Part 20 (1/2)

”But I thoughta”I mean, I never dreameda”that you wouldn't stay.”

”I can't,” he said again.

”But Papa and Mama will want to meet you.”

”Your papa and mama? I thought they were back in Smithton.”

”They are. But they'll come. Just as soon as they get the wirea”they'll come.”

He shook his head stubbornly. ”I don't think they'll be wantin' to see the likes of me.”

”What do you mean?”

”I was the reasonaremember? I was youraprison guard.”

She looked annoyed. ”Can't you get past that?” she said tersely. ”You brought me out. You risked your own life to help me get back to my folks. That's what they will think about and remember. That's what I remember.”

He shuffled uncomfortably. She might forgive so easilya”but could her parents?

”Come on,” she coaxed. ”We'll talk about that later. Comea”have some sandwiches. Aunt Molly has them ready and Uncle Jake looks like he's about starved.”

He was totally aware of the fact that she still had her hand on his arm.

”Sandwiches,” he agreed and let her lead him toward the house.

Ariana hummed as she prepared herself for the evening meal. She didn't remember when she had felt so lighthearted. It is so wonderful to be free, she exulted inwardly. It almost made her giddy.

But it was more than that. Perhaps it was because she now knew the real difference between imprisonment and freedoma”fear and security. Perhaps it was because all the bottled tension of the past months was seeping slowly from her, making room for happiness to spill back in. Perhaps it was the loving welcome that her uncle and aunt had so willingly extended, making her feel so loved and accepted.

Perhaps it wasa”Laramie.

Ariana blushed, even though she was alone in the room.

What were her feelings concerning Laramie? She didn't know if she could answer the questiona”even in her own heart. But she did realize that her feelings had gone about a slow change during the days they had traveled to freedom together.

At first he had been her captor, and she had feared him just as she had every aspect of camp life. She was confused and lonely and terribly frightened. He had seemed civil enough. But he was the one guarding her as prisoner, and so she had remained aloof, on guard, watchful for any sign that might show his true colors.

Then he had become her liberator. She knew enough to know it had been daring on his part. Dangerous. His own father would have had no mercy had they been caught. But even in this role, Ariana had been cautious. Guarded. He was, after all, an outlaw. How could she know what strange and warped behavior might lurk beneath the seemingly controlled exterior?

But now something had changed. Ariana felt that it had something to do with the snake incident. She blushed again at the thought of it.

It wasn't that he had killed the snake. No, it was more than that. Somethinga”that she found hard to define. Hard to think through. But it was therea”between them. She saw it in his eyes as he bent over her, holding her head, wiping her face with his bandana. There was compa.s.sion reflected there. Tenderness. There was nothing evil in those eyes. Had he changed? Or was this what he had always been? Would have been, had his circ.u.mstances been different?

Ariana did not know. But in some unexplainable way she felt in her heart that they were rather on even ground. Laramie had rescued her from her captorsa”and she, in some strange and unplanned way, had rescued him from his.

And he had listened to her read from the Biblea”with such interest. Surely, surely, given a little time, he would understand its message and seek out G.o.d's forgiveness for his past. She prayed for that with an impatience and urgency she had never brought to prayer before. And she felt confident her prayer would soon be answered.

So she hummed, her heart light. Life held so much promise. She could hardly wait for what each new day would reveal.

Ariana slipped up beside Laramie as he stood leaning against the corral fence, watching the horses feed from the overflowing manger of hay.

”You look very serious,” she said in a teasing tone. ”Was it really that hard to sit up to a table with a checkered tablecloth?”

Laramie smiled. ”I plumb enjoyed it,” he admitted. ”Especially the apple pie.”

Ariana stood beside him and placed her hands on the top rail. They remained silent for a number of minutes, each deep in thought.

In the distance a coyote howled and the farm dog answered in protest.

”Two different worlds,” mused Laramie.

Ariana looked puzzled.

”The coyote and the dog,” he explained. ”Same familya”yet two different worlds.”

Ariana gave a slight shrug. ”Guess either one of them might adjusta”if they had to.”

Laramie did not answer.

Silence again. The horses continued to feed, their energetic chewing reaching the ears of the two silent people.

”Which one would find it hardest, do you think?” wondered Ariana.

Laramie looked toward the horses. Ariana wondered if he had already forgotten the conversation of a few moments before.

”The doga”or the coyote?” she reminded him.

He seemed to be thinking on it.

”Would it be hardest for the tame animal to adjust to the wilda”or the wild animal to adjust to being tamed?” she persisted.

”I couldn't say,” he responded, but his voice sounded wistful.

Ariana waited before she spoke again. ”Do you mind if I ask you something?”

He seemed to consider it a moment. At last he nodded. ”Go ahead,” he invited. ”I'll answer, if I can.”

”That scara”just at your hairlinea”how'd you get it? I noticed it beforea”when you took your hat off in the cavea”and when you came ina””

”Nowa”thet I can't answer,” he said with good humor. ”It's been there fer as long as I can remember. All I know is thet jest a bit showsa”but it reaches back further. Jest can't see ita”with all my mane. Gotta find some place to git me a haircut. Surprised yer kin even let me in the house.”

Ariana laughed softly. He smiled in response.

They fell silent again.

Then Laramie picked up the thread of the conversation. ”I was jest thinkin'a”'fore ya came out,” he said. ”You interested in keepin' thet little roan? Seems ya got on quite wella.”