Part 20 (1/2)
The supper he produced was an indiscriminate mixture of meats and sweets and, had Kitty not been so really in need of food she would have disdained what she promptly p.r.o.nounced ”a mess.” But she ate it and felt rested by it; so that she began to remember things she had scarcely noticed earlier in the day.
”Gaspar, Wahneenah must have known about this--this money being offered for her and other Indians. She had taken everything out of her wigwam. I thought she was terribly grave this morning, and she kept looking at me all the time. Do you think she knew she was going to run away as she was?”
”Course. She's known it some days.”
”And didn't tell me!”
”She couldn't, because she loves you so. She wouldn't do a thing to put you in danger. So I thought the matter over, and I tell you I've just taken the business right out their hands. I was tired, any way.
I'm glad we came. I'm almost a man, Kit; and I won't be scolded by any woman as Mercy has scolded me. And when I found Abel was getting stingy, too, and claiming our horses for their keep, when they've really just kept themselves out on the prairie, or anywhere it happened, I--”
”Boy, you talk too fast. I--I don't feel as if I was glad. Except when I remember Other Mother. They were horrid, horrid about her. I hate them for that, though I love them for other things. I wonder what Mother Mercy will say when we don't come home!”
”She'll have a chance to say a lot of things before we do, I guess.
Well, we'll be going. I wouldn't like to miss Wahneenah, and I don't know but they close the Fort gates at night.”
”Did she ride Chestnut?”
”Course. What a lot of questions you ask!”
The Sun Maid looked into the boy's face. It was too troubled for her comfort, and she exclaimed:
”Gaspar Keith! There's more to be told than you've told me. What is it you are keeping back?”
”I--I wonder if you can understand, if I do tell you?”
”I think I can understand a good many things. One is: you are making me feel very unhappy.”
”Well, then, I'm going to take Wahneenah to the Fort, and give her up myself!”
They had remounted their horses, and were pacing leisurely along toward the rendezvous, keeping a sharp lookout for the Indian woman; but at this startling statement the Sun Maid reined up short, and demanded:
”What--do--you--mean?”
”Just exactly what I say. I'm going to give her up and get the money.”
Kitty could not speak; and with a perplexity that was not at all comfortable to himself, the lad returned her astonished gaze.
”Then--you--are--just--as--mean--as--Mercy--Smith!”
”I am not mean at all! Don't you say it. Don't you understand? I do--or I thought I did. It's this way. She can't be given up but once, can she? Well, I'll do it, instead of an enemy.”
”You--wicked--boy! I can't believe it! I won't! You shall not do it; never!”
”Oh, don't be silly! Of course, I'll not keep the money. I'll give it right back to her. Then she can do what she likes with it--make a nice new wigwam near the Fort, and she can get lots of skins, or even canvas, there. Come, let's ride on.”
But there was a silence between them for some time, and the scheme that had seemed so brilliant, when it had originated in Gaspar's mind, began to lose something of its glitter under the clear questioning gaze of the Sun Maid.
It was fast falling twilight when they came to the sandhills; and though, by all reckoning, Wahneenah should have been long awaiting them there was no sign of the familiar Chestnut or its beloved rider.