human
I could have done that myself,
gpt
Well, I forgot. Next time I'll let you do the shooting. I was going to show you how Rattler helps. He'll circle around just right so I can make one swing of the rope do. But Mr. Snake stuck too close to that rabbit brush; and I was afraid if I drove him out of there with my rope, he'd get under those rocks. I'm sorry, Wilhemina. I didn't think.
human
Oh, I can get all the snake-shooting I want, any time. Billy Louise laughed good-humoredly.
gpt
I wish you'd give Blue a few lessons--the old sinner!
human
Not on your life, I won't. Ward leaned from the saddle, picked up the snake by the tail, pinched off the rattles, and dropped the repulsive thing to the ground with a slight shiver of relief. He gave the rattles to Billy Louise.
gpt
I'm glad Blue does feel a wholesome respect for rattlers; he'll take better care of himself--and his mistress. With me it doesn't matter.
human
Oh--doesn't it? asked Billy Louise, and there was that in her tone that made Ward's heart give a flop.
gpt
There's some of Marthy's cattle right ahead,
human
MK monogram, said Ward absently, reading the brand mechanically, as is the habit of your true range man.
gpt
Pretty fresh, too. Must have just bought them.
human
He got them a month or so ago, said Billy Louise.
gpt
Marthy says--
human
A month? Ward turned and gave the cow nearest him a keener look.
gpt
Pretty good condition, he observed, quite idly.
human
Say, William, when these hills get filled up with Y6es and big Ds, all these other scrub critters will have to hunt new range, won't they?
gpt
It will be a long while before the big Ds crowd out so much as a crippled calf, Billy Louise answered pessimistically.
human
I lost two nice heifers, a week or so ago. They broke through the upper fence into the alfalfa and started to fill up, of course. They were dead when I found them.
gpt
Next time I cash in my wolf--
human
Do you mind if we stop at the Cove, Ward? Mommie wanted me to stop and get some currants. Marthy says they're ripe, and she has more than she knows what to do with.
gpt
I don't mind--if you're dead sure it's the currants.
human
You certainly are in a pestering mood to-day, Billy Louise protested, laughing.
gpt
You can't jump any game on that trail, smarty. Charlie Fox is a perfectly lovely young man, but he's got a girl in Wyoming. The stage-driver says there's never been a trip in that he didn't take a letter from the Cove box to Miss Gertrude M. Shannon, Elk Valley, Wyoming. So you needn't try--
human
Nice, mouthy stage-driver, Ward commented.
gpt
Foxy ought to land on him a few times and see if he'd take the hint.
human
Well, I knew it before he told me. Marthy said last winter that Charlie's engaged. He's trying to get prosperous enough to marry her and bring her out to the Cove; it will be his when Marthy dies, anyway. I must say Charlie's a hustler, all right. He keeps a man all the time now, since he bought more cattle. Peter Howling Dog's working for him. Charlie's tried to range-herd his cattle so he and Peter can gather them alone; and he offered to look after mine, too, so I won't have so much riding to do this hot weather. He's awfully nice, Ward, really. I don't care if he is a rah-rah boy. And he isn't a bit in love with me.
gpt
Is it possible, grinned Ward,
human
Ward Warren, do you want me to--
gpt
But it's breaking all the rules of romance, Bill-the-Conk! Ward persisted.
human
No story-sharp would ever stand for a thing like that. Don't you know that the nice young man from college always takes notice in the second chapter, says 'By Jove! What a little beauty!' in the third, and from there on till the wind-up spends most of his time running around in circles because the beautiful flower of the rancho gives him the bad eye?