Lounsbury shook his head, smiling. "Well, I wouldn't count on them, if I were you," he advised, remembering certain experiences of Bismarck belles. "Those women over there are as clannish as crows."
"Yes?" plaintively. She went at her beads again.
"As I was saying," he began once more, "I've thought of you folks a lot. Seemed as if I just had to come down to-day. And I brought you something. See here!" He delved into the side pockets of his coat and pulled out two books.
"O-o-oh!" breathed Marylyn. "Books!"
"All I had, but maybe you'll like 'em. They're love stories."
The shadow beyond the firelight claimed her again.
From the lean-to came the sound of Lancaster's voice. It was shrill with anger. A great sadness came over the storekeeper. "I wish I could come down often and look after things," he said. "You need another man around."
There was a short silence. Then, "Dallas likes the work outside," she answered, very low, "and driving Ben and Betty up and down."
He nodded. "But you?"
"I like to stay in and sew."