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g for。
When Dora made that amazing request； I knew what I had been waiting for。
Surely； I tried to argue her out of it…but I was playing devil's advocate。 In fact； my mind was busy with what and how。 All the objections to marrying a short…lifer still remained。 My even stronger objections to leaving a pregnant woman behind me…shucks； dear； I didn't spend a nanosecond on that。
〃Why not； Dora？〃
〃I told you。 You are leaving； I will not hold you back。〃
〃You won't hold me back。 No one ever has yet； Dora。 But
…no marriage； no child。〃
第37节
She looked thoughtful。 〃What is your purpose in insisting on a marriage ceremony； Woodrow？ So that our child will bear your name？ I don't want to be a sky widow 。 。 but if that is what it takes； let's ride back to town and find the Moderator。 Because it really should be today。 If the books are right about how to figure it。〃
〃Woman4 you talk too much。〃 She did not answer this； he went on： 〃I don't give a hoot about a wedding ceremony… certainly not one in Top Dollar。〃
She hesitated； then said； 〃May I say that I do not understand？〃
〃Eh？ Yes； surely。 Dora； I won't settle for one child。 You're going to have half a dozen children by me； or more。 Probably more。 Maybe a dozen。 Any objection？〃
〃Yes； Woodrow…I mean No； I do not object。 Yes； I will have a dozen children by you。 Or more。〃
〃Having a dozen kids takes time； Dora。 How often should I show up？ Every two years； maybe？〃
〃Whatever you say； Woodrow。 Whenever you e back… each time you e back…I'll have a child by you。 But I do ask that we start the first one at once。〃
〃You crazy little idiot； I believe you would do it that way。〃
〃Not 'would'…shall。 If you will。〃
〃Well； we're not going to do it that way。〃 He reached out and took her hand。 〃Doja； will you go where I go； do what I do； live where I live？〃
She looked startled but answered steadily； 〃Yes； Woodrow。 If this is truly what you want。〃
〃Don't put any conditions on it。 Will you； or won't you？〃
〃I will。〃
〃If it es to a showdown； will you do what I tell you to？ Not give me any more stubborn arguments？〃
〃Yes； Woodrow。'~
〃Will you bear my children and be my wife till death； do us part？〃
〃I will。〃
〃I take thee； Dora； to be my wife； to love and protect and cherish…and never to leave you 。 。 so long as we both shall live。 Don't sniffle！ Lean over here and kiss me instead。 We're married。〃
〃I was not either sniffling！ Are we really married？'
〃We are。 Oh；； you can have any wedding ceremony you want。 Later。 Now shut up and kiss me。〃
She obeyed。
Some long moments later he said； 〃Hey； don't fall out of your saddle！ Steady； Betty！ Steady； Beulah！ 'Durable Dora； who taught you to kiss that way？〃
〃You haven't called me that since I started to grow up。 Years。〃
〃Haven't kissed you since you started to grow up； either。 For good reason。 You didn't answer my question。〃
〃Is that one of the things I just promised？ Whoever taught me to kiss； it was before I was a married woman。〃
〃Mmm； you may have a point there。 I'll take it up with my legal staff and have them write you a letter。 Besides it might be native talent rather than instruction。 Tell you what； Dora； I'll refrain from quizzing you about your sinful past 。 。 and you leave mine alone。 A deal？〃
〃Yes indeed…for I have a very sinful past。〃
〃Piffle； darling； you haven't had time to be sinful。 Swiped some sweets I had fetched for Buck； ；maybe？ Very sinful。〃
〃I never did any such thing！ But lots worse。〃
〃Oh； sure。 Give me anoTher of those native…talent kisses。〃
？Presently he said； 〃Whew！ No； the first one wasn't a fluke。 Dora； I think I married you just barely in time。〃
〃You insisted on marrying me…my husband。 I didn't make an issue of it。〃
〃Conceded。 Sweetheart； are you still anxious to get started on that baby？ Now that you know that I am not going away； without you？'
〃No longer anxious。 Eager； perhaps。 Yes； 'eager' is the right word。 But not demanding。〃
〃'Eager' is a fine word。 Me； too。 I could also add 'demanding。' Who knows？…you may have other native talents。〃
She barely smiled。 〃If not； Woodrow； I'm sure you can teach me。 I'm willing to learn。 Eager。〃
〃Let's head back to town。 My apartment？ Or the schoolhouse？〃
〃Either one； Woodrow。 But see that little stand of trees？ It's much closer。〃
It was almost dark as they neared town； they rode back at a gentle walk。 As they passed the Markhams' house on the pid
Harper place； Woodrow Wilson Smith said； 〃Adorable Dora…〃
〃Yes； my husband？〃
〃Do you want a public wedding？〃
〃Only if you want one； Woodrow。 I feel' very much married。 I am married。〃
〃You certainly are。 Not going to run away with a younger man？〃
〃Is that a rhetorical question？ Not now； or ever。〃
〃This young man is an immigrant who may not be down until the last @r nearly the last trip。 He is about my height； but he has black hair and a darker skin than I have。 Can't say just how old he is； but he looks about half the age I' look。 Smoothshaven。 His friends call him 'Bill。' Or 'Woodie。' Captain Briggs says Bill is very fond of young schoolmarms and is anxious to meet you。〃
She appeared to consider it。 〃If I kissed him with my eyes closed； do you think I would recognize him？〃
〃It's possible； Dorable。 Almost certain。 But I don't think anyone else will。 I hope they don't。〃
〃Woodrow； I don't know your plans。 But if I do recognize this 'Bill；' should I attempt to convince him that I am that other schoolmarm？ The one you were singing about？ Rangy Lil？〃
〃I think you could convince him； dearest one。 All right； 'Uncle Gibbie' is back； temporarily。 It will take Ernest Gibbons three or four days to wind up what' he must do here； then he'll say good…bye to people…including his foster niece； that oldmaid schoolmarm Dora Brandon。 Two days later this Bill Smith es down with the'last； or nearly the last； load of cargo from the ship。 You had better be packed and ready to leave by then because Bill is going to drive past your schoolhouse the following day； or the day after that； just before dawn； headed for New Pittsburgh。〃
〃New Pittsburgh。 I'll be ready。〃
〃But we； won't stay there more than a day or two。 On we go； past Separation； then right over the horizon。 We're going to tackle Hopeless Pass； dear。 Does that appeal to you？〃
〃I go where you~go。〃。
〃Does it appeal 'to you？ You won't have anyone to talk to but me。 Until you bake one and teach him…or her…to talk。 No neighbors。 Lopers and dragons and God knows what else。 But no neighbors。〃 … … …
〃So I'll cook and help you farm…and bake babies。 When I have three I'll open 'Mrs。 Smith's Primary School。' Or should we call it 'Rangy Lil's Primary School'？〃
〃The latte