第75章 LITE COMES OUT OF THE BACKGROUND(2)

"I wrote and told him how Carl was prowling around through the house nights,and the like of that,and to look up the title to the Lazy A--""Why wouldn't you wait and let me buy it myself?"Jean asked him with just a shade of sharpness in her voice."You knew I wanted to.""So I got Rossman started,quite a while back.He thought as I did,that Carl was acting mighty funny.

I was with Carl more than you was,and I could tell he had something laying heavy on his mind.But then,the rest of us had things laying pretty heavy on our minds,too,that wasn't guilt;so there wasn't any way to tell what was bothering Carl."Lite made no attempt to answer the question she had asked.

"Now,here's this wire Rossman sent me.You don't want to get the wrong idea,Jean,and feel too bad about this.You don't want to think you had anything to do with it.Carl was gradually building up to something of this kind,--has been for a long time.His coming over to the ranch nights,looking for that letter that he had hunted all over for at first,shows he wasn't right in his mind on the subject.But--""Well,heavens and earth,Lite!"Jean's tone was exasperated more than it was worried."Why don't you say what you want to say?What's it all about?

Let me read that telegram and be done with it.I--Ishould think you'd know I can stand things,by this time.I haven't shown any weak knees,have I?""Well,I hate to pile on any more,"Lite muttered defensively."But you've got to know this.I wish you didn't,but--"Jean did not say any more.She reached over and with her free hand took the telegram from him.She did not pull away the hand Lite was holding,however,and the heart of him gave an exultant bound because she let it lie there quiet under his own.She pinched her brows together over the message,and let it drop into her lap.Her head went back against the towel covered head-rest,and for a minute her eyes closed as if she could not look any longer upon trouble.

Lite waited a second,pulled her head over against his shoulder,and picked up the telegram and read it through slowly,though he could have repeated it word for word with his eyes shut.

L Avery,En Route Train 23,S.L.&D.R.R.

Carl Douglas suicided yesterday,leaving letter confessing murder of Croft.Had just completed transfer of land and cattle to your name.Am taking steps placing matter before governor immediately expect him to act at once upon pardon.Bring your man my office at once deposition may be required.

J.W.ROSSMAN.

"Now,I told you not to worry about this,"Lite reminded the girl firmly."Looks to me like it takes a load off our hands,--Carl's doing what he done.Saves us dragging it all through court again;and,Jean,it'll let your dad out a whole lot quicker.Sounds kinda cold-blooded,maybe,but if you could look at it as good news,--that's the way it strikes me."Jean did not say a word,just then.She did what you might not expect Jean to do,after all her strong-mindedness and her independence:She made an uncertain movement toward sitting up and facing things calmly,man-fashion;then she leaned and dropped her very independent brown head back upon Lite's shoulder,and behind her handkerchief she cried quietly while Lite held her close.

"Now,that's long enough to cry,"he whispered to her,after a season of mental intoxication such as he had never before experienced."I started out three years ago to be the boss.I ain't been working at it regular,as you might say,all the time.But I'm going to wind up that way.I hate to turn you over to your dad without some little show of making good at the job."Jean gave a little gurgle that may have been related to laughter,and Lite's lips quirked with humorous embarrassment as he went on.

"I don't guess,"he said slowly,"that I'm going to turn you over at all,Jean.Not altogether.I guess I've just about got to keep you.It--takes two to make a home,and--I've got my heart set on us making a home outa the Lazy A again;you and me,making a home for us and your dad.How--how does that sound to you,Jean?"Jean was wiping her eyes as unobtrusively as she might.She did not answer.

"How does it sound,you and me making a home together?"Lite was growing pale,and his hands trembled."Tell me.""It sounds--good,"said Jean unsteadily.

For several minutes Lite did not say a word.They sat there holding hands quite foolishly,and stared out at the drenched desert.

"Soon as your dad comes,"he said at last,very simply,"we'll be married."He was silent another minute,and added under his breath like a prayer,"And we'll all go--home."