“I’ve put in two pretty strenuous years for Sonny’s sake,” he said softly, “but they’ve been worth while, Miss Allison.”
“The service of love is always worth while,” said Nance, “it’s the biggest thing in this world.”
“And now,” said Fair, “if you’ll buck up and be a man, Sonny, I’ll promise to come right down to the homestead some night soon and see you—if Miss Allison will let me?”
Something surged in the girl’s breast like a sunlit tide.
“If you don’t, we’ll come hunting you,” she said.
Then Fair kissed the boy, mounted Diamond and sat with hands crossed on his pommel while Buckskin carried his double burden across the little flat and through the belly-deep flood of Nameless whispering on its riffle.
On the other side Nance and Sonny turned to wave a hand and went forward into a new life.
At the cabin door Bud stared with open mouth when they rode up, but Mrs. Allison, who had been watching them come along the flat far down, and who had vaguely understood, came forward with uplifted arms.
“I figgered it wouldn’t be so long before you brought him home,” she said, “a child is what we do need in this here cabin. What a fine little man! An’ supper’s all hot an’ waitin’.”
“I knew you’d understand, Mammy,” said the girl gratefully, “you’ve got the seventh sense, all right, and one or two more. No wonder our Pappy loved you all his life.”