"Yes, I do."
He drew a long breath. "Most women would have said, 'No, I don't know.' But you told the truth. I want to link you with my life in every way I can because I love you. And you know that I care—very much—that I want you for my wife—my golden girl in my golden West——?"
"You have never told me before that—you cared."
"There was no need to tell it. You knew."
"Yes. I was afraid it was true——"
He was startled. "Afraid? Why?"
"Oh, I oughtn't to let you care," she said. "You don't know what a slacker I've been. And I don't want you to find out——"
"The only thing that I want to find out is whether you care for me."
She flushed a little under his steady gaze, then quite unexpectedly she reached her hand down to him. He took it in his firm clasp. "I do care—an awful lot," she said, "but I've tried not to. And I shouldn't let you care for me."
"Why—shouldn't?"