Cow-Country

e color of her hair Bud knew that she was not Honey, and that she was therefore a stranger to him. But h

" he said, and put out his h

ber afterwards that she had done anything else; he seemed to have seen only her e

e pathway to the kitchen door, and stopped when she flitted past him to show him where the wood-box stood. He was conscious then of her slenderness and of the lightness

again and felt the same tremor at his heart. He pulled himself together and smiled back at her,

mbling at his pack, his thoughts hushed b

in. They troubled him, shook him, made him want to use his man-strength against something that was hurting her. He did not know what it could be; he did not know that there was anything

at the cookie, and because he was hungry he ate it with a foolish feeling that he was being sentimental as the very devil, thinking how her hand

nothing else will, and Bud managed, by smoking two cigarettes i

to Honey," he added. "I'd bet a horse on that." He recalled how white and soft were Honey's hands, and he swore a little. "Wouldn't hurt her to get out there in the kitchen and help with the cooking,"

e Truman on a deep-cheated roan. Bud knew him by his resemblance to the ol

d door. The two talked for a minute and Dave rode on, passing Bud with

ling, dad?" Bud

ave'll put you on. They's plenty to do-hayin' comin' on and all that." He lowered his voice mysteriously, though there was no man save Bud w

eaty team that still had life enough to jump sidewise when they spied Bud's pack by the corral. The stage driver sauntered up and spoke to the men. Bud w

ved, coming up. "Well, if you ain't scared of it, I'l

Muleshoe. Bud Birnie's my name

Pop ain't as reliable as he used to

pulled off his gloves carefully and held up h

en the trouble, as Bud had half expected him to do. Apparently Dave felt that he had received all the information he needed, for his nex

the slim little woman with the big, troubled eyes striking the iron bar vigorously. Da

platters of chicken and dumplings and the bowls of vegetables. Bud found a place at the end where he could look into the kitchen, and his eyes went tha

are-jawed man of thirty, or thereabout, who sat at Bud's right hand, ca

ud while the man spoke to h

me coffee on purpose, just to be onery? I thought I told yuh to stra

everyone!" she whispered fiercely

resence poignantly, as he had never before sensed the presence of a woman. When he was able to swallow his

the two. A mean devil, Bud called him mentally, with a narrow forehead, eyes set too far apart and the mouth of a brute. Someone spoke to the man, calling

Marian; for his own peace of mind he did not dare. He thought that he knew now what it was

hat she looked was the challenge of a born coquette. In the kitchen dishes were rattling, but after they were washed there would be a little leisure, perhaps, for the kitchen drudge. Bud's impulse to make his so

here there was more exercise than the men could use. "You boys ought to come and see me

tly appeared on horseback, riding up to the kitchen and leaving his horse standin

he dishes ceased rattling for a minute, and there was a sharp exclamation, stifled but unmistakable. I

ned carelessly. "They have a spat every ti

ebrows by way of emphasis. He turned his head slightly, saw that Honey had gone into the house, and muttered just above a whisper, "Don't see or hear anything. It's all th

continuous, the other infrequent, reluctant to speak at all. Bud wanted to go in and smash his guitar over the fellow's head, but Jerry's warning held him. There were other ways, however, to help; if he must not drive off the torment

kitchen talked on. Bud tried another-one of those old-time favorites, a "laughing coon" song, though he felt little enough in the mood for it. In the middle of the first laugh he heard the kitchen door

ad been a failure. Of Honey he did not think at all, except to wonder if the two women were related in any way, and to feel that if they we

oking. But he stands in, so the less yuh take notice the better. Marian, she's a fine little woman that minds her own business, but she's getting a cold deck slipped into the game right along. Honey's jealous of her and afraid somebody'll give her a pleasant look. Lew's jeal

me," Bud mutter

understandingly. "Othe

h long enough, maybe you'll get to hear her sing. Wow-ee, but that lady h

as if you aren't crazy over Honey," h

it. I never said a word." He swept the whole subject from him with a comprehensive gesture, and snorted. "I'm