　Go　with　Jerd　every　day　when　he　runs　the　horses；　and　don't　let　them　out　of　your　sight。　If　you　would　please　mewin　my　gratitude；　guard　my　black　racers。〃

When　Blake　had　mounted　and　ridden　out　of　the　court　Lassiter　regarded　Jane　with　the　smile　that　was　becoming　rarer　as　the　days　sped　by。

〃'Pears　to　me；　as　Blake　says；　you　do　put　some　store　on　them　hosses。　Now　I　ain't　gainsayin'　that　the　Arabians　are　the　handsomest　hosses　I　ever　seen。　But　Bells　can　beat　Night；　an'　run　neck　en'　neck　with　Black　Star。〃

〃Lassiter；　don't　tease　me　now。　I'm　miserablesick。　Bells　is　fast；　but　he　can't　stay　with　the　blacks；　and　you　know　it。　Only　Wrangle　can　do　that。〃

〃I'll　bet　that　big　raw…boned　brute　can　more'n　show　his　heels　to　your　black　racers。　Jane；　out　there　in　the　sage；　on　a　long　chase；　Wrangle　could　kill　your　favorites。〃

〃No；　no；〃　replied　Jane；　impatiently。　〃Lassiter；　why　do　you　say　that　so　often？　I　know　you've　teased　me　at　times；　and　I　believe　it's　only　kindness。　You're　always　trying　to　keep　my　mind　off　worry。　But　you　mean　more　by　this　repeated　mention　of　my　racers？〃

〃I　reckon　so。〃　Lassiter　paused；　and　for　the　thousandth　time　in　her　presence　moved　his　black　sombrero　round　and　round；　as　if　counting　the　silver　pieces　on　the　band。　〃Well；　Jane；　I've　sort　of　read　a　little　that's　passin'　in　your　mind。〃

〃You　think　I　might　fly　from　my　homefrom　Cottonwoodsfrom　the　Utah　border？〃

〃I　reckon。　An'　if　you　ever　do　an'　get　away　with　the　blacks　I　wouldn't　like　to　see　Wrangle　left　here　on　the　sage。　Wrangle　could　catch　you。　I　know　Venters　had　him。　But　you　can　never　tell。　Mebbe　he　hasn't　got　him　now。。。。Besidesthings　are　happenin'；　an'　somethin'　of　the　same　queer　nature　might　have　happened　to　Venters。〃

〃God　knows　you're　right！。。。Poor　Bern；　how　long　he's　gone！　In　my　trouble　I've　been　forgetting　him。　But；　Lassiter；　I've　little　fear　for　him。　I've　heard　my　riders　say　he's　as　keen　as　a　wolf。。。。

〃As　to　your　reading　my　thoughtswell；　your　suggestion　makes　an　actual　thought　of　what　was　only　one　of　my　dreams。　I　believe　I　dreamed　of　flying　from　this　wild　borderland；　Lassiter。　I've　strange　dreams。　I'm　not　always　practical　and　thinking　of　my　many　duties；　as　you　said　once。　For　instanceif　I　daredif　I　dared　I'd　ask　you　to　saddle　the　blacks　and　ride　away　with　meand　hide　me。〃

〃Jane！〃

The　rider's　sunburnt　face　turned　white。　A　few　times　Jane　had　seen　Lassiter's　cool　calm　brokenwhen　he　had　met　little　Fay；　when　he　had　learned　how　and　why　he　had　come　to　love　both　child　and　mistress；　when　he　had　stood　beside　Milly　Erne's　grave。　But　one　and　all　they　could　not　be　considered　in　the　light　of　his　present　agitation。　Not　only　did　Lassiter　turn　whitenot　only　did　he　grow　tense；　not　only　did　he　lose　his　coolness；　but　also　he　suddenly；　violently；　hungrily　took　her　into　his　arms　and　crushed　her　to　his　breast。

〃Lassiter！〃　cried　Jane；　trembling。　It　was　an　action　for　which　she　took　sole　blame。　Instantly；　as　if　dazed；　weakened；　he　released　her。　〃Forgive　me！〃　went　on　Jane。　〃I'm　always　forgetting　youryour　feelings。　I　thought　of　you　as　my　faithful　friend。　I'm　always　making　you　out　more　than　human。。。only；　let　me　sayI　meant　thatabout　riding　away。　I'm　wretched；　sick　of　thisthisOh；　something　hitter　and　black　grows　on　my　heart！〃

