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first time she had spoken his name。 〃What is it？〃 he asked； a new
note in his voice。 But for a time she did not reply。 Only the
contact against his sleeve increased by ever so little。 〃Buck；〃 she
repeated； then all in a rush and with a sob； 〃Oh； I'm afraid。〃
Tenderly the man drew her to him。 Her head fell against his shoulder and
she hid her eyes。 〃There； little girl；〃 he reassured her； his big voice
rich and musical。 〃There's nothing to get scairt of； I'll take care of you。
What frightens you； honey？〃
She nestled close in his arm with a sigh of half relief。 〃I don't
know；〃 she laughed； but still with a tremble in her tones。 〃It's all so big
and lonesome and strangeand I'm so little。〃 〃There； little girl；〃 he
repeated。 They drove on and on。 At the end of two hours they
stopped。 Men with lanterns dazzled their eyes。 The horses were
changed； and so out again into the night where the desert seemed to
breathe in deep； mysterious exhalations like a sleeping beast。 Senor
Johnson drove his horses masterfully with his one free hand。 The road
did not exist； except to his trained eves。 They seemed to be swimming
out； out； into a vapour of night with the wind of their going steady against
their faces。 〃Buck；〃 she murmured； 〃I'm so tired。〃 He tightened
his arm around her and she went to sleep； half…waking at the ranches
where the relays waited； dozing again as soon as the lanterns dropped
behind。 And Senor Johnson； alone with his horses and the solemn stars；
drove on； ever on； into the desert。
By grey of the early summer dawn they arrived。 The girl wakened；
descended； smiling uncertainly at Susie O'Toole； blinking somnolently at
her surroundings。 Susie put her to bed in the little southwest room where
hung the shiny Colt's forty…five in its worn leather 〃Texas…style〃 holster。
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She murmured incoherent thanks and sank again to sleep； overcome by the
fatigue of unaccustomed travelling； by the potency of the desert air； by the
excitement of anticipation to which her nerves had long been strung。
Senor Johnson did not sleep。 He was tough； and used to it。 He lit a
cigar and rambled about； now reading the newspapers he had brought with
him； now prowling softly about the building； now visiting the corrals and
outbuildings； once even the thousand…acre pasture where his saddle…horse
knew him and came to him to have its forehead rubbed。 The dawn broke
in good earnest； throwing aside its gauzy draperies of mauve。 Sang； the
Chinese cook； built his fire。 Senor Johnson forbade him to clang the
rising bell； and himself roused the cow…punchers。 The girl slept on。
Senor Johnson tip…toed a dozen times to the bedroom door。 Once he
ventured to push it open。 He looked long within； then shut it softly and
tiptoed out into the open； his eyes shining。 〃Jed；〃 he said to his
foreman； 〃you don't know how it made me feel。 To see her lying there so
pink and soft and pretty； with her yaller hair all tumbled about and a little
smile on her there in my old bed； with my old gun hanging over her that
wayBy Heaven； Jed； it made me feel almost HOLY！〃
CHAPTER SIX THE WAGON TIRE
About noon she emerged from the room； fully refreshed and wide
awake。 She and Susie O'Toole had unpacked at least one of the trunks；
and now she stood arrayed in shirtwaist and blue skirt。 At once she
stepped into the open air and looked about her with considerable curiosity。
〃So this is a real cattle ranch；〃 was her comment。 Senor Johnson
was at her side pressing on her with boyish eagerness the sights of the
place。 She patted the stag hounds and inspected the garden。 Then；
confessing herself hungry； she obeyed with alacrity Sang's call to an early
meal。 At the table she ate coquettishly； throwing her birdlike side glances
at the man opposite。 〃I want to see a real cowboy；〃 she announced； as
she pushed her chair back。 〃Why； sure！〃 cried Senor Johnson
joyously。 〃Sang！ hi； Sang！ Tell Brent Palmer to step in here a minute。〃
After an interval the cowboy appeared； mincing in on his high…heeled
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boots； his silver spurs jingling； the fringe of his chaps impacting softly on
the leather。 He stood at ease； his broad hat in both hands； his dark； level
brows fixed on his chief。 〃Shake hands with Mrs。 Johnson； Brent。 I
called you in because she said she wanted to see a real cow…puncher。〃
〃Oh； BUCK！〃 cried the woman。 For an instant the cow…puncher's
level brows drew together。 Then he caught the woman's glance fair。 He
smiled。 〃Well； I ain't much to look at；〃 he proffered。 〃That's not
for you to say； sir；〃 said Estrella； recovering。 〃Brent； here； gentled
your pony for you；〃 exclaimed Senor Johnson。 〃Oh；〃 cried Estrella；
〃have I a pony？ How nice。 And it was so good of you； Mr。 Brent。 Can't
I see him？ I want to see him。 I want to give him a piece of sugar。〃
She fumbled in the bowl。 〃Sure you can see him。 I don't know as
he'll eat sugar。 He ain't that educated。 Think you could teach him to eat
sugar； Brent？〃 〃I reckon；〃 replied the cowboy。
They went out toward the corral； the cowboy joining them as a matter
of course。 Estrella demanded explanations as she went along。 Their
progress was leisurely。 The blindfolded pump mule interested her。
〃And he goes round and round that way all day without stopping；
thinking he's really getting somewhere！〃 she marvelled。 〃I think that's a
shame！ Poor old fellow； t