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"They tell me that Mexico is invaded and that the American soldiers have already killed more than a thousand women and children." "Who tells you this?" Alaire asked. "The men everybody," Dolores waved a hand in the direction of the other ranch buildings. "Our people are buzzing like bees with the news, and, of course, no one cares to work when the Americans are coming."
With which cheering announcement the housekeeper heaved a deep sigh and went about her duties with a gloomy face. Longorio arrived that afternoon, and Alaire received him in the great naked living room of the hacienda, with her best attempt at formality. But her coolness served not in the least to chill his fervor.
Now you will understand why I said that I bore tidings both good and evil and why I, of all people, should be the one to impart them." Alaire turned questioning eyes upon him, as if to fathom his meaning, and he answered her with his brilliant smile.
But José's bright eyes remained hostile and his expression baffling. It was plain to Alaire that her explanation of his cousin's death had carried not the slightest conviction, and she even began to fear that her part in the affair had caused him to look upon her as an accessory.
"Both?" she repeated, dully. "Need I be plainer? You know my heart. You have read me. You understand how I have throttled my longings and remained mute while all my being called to you." Alaire withdrew a step, and her cheeks colored with anger. "General!" she exclaimed, with some difficulty, "I am amazed.
A few moments later she looked out from her window and saw the headlights of Ed's runabout flash down the driveway to the road; then she and Paloma rushed to the garage where the touring-car stood. "They'll never expect us to follow them" Alaire tried to speak hopefully "and we'll drive without lights. Maybe we'll get there in time, after all."
As usual, Ed Austin had not taken the trouble to inform his wife of his whereabouts; Alaire was relieved to find that he was out, and she decided that he had probably stayed at Tad Lewis's for supper. The women were seated on the porch after their meals when up the driveway rode two horsemen.
Then she saw Dave come toward her, heard him speak her name, felt his arms around her. Alaire did not swoon, but she never could remember very distinctly those first few moments. Scarcely knowing what she did, she found herself clinging to her lover, laughing, weeping, feeling him over with shaking hands that would not be convinced of his reality.
The ominous possibilities of this ambush struck her forcibly. Alaire lay close, as she had been directed, praying that the horseman had been warned; but shortly she heard again the rustle of stiff branches, and out into the opening rode a Mexican.
Since Alaire spared him all reproaches, his efforts seemed to meet with admirable success. Now Ed's opinion of women was not high, for those with whom he habitually associated were of small intelligence; and, seeing that his wife continued to manifest a complete indifference to his past actions, he decided that his apprehensions had been groundless.
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