In that one brief moment headlong determination came to his assistance. It was not for nothing that Providence had directed his steps into this crude, desolate valley. No. And his heart warmed, and emotions stirred under the gladness of his inspiration.
He eased himself in his chair and rose abruptly to his feet.
“Mam,” he said, thrusting out a hard brown hand towards Hesther, “I want to thank you—I—”
But the out-held hand dropped abruptly to his side, and he broke off in the midst of the thing he had to say. For Perse and Jane Constance had rolled themselves clear of the door-sill to admit their foster-sister. The Kid stood framed in the opening with the grey-noon daylight shining behind her. She was radiant in her mannish parka, and the buckskin trousers terminating in high moccasins reaching almost to her knees. Her eyes were alight and shining in their sunbrowned setting, and her fair hair had fallen from beneath her low-pressed cap. Health and beauty were in every contour of her vigorous young body, and in her smiling eyes as she gazed upon the plain, angular face of the man who had just risen from Hesther’s chair. But a curious shyness left her hesitating and something dismayed.
For one instant the girl’s eyes encountered the man’s. Then she swiftly glanced at the older woman by the stove. And Hesther jumped at the cue she felt to be hers.
“It’s Felice, who we all call the Kid,” she said for the man’s benefit. Then she turned to the girl. “This is Mr. Wilder, my dear—Mr. Bill Wilder.”
The girl’s shyness passed in a quick smile that was like a sudden burst of sunshine.
“I know, Mum, dear,” she cried. “I met him two summers ago on the river and passed him and his outfit up through the rapids at the mouth of the river.” Then she crossed over to the man whose eyes were smiling in perfect content. “You’ve found our little shanty,” she said holding out a soft brown hand, “and I’m glad. You’re real welcome.”
The frankness of her greeting was utterly without embarrassment, and Wilder took the outstretched hand in both of his and held it for a moment while he turned to the mother who was looking on in amazement.
“She saved me a two days’ portage, mam,” he said, in explanation. “And I guess she’s the brightest jewel of a waterman I’ve seen in years.”