The father’s heart sank. He knew Houck. The man would get by hook or crook what he wanted. He could even foretell what his next move would be.
“She’s only a kid, Jake, not thinkin’ none about gettin’ married. In a year or two, maybe—”
“I’m talkin’ about now, Pete—this week.”
Tolliver wriggled, like a trout on the hook. “What does she say? You spoke of it to her?”
“Sure. She’ll like it fine when she gets her mind used to it. I know how to handle women, Pete. I’m mentionin’ this to you because I want you to use yore influence. See?”
Pete saw, too well. He moistened his lips with the tip of the tongue. “Why, I don’t reckon I could very well do that. A girl’s got to make up her own mind. She’s too young to be figurin’ on marryin’. Better give her time.”
“No.” Houck flung the word out like an oath. “Now. Right away.”
The trapper’s voice took on a plaintive note, almost a whine. “You was sayin’ yoreself, Jake, that she’d have to get used to it. Looks like it wouldn’t be good to rush—”
“She can get used to it after we’re married.”
“O’ course I want to do what’s right by my li’l’ June. You do too for that matter. We wouldn’t either one of us do her a meanness.”