“Guess I don’t want wimmin-folk in mine. You’re goin’ to hold your job?”
“Sure. You see, boss–––” Jim began to explain.
But McLagan broke in.
“You can have it for rent, boy,” he said. “It suits me, if you don’t mean quittin’.”
“I don’t mean quitting,” said Jim. “I’m going to run it with a hired man. Y’see I’ve got one hundred and fifty stock and a bit saved for building. When I get married my wife’ll see to things some. See the work is done while I’m here.”
McLagan grinned and nodded.
“Guess you didn’t seem like gettin’ married jest now, talkin’ of those things. You kind o’ seemed ‘down’ some.”
Jim’s eyes became thoughtful.
“Makes you feel ‘down’ when you get remembering some things,” he said. “Y’see it makes you wonder what the future feels like doing in the way of kicks. Things are going good about now, and––and I want ’em to keep on going good.”