Part 21 (2/2)
”You earned six thousand dollars, at goodness knows what peril. I let you still imagine that you were poor.”
”We got plenty wealth, Kate, wealth enough for--for David.”
”I wanted you, Jesse, just you, I wanted poverty because you were poor.
I have been content, and now you've won the capital to free the ranch, to buy a thoroughbred stallion, to stock the place.”
”That's so.”
”Jesse, under my dear father's will, I have seven thousand five hundred dollars a year.”
”A _what_!”
”I'm a rich woman, dear. I've been saving my income, and there's ten thousand dollars for you at the bank.”
So I gave him my check, which he receipted promptly with a kiss. He is so rough, too.
Then we discussed improvements. A bunch of East Oregon horses, three cow-boys to handle our stock, a man to run the Sky-line contract, an irrigated corn field, and winter feed, two Chinese servants, so many 'must haves' that we waxed quite despondent over ways and means. Jesse must go to Vancouver on business, and thus after much preamble I came at last to the point.
”Take Billy with you.”
”But if I go, he's got to look after the ranch.”
Men are so stupid. When I sing to my dear bull pines, they breathe a swaying thin echo like some distant chorus; yet at the sight of Jesse, become impa.s.sive as red Indian chiefs. How could I tell such a man of peril? The widow understands, and no sacrifice is too great for a mother.
”You preach at Billy,” I said, ”you pray at him. Remember he's wild as these woods, son of a dangerous felon. His mother goads him on, and there's danger, Jesse.”
I knew while I spoke the folly of appealing to any sense of fear. He chuckled softly.
”Why, Billy daresn't say good morning to my pinto colt. He was bucking plentiful to-day, and me spitting blood before I got him conquered. Now just you leave me to tame colts and cow-boys. I propose to rub old man Jacob into Billy by way of liniment until he supples, yes, and works.
Dreams earn no grub.”
”Take him away, Jesse, dear.”
”He bin making love to you, Kate?”
My heart stood still, and to my jealous husband silence means consent.
Two bats came darkly by, with a business manner, having perhaps an appointment with some field mouse. Then the hypocrite in me sighed, and Jesse flinging away his cigar stub, said with an oath that Billy should be on his way to Vancouver by daybreak.
Yes, Jesse is hard to manage, but presently he remembered about the check, which made him for the first time in his life feel rich. He's too rough when I let him love me. Indeed I had to do up my hair in the dark, though the fireflies offered the dearest little lamps. Besides a little jealousy is good for Jesse. I should not like to see his love go hungry.
III
Last night Jesse came home from Vancouver, and it being Sunday evening, he read and expounded the Scriptures to the amazement of the three new ranch-hands. The Chinamen, being heathens, were let off.
”Not being wise in the ways of high society, I ain't free to comment on Mrs. Potiphar, who kep' a steward instead of doing her job as housekeeper, or on this General Sir Something Potiphar, C.O.D., C.P.R., H.B.C., P.D.Q., commanding the Haw-Haw Guards, who seems to neglect his missus. As a plain stockman I pursues after Joseph.”
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