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Updated: April 30, 2025
"But I'm not tired, Billy," Tharon protested, "no more'n as if I'd been ridin' all day after th' cattle." But Billy shook his head and hollowed a little place in the soft slide stuff at the Wall's foot. In this he spread the blanket, folding it half back. "Lie down," he commanded, "an' you'll be asleep so quick you won't know when it happens."
With the crashing pound of El Rey's ploughing hoofs upon the very stones at the step, a man came quickly from the interior of the cabin and stepped out, his hand lifted. Tharon Last, her hair beating on her shoulders, her face pale as ashes, her breast heaving, looked back toward the opening in the trees, and saw Courtrey swing in a wide arc and circle past to disappear toward the north.
Then these lean and quiet men filed out, mounted the waiting horses and went away in the darkness, mysterious figures against the stars. That night Tharon Last sat late by the deep window in her own room at the south of the ranch house. It was a huge old room, high walled and sombre.
"I am proud of my home, Miss Last," he said presently. "What do you think of it?" "I think," said Tharon slowly, "that it looks like there's a woman somewhere." This time Kenset laughed in earnest, a ringing peal that startled El Rey at the doorstep, and made him clink his bit-chains. "There is," said the man, "assuredly." Tharon turned her head and looked quickly over her shoulder.
Until horse and rider were a tiny speck on the living green until they passed the Silver Hollow and the mouth of Black Coulee, Tharon Last stood in the western door and watched them with dim blue eyes.
None but Arrow carried his splendid head so regally, none other bore so huge a cloud of mane on his arching neck, so long a tail that spread like a fan between his knees and almost swept the ground. So, Courtrey came out of the Coulee to meet her! He would, maybe, force the issue. But Tharon was not ready for that. What was plain killing? No, she wanted more than that.
And then all the world fell about him, it seemed, for a gun cracked from the trees beyond him and a wasp stung his cheek. In one instant the sunlight became brilliant again, the joy came back in the day. Here was something more to do for Tharon, a new task at hand when he had thought his tasks were all but done.
"I hope, Billy," said Tharon severely, and with lofty inconsistency, "that you'll remember your manners an' not start anything. Last's is in for trouble enough without any side issues." "True," said the boy instantly, "I'll promise to leave th' poet alone." Then the talk fell about the new well that had taken the place of the old Crystal and which was proving a huge success.
The high tops of the pines seemed to cut the sky grotesquely. There was no light at the dim log house, no sound in the silent glade. Off to the right they heard the low of the little red cow which served the forest man with milk. They pounded to a sliding stop in the cabin's yard and Conford called sharply into the silent darkness. "Kenset! Hello Kenset!" Tharon held her breath and listened.
Ordinarily Tharon was a bit slow in her movements, as the very graceful often are. Now she was across the room to the western door before a man had moved. They joined her there and she stood at attention, one hand at her breast, the breath held still in her throat. The light, shining through from the eating room beyond, made a halo of her tawny hair.
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