Part 23 (1/2)
said Hartigan, ”I came across a text that filled me with joy. 'When Amaziah, King of Judah, was murdered,' it says, 'They brought him upon horses and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.'
”Brought him on horses. What a picture, Belle! Just think of that royal stiff strapped square across the backs of four fine horses, all bridled together, and then driven madly across the desert, through the land of the freebooting Arabs, who would be more than apt to seize the corpse and hold it for a ransom. What a race! You bet they had horses then!
They were Arab stock all right. I wonder no artist ever put that royal funeral on canvas. How does it strike you, Belle?”
”Wild enough and picturesque enough for the Black Hills; but I don't seem to get the lesson, I might almost add another text to your list: 'A horse is a vain thing for safety.'” Then, suddenly, she said: ”Have you seen Colonel Waller lately?”
”No.”
”Is it too far to ride there?”
”Not if you can stand it.”
”I can; but I wish you'd tighten my cinch.”
Jim was well pleased to be her groom; and, hauling on the strap, his hat tipped off and his head touched her knee, she laid her hand on his head and a thrill went through him. Belle knew the game and the risks, in spite of her very old-fas.h.i.+oned parents. All along, she had held him back to a certain line; even though it was clearly understood to both of them and all their world that he was her avowed and accepted lover. She gloried in his physical charm and power. She took a woman's pride in his devotion, and maybe, most of all, in her sovereignty over him; she realized more clearly than any one else, how completely he was her plastic material. A mighty engine, indeed, he had need of a skilful engineer. A splendid steed of rarest power and gift, his power and gift were useless, even worse, without the deft control of the rider, who should become in a sense his soul, as the captain is the soul of a great s.h.i.+p. And Belle had come to know that the best work she could ever hope to do was as the captain of this s.h.i.+p.
And what was to hinder? Belle knew; her soft brown eyes could see much farther through the stone wall than could his piercing eyes of blue. She estimated at its true potency the pa.s.sion that now threatened to wreck his career. A lover of horses always, an absolute wors.h.i.+pper of Blazing Star, he was barely held in restraint by his promises and fears of Church discipline, and Belle foresaw a time when his wild, impulsive nature would break out. He would surely be swept away by the wild currents of which the horse race is the vortex; and, having once lost hold, he would go the pace, break all rules, and end...? She knew, but dared not say.
Winter would soon be on them and, with that, the end of their happy rides together on the plains. The different life enforced would put them more apart--cut off these saddle _tete-a-tetes_, and with all the happenings, past or future, in her mind Belle was ready for a woman's game; the time had come to play it. That tightening of the cinch was not by chance.
They rode a race for a mile and Jim gallantly held back his mount so that she should keep the lead. They pa.s.sed a slough along whose edge the gentians still were blue; she wanted some, and when he brought them she patted his hand, and gave the flowers an honoured place. Suddenly a coyote appeared and she raced with him on its trail till it was lost to view. She called forth all her horsemans.h.i.+p to match his, and make him feel their perfect harmony; and as they rode side by side, she laid her hand on his arm to call attention to some creature of the plains when at other times she would merely have spoken. It thrilled and stirred him, so he tried to follow up this willingness for touch. But she swung away each time. Then at a later keep-your-distance hint she gaily held out a hand to him and teased him by eluding his grasp. But not for long; with a great spurt he swept upon her, seized the tantalizing hand now accidentally bared, and the thrill of her touch, the joy of acceptation in that tiny squeeze, went warmly kindling through him. His colour came, his bright blue eyes grew brighter, he glowed in body and in spirit.
Never before had she seemed so absolutely fascinating; never before had he felt how much she was to him, how wholly desirable and lovely she was, how much his measure of all good things. But he was such a boy in this side of life that he had never said one open word of love. He was as shy as most youths are at sixteen.
They were half way to the Fort now, the level plain spreading for a mile about them. There was no chance of interruption. Their horses had drawn close together again. She said, ”Look at the bruise on my hand from last week's ride through the brush.” He seized the hand; there was no bruise to be seen, but he bent his head and fervently kissed the place.
”Jim, do you really care so much?” she asked, with a sidelong glance and a little flush.
”Oh, Belle, you know--you must know----” And he choked.
”I wouldn't like to see you hold any other woman's hand that way.” Their horses' shoulders rubbed and she accidentally swayed toward him; she seemed to lose her balance. In a minute his strong arms were about her; a great emotion swept him and all his ardent soul was aflame. With sudden abandon of all restraint, he showered on her lips a lover's pa.s.sionate kisses, and forced his unwonted tongue and lips to shape the old refrain: ”I love you; I love you; I love you better than my life.”
She hid her burning face, but he held her tight, and the horses moved as one.
”Will you, Belle? Will you be my wife? I can't do anything without you.
You have saved me from ruin. I can't do anything without you.”
A jack rabbit sprang from under their feet, and Blazing Star, true to his training, darted away; and so the pair were forced apart. But, in a moment, Jim was back.
”Will you, Belle? Won't you take me?” He seized her hand and would have sought her lips again, but she held him back.
”I will, Jim, on one condition. Will you promise?”
”Anything. I'll promise anything I have or can be. Tell me what it is, Belle?”
”I will not tell you now; but I will before we get back to Cedar Mountain. Now let us ride”; and she touched her pony with the quirt, and led at a gallop which ended only at the house of Colonel Waller in Fort Ryan.
CHAPTER x.x.xI