[XXVI: A SETTLEMENT]
About the time Bull started, Lee and Gordon rose from the breakfast-table under the Los Arboles portales.
Perhaps with sympathetic intuition, for they exchanged an amiable grin, Sliver and Jake had already passed out. It is true that Maria and Teresa, the small brown criadas, were peeping from the crypt-like depths of their kitchen. But even had she been aware of their vast interest, Lee would not have withdrawn the hand which, as they rose, had somehow tangled with Gordon’s. Reflected and thrown up from the yellow wall, the strong morning lights bathed the flesh of her arms, face, and neck with suffused amber, wove a soft glow in the mesh of her hair. So different from her usual boyish activity, her gentle quiet, combined with the warm air, suffused lights, to create a dreamy spell. Goodness knows how long they would have stood if Maria had not come out to clear the table.
Then Lee spoke. “Such sloth! This will never do if I am to go to El Sol and return to-day. While I dress will you please get my horse?”
When Gordon reached the stable Sliver had already gone, but Jake had lingered to say a word. It was very much to the point. “Say! Bull tipped me off as how the young greaser was likely to show up an’ raise some hell to-day. Don’t you allow I’d better hang around?”
He nodded, however, when Gordon explained the situation. “Missy don’t know he’s coming, hey?—thinks she’s going over there. Then they’ll meet on the way. Mebbe I’d better tag along.”
But to this Gordon’s pride would not consent. “Don’t you think I can take care of her?”
“No one better,” Jake hastened to appease. “But, say! If he doesn’t show up, don’t you let her go on over there—not if you have to rope an’ drag her home.”
“Like we did before?” He smiled at the memory. “This time I’ll not leave her the saddle machete.”
“Little bit too smart for you that time,” Jake grinned in sympathy. “Take care she don’t spring a new one. She ain’t so very slow.”