"No," he replied, shortly.
"But what will you do? Surely you can't work--not so soon?"
"Columbine, I'll never--be able to ride again--like I used to," he said, tragically. "I'll ride, yes, but never the old way."
"Oh!" Columbine's tone, and the exquisite softness and tenderness with which she placed a hand on the rude crutch would have been enlightening to any one but these two absorbed in themselves. "I can't bear to believe that."
"I'm afraid it's true. Bad smash, Columbine! I just missed being club-footed."
"You should have care. You should have.... Wilson, do you intend to stay here with the Andrews?"
"Not much. They have troubles of their own. Columbine, I'm going to homestead one hundred and sixty acres."
"Homestead!" she exclaimed, in amaze. "Where?"
"Up there under Old White Slides. I've long intended to. You know that pretty little valley under the red bluff. There's a fine spring. You've been there with me. There by the old cabin built by prospectors?"
"Yes, I know. It's a pretty place--fine valley, but Wils, you can't live there," she expostulated.