“I'm going to take you home and Father Naab shall marry you—to—to me.”
Startled, Mescal fell back upon his shoulder and did not stir nor speak for a long time. “Did—did you tell him?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say? Was he angry? Tell me.”
“He was kind and good as he always is. He said if I found you, then the issue would be between Snap and me, as man to man. You are still pledged to Snap in the Mormon Church and that can't be changed. I don't suppose even if he's outlawed that it could be changed.”
“Snap will not let any grass grow in the trails to the oasis,” said Mescal. “Once he finds I've come back to life he'll have me. You don't know him, Jack. I'm afraid to go home.”
“My dear, there's no other place for us to go. We can't live the life of Indians.”
“But Jack, think of me watching you ride out from home! Think of me always looking for Snap! I couldn't endure it. I've grown weak in this year of absence.”
“Mescal, look at me.” His voice rang as he held her face to face. “We must decide everything. Now—say you love me!”
“Yes—yes.”