“I heared of another weddin’ that might interest ye,” Blatch insinuated. “Want to come and walk a piece over by the Big Spring, Judy?”
Judith turned uncertainly. The boys had passed on up to the sheds to get on dry clothing. It was nearly time for her to be going back to the waggon. Bohannon was dipping Doss Provine’s sister Luna. A group of trembling, tearful candidates, mostly young girls, were being heartened and encouraged for the ordeal by the helpers on the bank.
“Tell me here—cain’t ye?” she said listlessly.
“I heared from a feller that got it from another feller,” Blatch began smilingly, “that Huldy Spiller an’ Creed Bonbright was wedded and gone to Texas. I reckon hit’s true, becaze the man that told me was aimin’ to buy the Bonbright farm.”
Judith did not cry out. She hoped her colour did not change very much, for Blatch’s eyes were on her face. After a while she managed to say in a fairly steady voice,
“Does Wade know? Have ye sent any word to him?”
“No,” drawled Blatch. “Unc’ Jep aimed to break off with me, and he left you the only one o’ the family that dared speak with me. Mebbe you would like to write an’ tell Wade?”
“I don’t know,” sighed Judith hopelessly. “What’s the use?”
“Farewell,” said Blatch, using a common mountain form of adieu. “I reckon Unc’ Jep won’t want to see me standin’ around talkin’ to ye. You tell Wade,” significantly. “The sooner he gets Huldy out of his head the better for him. No use cryin’ over spilt milk. They’s as good fish in the sea as ever come out of it.”
He looked long at her downcast face.