Part 35 (1/2)

The Deacon was willing to yield a point. ”Any objection, Bill? If not, why--”

”Nope, let her go,” said Bill.

”What 'ave _you_ got to say 'bout it?” asked Jim, insolently.

Bill turned his slow bulk. ”I guess I've a good 'eal to say--haven't I, Serry?”

Sarah reddened, but stood beside him bravely. ”I guess you have, Bill, about as much as _I_ have.” There was a moment of dramatic tension and the girls tingled with sympathy.

”Let 'er go,” said Bill, splitting a straw with his knife. He had not proposed to Sarah before and he felt an unusual exaltation to think it came so easy after all.

When they reached the cattle, Jim objected to striking a balance with a ”farrer cow,” and threw the Deacon's nice calculation all out of joint.

”Let it go, Jim,” pleaded Emma.

”I won't do it,” Ike said--”I mean I know he don't want no farrer cow, he's got two now.”

The Deacon was a little nettled. ”I guess that's going to stand,” he said sharply.

Jim swore a little but gave in, and came back with an access of ill humor on a division of the horses.

”But I've give you the four heavy horses to balance the four others and the two-year-old,” said the Deacon.

”I'll be d.a.m.ned if I stand that,” said Jim.

”I guess you'll have to,” said the Deacon.

Emma pleaded, ”Let it go, Jim, don't make a fuss.”

Jim raged on, ”I'll be cawn-demmed if I'll stand it. I don't--Ike don't want them spavined old crows; they're all ring-boned and got the heaves.” His long repressed ill-nature broke out.

”Toh, toh!” said the Deacon, ”Don't kick over the traces now. We'll fix it up some way.”

Emma tried to stop Jim, but he shook her off and continued to walk back and forth behind the horses munching on quietly, unconscious of any dispute about their value.

Bill sat on the oat box in his hulking way, his heels thumping a tune, his small gray eyes watching the angry man.

”Don't make a darn fool of yourself,” he said placidly.

Jim turned, glad of the chance for a row, ”You better keep out of this.”

Bill continued to thump, the palms of his big hands resting on the edge of the box. ”I'm in it,” he said conclusively.

”Well, you git out of it! I ain't goin' to be bulldozed--that ain't what I come here for.”

”No, I see it ain't,” said Bill. ”If you're after a row you can have it right here. You won't find a better place.”

”There, there,” urged the Deacon. ”What's the use? Keep cool and don't tear your s.h.i.+rts.”

Mrs. Gray went up to Jim and took him by the arm. ”You need a good spankin' to make you good-natured,” she said. ”I think the Deacon has done first rate, and you ought 'o--”