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〃Brick； you told me you was still laying there on your back just as you
fell。〃
〃Did I； honey； well； I reckon I was； then； for when I told you about it；
it was more recent。〃
〃It's awful interesting；〃 the trapper remarked dryly。
〃Yes； ain't it！〃 Lahoma glowed。 〃Then father jumped on one horse
with me； and Brick put out on another； and when I woke up； the Indians
were all everywhere； but Brick come here and lived all alone and nearly
died because he didn't have me to comfort him。 So the Indians took me
and they killed father； and for two years I was moved from village to
village till Red Feather brought me to Brick。 And then we found out we
are cousins and he is going to civilize me。 Brick； he remembers about a
cousin of his； Cousin Martha Willock； her sister went driving out to the
Oklahoma country with her husband and little girl and wasn't never heard
of。 I am the little girl； all right； and Brick he's my second cousin。 And
wasn't it lucky Brick was riding around that night； looking at the country；
when they was about to put daylight into me？〃
〃I'd think；〃 remarked the trapper； 〃that he'd take you back to your
Cousin Martha； for men…folks like him and me aren't placed to take care of
women…folks。〃
〃Yes； but he got a letter saying my Cousin Martha and all her family is
done been swept away by a flood of the Mississippi River； and him and
me is all they is left of the Willockses； so we got to stick together。 Besides；
you see； he killed them two robbers； and the rest of the gang is laying for
him； Brick； he feels so dreadful； he never having so much as put a scratch
to a man's face before； for he wouldn't never fight as a boy； his conscience
wouldn't rest if he was in civilization。 He'd go right up to the first
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LAHOMA
policeman he met and say； 'I done the deed。 Carry me to the pen！' he'd say；
and then what would become of me？〃
〃He might get another letter from your Cousin Martha to help him out
of the scrape。〃
Lahoma stared at him； unable to grasp the significance of these foolish
words； and Brick； seeking a diversion； explained his purpose of taking
Lahoma to the settlements after supplies； and proffered his petition that
Bill Atkins accompany them。
Lahoma has never forgotten that expedition to the settlements。 Along
the Chisholm Trail marched Brick Willock and Bill Atkins； one full of
genial philosophy； responsive to every sight and sound along the way； the
other taciturn and uncompanionable； a being present in the flesh； but
seemingly absent in the spirit。 Behind them rode the girl； with unceasing
interest in the broad hard…beaten trailthe only mark in that wilderness to
tell them that others had passed that way。 The men walked with deliberate
but well…measured step； preserving a pace that carried them mile after mile
seemingly with little weariness。 Three times on the journey great herds of
cattle were encountered on their way toward Kansas； and many were the
looks of curiosity cast on the little girl sitting as straight as an Indian on
her pony。
She was glad when a swinging cloud of dust announced the coming of
thousands of steers； attended by cowboys； for it meant a glimpse into an
unknown world； and the bellowing of cattle； the shouting of men and the
cracking of whips stirred her blood。 But she was glad； too； when the
stream of life had flowed past； and she was left alone with Brick and Bill；
for then the never…ending conversation with the former was resumed；
picked up at the point where it had been dropped； or drawn forward from
raveled bits of unfinished discourse of the day before； and though Bill
Atkins said almost nothing and always looked straight ahead； he was； in a
way； spice in the feast of her enjoyment。
When they stopped for their meals； they drew aside from the trail； if
possible near some spring or river…bed in which pools of water lingered；
but such stopping…places were far apart in the desert country。 At night
there was a cheerful bonfire； followed by zestful talk as they lay on the
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ground； before falling asleep in their tarpaulinstalk eagerly monopolized
by Brick and Lahoma； and to which Atkins seemed in a manner to listen；
perhaps warming his heart at the light of their comradeship even as they
warmed their hands in the early morning at the breakfast fire。 Atkins had
brought with him one of his books； and at the noon hour's rest； and at
evening beside the bonfire； he kept his nose buried in its pages。
Lahoma did not think life would have been too long to devote to such
pilgrimages。 In the settlements； she was bewildered； but never satiated；
with novelties； and on the way back； everything she had seen was
discussed； expounded and classified between her and her 〃cousin。〃
Sometimes her questions drove Brick up against a stone wall and then Bill
Atkins would raise his voice and in three or four words put the matter in
its true light。
〃Bill； he's saw more of life than me；〃 Brick conceded admiringly。 〃He
has come and went amongst all sorts of people； but my specialty has in the
main been low。〃
〃Yes； I've seen more of life；〃 Atkins agreed； 〃that's why I try so hard to
keep away from it。〃
〃The more I see； the more I want to see！〃 cried Lahoma eagerly。 〃Yes；
honey；〃 Brick explained； 〃that's because you're a WOMAN。〃
Once more back in the cove； Lahoma dreamed new dreams； peopling
the grassy solitude with the figures she had encountered on her travels；
likening the rocks to various houses that had caught her fancy。 She turned
with absorbed interest to the primer and elementary arithmetic with which
Brick had supplied himself as the first tools for his mental kit。
The journey hack home had been far easier than the descent into Texas
because both Willock and Atkins had supplied themselves with ponies；
animals that sold ridiculously cheap at the outlying posts of the
settlements。 Brick Willock brought back with him something else to add
cheerfulness and usefulness to approaching winter。 This was a square
window…sash； set with four small panes of good glass。 It was hard work to
place this window in Lahoma's side of the dugout； bu