Part 32 (1/2)
”What's that?” asked Josefa, sharply.
”Of course you didn't know, Miss Josefa,” said Givens, with an air of one allowing magnanimity to triumph over grief. ”n.o.body can blame you.
I tried to save him, but I couldn't let you know in time.”
”Save who?”
”Why, Bill. I've been looking for him all day. You see, he's been our camp pet for two years. Poor old fellow, he wouldn't have hurt a cottontail rabbit. It'll break the boys all up when they hear about it. But you couldn't tell, of course, that Bill was just trying to play with you.”
Josefa's black eyes burned steadily upon him. Ripley Givens met the test successfully. He stood rumpling the yellow-brown curls on his head pensively. In his eye was regret, not unmingled with a gentle reproach. His smooth features were set to a pattern of indisputable sorrow. Josefa wavered.
”What was your pet doing here?” she asked, making a last stand.
”There's no camp near the White Horse Crossing.”
”The old rascal ran away from camp yesterday,” answered Givens readily. ”It's a wonder the coyotes didn't scare him to death. You see, Jim Webster, our horse wrangler, brought a little terrier pup into camp last week. The pup made life miserable for Bill--he used to chase him around and chew his hind legs for hours at a time. Every night when bedtime came Bill would sneak under one of the boy's blankets and sleep to keep the pup from finding him. I reckon he must have been worried pretty desperate or he wouldn't have run away. He was always afraid to get out of sight of camp.”
Josefa looked at the body of the fierce animal. Givens gently patted one of the formidable paws that could have killed a yearling calf with one blow. Slowly a red flush widened upon the dark olive face of the girl. Was it the signal of shame of the true sportsman who has brought down ign.o.ble quarry? Her eyes grew softer, and the lowered lids drove away all their bright mockery.
”I'm very sorry,” she said humbly; ”but he looked so big, and jumped so high that--”
”Poor old Bill was hungry,” interrupted Givens, in quick defence of the deceased. ”We always made him jump for his supper in camp. He would lie down and roll over for a piece of meat. When he saw you he thought he was going to get something to eat from you.”
Suddenly Josefa's eyes opened wide.
”I might have shot you!” she exclaimed. ”You ran right in between. You risked your life to save your pet! That was fine, Mr. Givens. I like a man who is kind to animals.”
Yes; there was even admiration in her gaze now. After all, there was a hero rising out of the ruins of the anti-climax. The look on Givens's face would have secured him a high position in the S.P.C.A.
”I always loved 'em,” said he; ”horses, dogs, Mexican lions, cows, alligators--”
”I hate alligators,” instantly demurred Josefa; ”crawly, muddy things!”
”Did I say alligators?” said Givens. ”I meant antelopes, of course.”
Josefa's conscience drove her to make further amends. She held out her hand penitently. There was a bright, unshed drop in each of her eyes.
”Please forgive me, Mr. Givens, won't you? I'm only a girl, you know, and I was frightened at first. I'm very, very sorry I shot Bill. You don't know how ashamed I feel. I wouldn't have done it for anything.”
Givens took the proffered hand. He held it for a time while he allowed the generosity of his nature to overcome his grief at the loss of Bill. At last it was clear that he had forgiven her.
”Please don't speak of it any more, Miss Josefa. 'Twas enough to frighten any young lady the way Bill looked. I'll explain it all right to the boys.”
”Are you really sure you don't hate me?” Josefa came closer to him impulsively. Her eyes were sweet--oh, sweet and pleading with gracious penitence. ”I would hate anyone who would kill my kitten. And how daring and kind of you to risk being shot when you tried to save him!
How very few men would have done that!” Victory wrested from defeat!
Vaudeville turned into drama! Bravo, Ripley Givens!
It was now twilight. Of course Miss Josefa could not be allowed to ride on to the ranch-house alone. Givens resaddled his pony in spite of that animal's reproachful glances, and rode with her. Side by side they galloped across the smooth gra.s.s, the princess and the man who was kind to animals. The prairie odours of fruitful earth and delicate bloom were thick and sweet around them. Coyotes yelping over there on the hill! No fear. And yet--