〃Jane；　the　hellof　it；〃　he　replied；　with　deep　intake　of　breath；　〃is　you　can't　ride　away。　Mebbe　realizin'　it　accounts　for　my　grabbin'　youthat　way；　as　much　as　the　crazy　boy's　rapture　your　words　gave　me。　I　don't　understand　myself。。。。But　the　hell　of　this　game　isyou　can't　ride　away。〃

〃Lassiter！。。。What　on　earth　do　you　mean？　I'm　an　absolutely　free　woman。〃

〃You　ain't　absolutely　anythin'　of　the　kind。。。。I　reckon　I've　got　to　tell　you！〃

〃Tell　me　all。　It's　uncertainty　that　makes　me　a　coward。　It's　faith　and　hopeblind　love；　if　you　will；　that　makes　me　miserable。　Every　day　I　awake　believingstill　believing。　The　day　grows；　and　with　it　doubts；　fears；　and　that　black　bat　hate　that　bites　hotter　and　hotter　into　my　heart。　Then　comes　nightI　prayI　pray　for　all；　and　for　myselfI　sleepand　I　awake　free　once　more；　trustful；　faithful；　to　believeto　hope！　Then；　O　my　God！　I　grow　and　live　a　thousand　years　till　night　again！。。。But　if　you　want　to　see　me　a　woman；　tell　me　why　I　can't　ride　awaytell　me　what　more　I'm　to　losetell　me　the　worst。〃

〃Jane；　you're　watched。　There's　no　single　move　of　yours；　except　when　you're　hid　in　your　house；　that　ain't　seen　by　sharp　eyes。　The　cottonwood　grove's　full　of　creepin'；　crawlin'　men。　Like　Indians　in　the　grass。　When　you　rode；　which　wasn't　often　lately；　the　sage　was　full　of　sneakin'　men。　At　night　they　crawl　under　your　windows　into　the　court；　an'　I　reckon　into　the　house。　Jane　Withersteen；　you　know；　never　locked　a　door！　This　here　grove's　a　hummin'　bee…hive　of　mysterious　happenin's。　Jane；　it　ain't　so　much　that　these　soles　keep　out　of　my　way　as　me　keepin'　out　of　theirs。　They're　goin'　to　try　to　kill　me。　That's　plain。　But　mebbe　I'm　as　hard　to　shoot　in　the　back　as　in　the　face。　So　far　I've　seen　fit　to　watch　only。　This　all　means；　Jane；　that　you're　a　marked　woman。　You　can't　get　away　not　now。　Mebbe　later；　when　you're　broken；　you　might。　But　that's　sure　doubtful。　Jane；　you're　to　lose　the　cattle　that's　leftyour　home　en'　ranchen'　amber　Spring。　You　can't　even　hide　a　sack　of　gold！　For　it　couldn't　be　slipped　out　of　the　house；　day　or　night；　an'　hid　or　buried；　let　alone　be　rid　off　with。　You　may　lose　all。　I'm　tellin'　you；　Jane；　hopin'　to　prepare　you；　if　the　worst　does　come。　I　told　you　once　before　about　that　strange　power　I've　got　to　feel　things。〃

〃Lassiter；　what　can　I　do？〃

〃Nothin'；　I　reckon；　except　know　what's　comin'　an'　wait　an'　be　game。　If　you'd　let　me　make　a　call　on　Tull；　an'　a　long…deferred　call　on〃

〃Hush！。。。Hush！〃　she　whispered。

〃Well；　even　that　wouldn't　help　you　any　in　the　end。〃

〃What　does　it　mean？　Oh；　what　does　it　mean？　I　am　my　father's　daughtera　Mormon；　yet　I　can't　see！　I've　not　failed　in　religionin　duty。　For　years　I've　given　with　a　free　and　full　heart。　When　my　father　died　I　was　rich。　If　I'm　still　rich　it's　because　I　couldn't　find　enough　ways　to　become　poor。　What　am　I；　what　are　my　possessions　to　set　in　motion　such　intensity　of　secret　oppression？〃

〃Jane；　the　mind　behind　it　all　is　an　empire　builder。〃

〃But；　Lassiter；　I　would　give　freelyall　I　own　to　avert　thisthis　wretched　thing。　If　I　gavethat　would　leave　me　with　faith　still。　Surely　mymy　churchmen　think　of　my　soul？　If　I　lose　my　trust　in　them〃

〃Child；　be　still！〃　said　Lassiter；　with　a　dark　dignity　that　had　in　it　something　of　pity。　〃You　are　a　woman；　fine　en'　big　an'　strong；　an'　your　heart　matches　your　size。　But　in　mind　you're　a　child。　I'll　say　a　little　morethen　I'm　done。　I'll　never　mention　this　again。　Among　many　thousands　of　women　you're　one　who　has　bucked　against　your　c