human
Now for the meat of the nut. They're figgerin' on gettin' control of the gel away from you-all. They'll use argymints for the general public that she's too young to be keepin' house for three unmarried men, leastwise three men who ain't livin' with their wives. She looked pointedly at Mormon.
gpt
They'll rouse up opinion enough for a change. They'd like to app'int a guardian of their own kidney. Mebbe we can block that if one of us comes out an' offers to take her. I'd be glad to, for one, an' do the right thing by her.
human
There's some talk about her father's claims over to Dynamite lookin' up. Party of easterners over that way lately, nosin' around to find out owners, lookin' up assessment work an' so on. Talk of a boom. I reckon Plimsoll's twigged that. Lawyer Feeder, who run for state senator an' whose record's none too dainty, is in cahoots with Jordan an' Plimsoll. Ed heard they figger on goin' before Judge Vanniman, one of their crowd, to get an order of court. She's a minor. They can git her away from you. If we crowd them too hard for them to app'int one of their own ring--an' they're figgerin' on Plimsoll, he claimin' to be her father's partner--they'll likely have her put in some institution. An' it's goin' to be done right sudden. I w'udn't wonder, from all I hear, but what they're over here ter-morrer with a court order. An' you can't fight the courts 's long as they're in authority, the way you fought Jim Plimsoll.
gpt
I won't go with 'em. I'll run away. They can't take me. Jim Plimsoll is a damned liar. You won't let 'em take me?
human
No, Molly, I won't. Will we, boys?
gpt
You can bet everything you got an' ever hope to own we won't,
human
That goes for me,
gpt
Talk don't beat an order of the court, said Miranda Bailey.
human
Mebbe I seem sort of vinegary to you, child, but I'm not a bad sort. My brother Ed has got somethin' to say in this community an' I'm likely to control a few votes this fall myself. I figger if you came home with me to-day we c'ud manage to git you placed with us. There's been tattle about you stoppin' here. You're fifteen--an'....
gpt
Some folks is jest plumb rotten, flared Molly.
human
I'm no kid. I ... _oh, if_ Dad was alive!
gpt
We're powerful obliged to you, Miss Bailey, for what you told us, said Sandy.
human
I'm right sure you'd give Molly a fine home, but we got other plans an' we aim to carry 'em out. Plimsoll's a skunk an' I'll block his game about the mines ef they amount to anything. Molly's goin' east for her eddication. She's got plenty money to git the best that's goin' an' she's goin' to have it.
gpt
Then you better git her 'cross the county line before many hours are over. Miranda Bailey recognized something better than mere decision in Sandy's voice, she was not the leading suffragist of the county for lack of brains. But there was true regret in her voice as she went on.
human
I'm sorry she don't cotton to the idee of comin' over to our place. A woman needs a woman's company.
gpt
You aim on takin' her out of the county to the railroad ter-morrer? she asked.
human
What school is she goin' to?
gpt
We ain't settled all the details, said Sandy.
human
But we'll do that all right. We'll git ready soon's we can. Meantime, we'll keep our eyes peeled ter-morrer against any order from Hereford.
gpt
Want to use this car? I'll bring it over early. Ed can drive it.
human
Fo' time's sake, aunt, he said,
gpt
He wrestled with the crank, conquered it and the machine shivered like a hunting dog while his aunt adjusted spark and gas. She nodded to him to start and they moved off, Miranda waving a farewell as she called out,
human
Good luck!
gpt
Some sport! announced Sam.
human
That's the kind of woman you sh'ud have married, Mormon.
gpt
When do we start? she asked eagerly.
human
Will you wait till they come out from Hereford?
gpt
I got to think out things a bit, Molly, said Sandy.
human
I figger we'll git a start on 'em, ef you can git ready. In the mornin'.
gpt
I haven't got much to take.
human
We'll buy you an outfit.
gpt
Horseback?
human
Can't tell you what I ain't sure of myse'f, he drawled.
gpt
One thing is sure, you got to tuhn in an' git a good rest. Ef we slide out it won't be all a pleasure trip. I reckon Plimsoll means business. An' he's sure got the county machinery behind him right now.
human
I can take Grit?
gpt
W'udn't want to leave us somethin' to remember you by? asked Sandy.
human
Somethin' to help make sure you'll come back?
gpt
I'd allus come back, to visit Dad, she said.
human
But Grit...? I don't want to leave Grit.
gpt
It 'ud be a hard trip fo' him this way, Molly. I ain't sure about the regulations at them schools. I reckon the best way w'ud be fo' you to make arrangements fo' him to come on afteh you git there.
human
You'd be good to him--same as you air to me? Oh, I'm jest plumb mean to ask you that. I know you w'ud. He's goin' to be jest as lonesome as me for a bit, ain't you, Grit? He allus slep' with me, cuddlin' up, an'----
gpt
Good night, she said.
human
Come, Grit.
gpt
She's sure a stem-winder, said Mormon presently.
human
How you goin' to fix to git her away, Sandy? Plimsoll'll be hotter'n a bug on a hot griddle.
gpt
I got a plan warmin' up, said Sandy.
human
Nearest to the county line is west through the Cabezas Range. Only two gaps, Paso Cabras, an' the Bolsa.
gpt
But the Bolsa....
human
I know. Listen! I aim to git to the railroad an' then me an' Molly'll make for New Mexico.
gpt
Huh!
human
You guessed it, Mormon. For the Pecos River an' Boville an' the Redding Ranch. I reckon Barbara Redding'll handle the thing. She'll git Molly her outfit an' she'll know all about the right schools.
gpt
Dern me, ef he ain't the wise ol' son of a gun, he cried delightedly.
human
Sure!
gpt
It's the thing, assented Sam, rubbing himself,
human
I've got an itch to give Plimsoll an' his pals a run fo' their money, went on Sandy.
gpt
An' here's the way I figger to do it, in the rough. See what you all think of it.