Her father was so swelled with wrath that he could make no rejoinder. At length he whirled on his heel and strode toward the door, pulling his sombrero down over his eyes.
At the door he turned back and pointed a long, angry arm.
“An’ if I catch you leavin’ this place to-night—” he began.
“Well?”
His face altered and the anger faded from his eyes.
“Jac,” he said gently, “why in hell wasn’t you born a boy?”
He went on out and a moment later his horse clattered down the road.
“Why?” repeated Jac.
CHAPTER II. LAND.
She went out to the porch and stared after the disappearing horseman. When he had quite vanished in the rapidly fading light of the evening she turned back. She stopped. The stranger sat on the edge of the porch whittling a stick.