"No." His ponderous teeth clicked. "You'd better wait till fall. I might go along. Tonight I'll take you out home. Put on your things and we'll get started."
She did not want to refuse. She knew she could not consent. She knew that Laramie in the shadow, as well as her father in the light, was waiting for her answer: "Father," she said at once, "I can't go tonight."
"Why not?" was the husky demand.
"Belle is sick in bed," pleaded Kate.
"Is that the only reason?"
She saw he was bound to wring more from her. "No," she answered, "it isn't, father."
"What else?"
"I'm afraid——" she hesitated, and then spoke out: "I can't come back—not just as I was, anyway."
"Why not?"
"It's too late, father."