"You old darling!" he replied, and gave her an embrace that left her cheek moist with the sweat of his.He smelled of dust and earth and his body was hot."I wish to God it could be true for always!"His loving, bearish onslaught and his words quite silenced Carley.How at critical moments he always said the thing that hurt her or inhibited her!
She essayed a smile as she drew back from him.
"It's sure good of you," he said, taking the basket."I was thinking I'd be through work sooner today, and was sorry I had not made a date with you.
Come, we'll find a place to sit."
Whereupon he led her back under the trees to a half-sunny, half-shady bench of rock overhanging the stream.Great pines overshadowed a still, eddying pool.A number of brown butterflies hovered over the water, and small trout floated like spotted feathers just under the surface.Drowsy summer enfolded the sylvan scene.
Glenn knelt at the edge of the brook, and, plunging his hands in, he splashed like a huge dog and bathed his hot face and head, and then turned to Carley with gay words and laughter, while he wiped himself dry with a large red scarf.Carley was not proof against the virility of him then, and at the moment, no matter what it was that had made him the man he looked, she loved it.
"I'll sit in the sun," he said, designating a place."When you're hot you mustn't rest in the shade, unless you've coat or sweater.But you sit here in the shade.""Glenn, that'll put us too far apart," complained Carley."I'll sit in the sun with you."The delightful simplicity and happiness of the ensuing hour was something Carley believed she would never forget.
"There! we've licked the platter clean," she said."What starved bears we were!....I wonder if I shall enjoy eating--when I get home.I used to be so finnicky and picky.""Carley, don't talk about home," said Glenn, appealingly.
"You dear old farmer, I'd love to stay here and just dream--forever,"replied Carley, earnestly."But I came on purpose to talk seriously.""Oh, you did! About what?" he returned, with some quick, indefinable change of tone and expression.
"Well, first about your work.I know I hurt your feelings when I wouldn't listen.But I wasn't ready.I wanted to--to just be gay with you for a while.Don't think I wasn't interested.I was.And now, I'm ready to hear all about it--and everything."She smiled at him bravely, and she knew that unless some unforeseen shock upset her composure, she would be able to conceal from him anything which might hurt his feelings.
"You do look serious," he said, with keen eyes on her.
"Just what are your business relations with Hutter?" she inquired.
"I'm simply working for him," replied Glenn."My aim is to get an interest in his sheep, and I expect to, some day.We have some plans.And one of them is the development of that Deep Lake section.You remember--you were with us.The day Spillbeans spilled you?""Yes, I remember.It was a pretty place," she replied.
Carley did not tell him that for a month past she had owned the Deep Lake section of six hundred and forty acres.She had, in fact, instructed Hutter to purchase it, and to keep the transaction a secret for the present.
Carley had never been able to understand the impulse that prompted her to do it.But as Hutter had assured her it was a remarkably good investment on very little capital, she had tried to persuade herself of its advantages.
Back of it all had been an irresistible desire to be able some day to present to Glenn this ranch site he loved.She had concluded he would never wholly dissociate himself from this West; and as he would visit it now and then, she had already begun forming plans of her own.She could stand a month in Arizona at long intervals.
"Hutter and I will go into cattle raising some day," went on Glenn."And that Deep Lake place is what I want for myself.""What work are you doing for Hutter?" asked Carley.
"Anything from building fence to cutting timber," laughed Glenn."I've not yet the experience to be a foreman like Lee Stanton.Besides, I have a little business all my own.I put all my money in that.""You mean here--this--this farm?"
"Yes.And the stock I'm raisin'.You see I have to feed corn.And believe me, Carley, those cornfields represent some job.""I can well believe that," replied Carley."You--you looked it.""Oh, the hard work is over.All I have to do now it to plant and keep the weeds out.""Glenn, do sheep eat corn?"
"I plant corn to feed my hogs."
"Hogs?" she echoed, vaguely.
"Yes, hogs," he said, with quiet gravity."The first day you visited my cabin I told you I raised hogs, and I fried my own ham for your dinner.""Is that what you--put your money in?"
"Yes.And Hutter says I've done well."
"Hogs!" ejaculated Carley, aghast.
"My dear, are you growin' dull of comprehension?" retorted Glenn.
"H-o-g-s." He spelled the word out."I'm in the hog-raising business, and pretty blamed well pleased over my success so far."Carley caught herself in time to quell outwardly a shock of amaze and revulsion.She laughed, and exclaimed against her stupidity.The look of Glenn was no less astounding than the content of his words.He was actually proud of his work.Moreover, he showed not the least sign that he had any idea such information might be startlingly obnoxious to his fiancee.
"Glenn! It's so--so queer," she ejaculated."That you--Glenn Kilbourne-should ever go in for--for hogs!...It's unbelievable.How'd you ever--ever happen to do it?""By Heaven! you're hard on me!" he burst out, in sudden dark, fierce passion."How'd I ever happen to do it?...What was there left for me? Igave my soul and heart and body to the government--to fight for my country.
I came home a wreck.What did my government do for me? What did my employers do for me? What did the people I fought for do for me?...
