“Is there anything I can do to help you? Shall I tell Bud or anybody?”
“No, I don’t need that. He don’t treat me cruel or nothing. All he wants is to make me do as he chooses.”
“Then will you write to Ira? I know he would lay down his life for you, Louisa, though he is afraid of you. He is not afraid of anything else, and he’d do anything you asked him.”
“Yes, I believe that. I reckon I understand Ira. He wanted me to send him a stran’ of my old red hair if I was in trouble and if you get that to him I’ll try to stave off dad for awhile. I ain’t fond of writin’ and somehow I’d rather not send none nohow. Anyway a clip of ha’r couldn’t git nobody into trouble.”
“Into trouble? How could it?”
“I say it couldn’t. Where’s your horse? Did you come on Hero?”
“No, Chico brought me. I fastened him out front.”
“Better bring him around here and water him before you go.”
“So I will. I promised Bud I’d be back early. He didn’t quite approve of my riding around the country by myself anyhow, but I told him I’d be safe enough coming here.”
“Well, I reckon you are. I hope so. He’s right, though, about your not staying out late. The days aren’t as long as they were. I’d like to keep you, or, better still, I’d like to go back with you. Miss Tina well?”