"We're taking the long way round,"he observed "because I'm going to talk to you like a Dutch uncle for saying things like that.I--had a talk with your dad last night,Jean.He's turned you over to me to look after till he gets back.I wish he coulda turned the ranch over,along with you,but he couldn't.That's been signed over to Carl,somehow;I didn't go into that with your dad;we didn't have much time.Seems Carl put up the money to pay Rossman,--and other things,--and took over the ranch to square it.Anyway,I haven't got anything to say about the business end of the deal.I've got permission to boss you,though,and I'm sure going to do it to a fare-you-well."He cast a sidelong glance down at her.He could not see anything of her face except the droop of her mouth,a bit of her cheek,and her chin that promised firmness.
Her mouth did not change expression in the slightest degree until she moved her lips in speech.
"I don't care.What is there to boss me about?
The world has stopped."Her voice was steady,and it was also sullen.
"Right there is where the need of bossing begins.
You can't stay in town any longer.There's nothing here to keep you from going crazy;and the Allens are altogether too sympathetic;nice folks,and they mean well,--but you don't want a bunch like that slopping around,crying all over you and keeping you in mind of things.I'm going to work for Carl,from now on.
You're going out there to the Bar Nothing--"He felt a stiffening of the muscles under his fingers,and answered calmly the signal of rebellion.
"Sure,that's the place for you.Your dad and Carl fixed that up between them,anyway.That's to be your home;so my saying so is just an extra rope to bring you along peaceable.You're going to stay at the Bar Nothing.And I'm going to make a top hand outa you,Jean.I'm going to teach you to shoot and rope and punch cows and ride,till there won't be a girl in the United States to equal you.""What for?"Jean still had an air of sullen apathy."That won't help dad any.""It'll start the world moving again."Lite forced himself to cheerfulness in the face of his own despondency."You say it's stopped.It's us that have stopped.We've come to a blind pocket,you might say,in the trail we've been taking through life.We've got to start in a new place,that's all.Now,I know you're dead game,Jean;at least I know you used to be,and I'm gambling on school not taking that outa you.You're maybe thinking about going away off somewhere among strangers;but that wouldn't do at all.Your dad always counted on keeping you away from town life.I'm just going to ride herd on you,Jean,and see to it that you go on the way your dad wanted you to go.He can't be on the job,and so I'm what you might call his foreman.I know how he wants you to grow up;I'm going to make it my business to grow you according to directions."He saw a little quirk of her lips,at that,and was vastly encouraged thereby.
"Has it struck you that you're liable to have your hands full?"she asked him with a certain drawl that Jean had possessed since she first learned to express herself in words.
"Sure!I'll likely have both hand and my hat full of trouble.But she's going to be done according to contract.I reckon I'll wish you was a bronk before I'm through--""What maddens me so that I could run amuck down this street,shooting everybody I saw,"Jean flared out suddenly,"is the sickening injustice of it.Dad never did that;you know he never did it."She turned upon him fiercely."Do you think he did?"she demanded,her eyes boring into his.
"Now,that's a bright question to be asking me,ain't it?"Lite rebuked."That's a real bright,sensible question,I must say!I reckon you ought to be stood in the corner for that,--but I'll let it go this time.
Only don't never spring anything like that again."Jean looked ashamed."I could doubt God Himself,right now,"she gritted through her teeth.
"Well,don't doubt me,unless you want a scrap on your hands,"Lite warned."I'm sure ashamed of you.We'll stop here at the stable and get the horses.
You can ride sideways as far as the Allens',and get your riding-skirt and come on.The sooner you are on top of a horse,the quicker you're going to come outa that state of mind."It was pitifully amusing to see Lite Avery attempt to bully any one,--especially Jean,--who might almost be called Lite's religion.The idea of that long,lank cowpuncher whose shyness was so ingrained that it had every outward appearance of being a phlegmatic coldness,assuming the duties of Jean's dad and undertaking to see that she grew up according to directions,would have been funny,if he had not been so absolutely in earnest.
His method of comforting her and easing her through the first stage of black despair was unorthodox,but it was effective.Because she was too absorbed in her own misery to combat him openly,he got her started toward the Bar Nothing and away from the friends whose enervating pity was at that time the worst influence possible.He set the pace,and he set it for speed.The first mile they went at a sharp gallop that was not far from a run,and the horses were breathing heavily when he pulled up,well out of sight of the town,and turned to the girl.
There was color in her cheeks,and the dullness was gone from her eyes when she returned his glance inquiringly.The droop of her lips was no longer the droop of a weak yielding to sorrow,but rather the beginning of a brave facing of the future.Lite managed a grin that did not look forced.
"I'll make a real range hand outa you yet,"he announced confidently."You remember the roping and shooting science I taught you before you went off to school?You're going to start right in where you left off and learn all I know and some besides.I'll make a lady of you yet,--darned if I don't."At that Jean laughed unexpectedly.Lite drew a long breath of relief.
