human
Are you all right, Nan?
gpt
All right, Joe; but I've been so worried!
human
And the baby, Nan?
gpt
Fine, Joe. She's just as fine, isn't she?
human
What is it, Joe?
gpt
Cut it--nigh half off, and hurt the bone. It'll be weeks before I can do a stroke of work again. It means--I don't know what, and I daren't think what, Nannie. The cook sewed it up.
human
How did you ever get here, Joe?
gpt
Rode one of Pose Breem's hosses--his red roan.
human
Fifteen miles on horseback with that foot? I should have thought it would have killed you, Joe.
gpt
I had to come, Nan, said the lumberman.
human
I didn't know how you were getting on, and I had to come.
gpt
I didn't suppose they'd let you have a horse, any of 'em, now sleighing's come.
human
They wouldn't--if I'd asked 'em. They don't seem to like me very well, and I didn't ask.
gpt
I'm scared, Joe, if you took a horse without asking. What'll they think? Where is it, Joe?
human
Don't ye worry, Nan. I've sent the horse back by Pikepole Pete. He'll have him back before morning--Pose won't miss him till then--and I wrote a note explaining. Pose will be mad some, but he'll get over it.
gpt
I had to come, Nan. I just had to.
human
If anything should happen, she said,
gpt
There, there, Nan! broke in her husband,
human
I'm down on my luck, Nan, he said, hopelessly.
gpt
There's no use trying. Everything's against me, everything--following me like grim death. And grim death, he jerked the words out harshly,
human
There's what we've got to winter on, and me crippled.
gpt
Don't you give up so, Joe, she said. And presently she added:
human
Next Thursday's Thanksgiving. We've seen hard times, and we may see harder, but I never knew Thanksgiving to come yet without something to be thankful for--never.
gpt
Pikepole Pete
human
Blue blazes! he muttered.
gpt
Bennett's a good fellow all right, and he's hurt; but if he hadn't nigh saved my life twice he could get this critter back himself fer all of me! He glanced at the dark woods and drew up suddenly.
human
The road forks here, and Turner's is yonder--less than a mile. I'll hitch in his barn a spell and go on later,