Part 6 (2/2)

”Done!” Hughie Disston's eyes were dancing. ”If my nerve fails me when I see her, you are in a new Navajo.”

It was a great lark to Disston, now a tall boy of nineteen, handsome, attractive, with the soft drawl of his southern speech and the easy manners of those who have a.s.sociated much with women-folk. He was in high spirits as, one morning early, he and Teeters turned off from the main road and took the faint trail which led up Bitter Creek.

They rode until they saw two tepees showing white through the willows.

”We're in luck to catch them home at this hour,” said Teeters, as they heard a faint tinkle from the corrals on the other side of the creek.

”They've got the sheep inside--must be cuttin' out. Yes,” as they forded and drew closer, ”there's Kate at the dodge gate.”

The corral was a crude affair, built at the minimum of expense, of crooked cottonwood poles, willow sticks and brush interlaced. It was divided into three sections, with a chute running from the larger division into two smaller ones.

Kate was standing at the ”dodge gate” at the end of the chute separating the sheep as they came through by throwing the gate to and fro, thus sending each into the division in which it belonged. It was work which required intense concentration, a trained eye and quick brain, and even Disston and Teeters, who knew nothing of sheep, could appreciate the remarkable skill with which the girl performed the task.

”Let 'em come, Uncle Joe!” she called in her clear confident voice.

Mormon Joe flapped a grain sack over the backs of the sheep and having started a leader the rest went through the chute on the run.

When the last one was through Kate's aching arm dropped limply to her side and she called in a tired but jubilant voice:

”I don't believe I've made a single mistake this time.”

Mormon Joe's expression was not too friendly when he saw strangers but it changed upon recognizing Teeters.

”Maybe you don't remember this here gent,” said that person, indicating Disston with his thumb after he and Mormon Joe had shaken hands. ”He's growed about four feet since you saw him.”

”I remember him very well.” Mormon Joe's tone and manner had the suavity and polish which was so at variance with his general appearance.

Hughie, leaving Teeters and Mormon Joe to a conversation which did not interest him, rode up to see Kate at closer range.

Busy in one of the pens, the girl was still unaware of visitors, so he had had ample opportunity to observe her before she saw him.

She, too, had grown since their meeting, being now as tall and straight and slim as an Olympian runner. Her hair swung in a thick fair braid far below her waist as she darted hither and thither in pursuit of a lamb.

The man's blue flannel s.h.i.+rt she wore was faded and the ragged sleeves had been cut off at the elbow for convenience. Her short skirt was of stiff blue denim and a pair of coa.r.s.e brown and white cotton stockings showed between the hem and the tops of boys' shoes which disguised the slenderness of her feet. Yet, withal, she was graceful as she ran and somehow managed to look picturesque.

The boy's face was an odd mixture of expressions as he watched her--amus.e.m.e.nt, astonishment, disapproval, and grudging admiration all in one.

Finally, catching the lamb by the hind leg she threw it by a twist acquired through much practice and buckled a bell around its neck.

As she turned it loose and straightened up, she saw Disston. When he smiled she knew him instantly and the color rose in her face as she walked towards him, suddenly conscious of her clothes and grimy hands.

She was soon at her ease, however, and when he told her his errand the radiance that leaped into her face startled him.

”Would I like to go?” she cried joyously. ”There's nothing I can think of that I would like better. I've never been to a dance in all my life.

I've never been anywhere. It's so good of you to ask me!”

”It's good of you to go with me,” he said awkwardly, shamed by her grat.i.tude, remembering the wager.

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