Part 41 (2/2)
Nevertheless on this bright autumn morning there was a glamour over valley and ridge, black slope and snowy peak, and the dim distant ranges. The sky was as blue as the inside of a columbine, a rich and beautiful light of gold gilded the wall of rock that boldly cropped out of the mountainside; and the wide sweeping expanse of sage lost itself in a deep purple horizon. Ravens and magpies crossed Pan's glad eyesight. Jack rabbits bounded down the aisles between the sage bushes. Far out on the plain he descried antelope, moving away with their telltale white rumps. The air was sweet, intoxicating, full of cedar fragrance and the cool breath from off the heights.
While he saw and felt all this his mind scintillated with thoughts of Lucy Blake. He would see her presently, have the joy of surprising her into betrayal of love. He fancied her wide eyes of changing dark blue, and the swift flame of scarlet that so readily stained her neck and cheek.
He would tell her about the great good fortune that had befallen him; and about the beautiful mare, Little Bay, he had captured for her; and now they could talk and plan endlessly, all the way down to Siccane.
When would Lucy marry him? That was a staggering question. His heart swelled to bursting. Had he the courage to ask her at once? He tried to see the matter from Lucy's point of view, but without much success.
Dreaming thus, Pan rode along without being aware of the time or distance.
”Hey, pard,” called Blinky, in loud banter. ”Are you goin' to ride past where your gurl lives?”
With a violent start Pan wheeled his horse. He saw that he had indeed ridden beyond the entrance to a farm, which upon second look he recognized. It was, however, an angle with which he had not been familiar. The corrals and barn and house were hidden in trees.
”I'm loco, all right,” he replied with a little laugh.
Through gate and lane they galloped, on to the corral, and round that to the barn. This was only a short distance to the house. Pan leaped from his horse and ran.
With an uplift of his heart that was almost pain, he rushed round the corner of the house to the vine-covered porch.
The door was shut. Stealthily he tiptoed across the porch to knock.
No answer! He tried the door. Locked! A quiver ran through him.
”Strange,” he muttered, ”not home this early.”
He peered through the window, to see on floor and table ample evidence of recent packing. That gave check to a creeping blankness which was benumbing Pan. He went on to look into his mother's bedroom. The bed looked as if it had been used during the night and had not been made up. Perhaps his mother and Lucy had gone into Marco to purchase necessities.
”But--didn't I tell Lucy not to go?” he queried, in bewilderment.
Resolutely he cast out doubtful speculations. There could hardly be anything wrong. Hurriedly he returned to the barn.
”Wal, I'll tell you,” Blinky was holding forth blandly, ”this heah grubbin' around without a home an' a woman ain't no good. I'm sh.o.r.e through. I'm agoin'--”
”n.o.body home,” interrupted Pan.
”Well, that's nothin' to make you pale round the gills,” returned his father. ”They're gone to town. Mother had a lot of buyin' to do.”
”But I particularly told Lucy to stay here.”
”S'pose you did,” interposed Blinky. ”Thet's nothin'. You don't expect this heah gurl to mind you.”
”No time for joking, Blink,” said Pan curtly. ”It just doesn't set right on my chest. I've got to find Lucy p.r.o.nto. But where to go!”
With a single step he reached his stirrup and swung into his saddle.
”Pan, Lucy an' the wife will be in one of the stores. Don't worry about them. Why, they did all our buyin'.”
”I tell you I don't like it,” snapped Pan. ”It's not what I think, but what I feel. All the same, wherever they are it doesn't change our plans. I'll sure find them, and tell them we're packing to leave p.r.o.nto..... Now, Dad, buy three wagons and teams, grain, grub, and whatever else we need for two weeks or more on the road. Soon as I find Lucy and Mother I'll meet you and help you with the buying.”
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