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Willock and Bill Atkins； when she recognized him？ Even one half as glad？
He sighed deeplyit was not to be expected。 She had known him only
an hour； since then； many settlers had invaded the country about the
Granite Mountains； a city had sprung up； not far awayother towns were
peeping through the sand； and blooming from canvas to wood and brick。
The air tingled with the electric currents of new life and intense
competition。
〃Did Lahoma marry？〃 he asked abruptly as all three descended to the
lower level of the cove。
〃She never did； yet；〃 replied Bill dryly。 〃Young man； I'm powerful
glad to see you。 It's rather chilly out here。 I'll take your horse and we'll
gather in the dugout and talk over what's happened since we last met。
Brick； don't you begin on anything interesting till I come。〃
〃You give me that horse；〃 retorted Brick。 〃You're too aged a man to be
messing with horses。 You'll get a fall one of these days that'll lay you flat。
You'll never knit them bones together； if you do； you ain't vital enough。〃
Bill clung grimly to the bridle； muttering something that showed no
lack of vitality in his vocabulary。
〃He won't let me take no care of him；〃 complained Brick； as he
conducted Wilfred to the dugout。
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Wilfred cast a longing glance toward the cabin； and again he thought
Lahoma's parlor door quivered。 He even stopped in the path； but Willock
went on； unconscious； and he was obliged to follow。
〃It's a strange thing；〃 remarked Brick； as he descended the hard dirt
steps； 〃how Lahoma has acted on me。 I mean； living with her these past
twelve years； and all the rest of the world shut out； except Bill。 Could I of
been told before I saved little Lahoma from the highwaymen that I'd ever
worry over an old coon like Bill Atkins； as to whether he broke his neck or
not； I'd 'a' laughed； for I'd 'a' had to。 But it sure does gall me to have him
exposing himself as he does。 I never wanted Bill to come here； but he just
come； like a stray cat。 First thing I knowed； he was a…purring at the
firesidewell； not exactly a…purring； nuther； but sort of mewing； and
looking ready to scratch。 He just took up with us and now it's like always
being scared to close a door for fear of catching his tail in the jambI'm
talking in a figger。 Come in； pardthis used to be Lahoma's boudoir before
we built that cabin for her。 See the carpet？ Don't tell ME you're a…walking
on it； and not noticing！ See that little stove？ I brung it clear across the
mountains from a deserted wagon； when I was young。 Two legs is gone
and it's squat…bellied； and smokes if the wind gives it a chance； but I
wouldn't trade it for a new one。 Set on this bench。 I recollect as well as if it
'us yesterday； Lahoma a…setting there with her legs untouching of the floor；
learning 'A' and 'B' and asking thousands of questions and getting herself
civilized。 I couldn't do a finished job； but Bill took her by the hand later；
then a Mrs。 Featherby； what moved over in the west mountain； added
stores from New England and travels in Europe。 When the settlers come；
she gleaned all they knowed； always a…rising and a…looking out for new
country。 That's a wonderful girl！〃 he added with conviction。
When Bill came； they sat about the stove； the light from the famous
window bringing out with clear distinctness Brick's huge form and
bristling beard； Bill's thin figure surmounted by its shock of white hair；
and Wilfred's handsome grave face and splendidly developed physique。 It
was so warm below the ground that the fire in the stove was maintained at
the lowest state possible； but when the western light quickly vanished
from the window； the glowing coals gave homely cheer to the crude room。
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In answer to their questioner； Wilfred told of his experiences on his
quarter…section： how he had broken the prairie land； put in his crops；
watched them wither away in the terrible dry months； roughed it through
the winters； tried again； fought through another drought； staked all on the
next spring's planting； raised a half…crop； paid off his chattel mortgage；
tried again；succeeded。
〃I've stayed right with it；〃 he said gravely； looking from one to the
other as they smoked in silence； their eyes on his animated face。 〃Of
course； they required me to stay on the land only during certain months；
every year。 But I stayed with it all the time； and I studied it； and when I
failed； as I did year after year； I failed each time in a different way；
because I learned my lesson。 And when I'd walled off the cause of each
failure； one by one； seemed like there opened before me a broad clear way
that led right into the goal I'd been seeking from the first day。 Then I
closed out all my deals； and looked and saw that everything was trim and
ready for winterand got my horse and started for Greer County。〃
〃And glad we are！〃 cried Bill Atkins。 〃I hope you can stay a long
time。〃
〃That depends 。。。 Lahoma is well； I suppose？〃
〃The picture of healthwhen she left；〃 Brick declared admiringly； 〃and
the prettiest little gal this side of the angels。 When the early sunlight peeps
over the mountain and laughs at the cove that's sulking from thinking it's
about to be left out in the day's doingsthat's like Lahoma's smile。 And
when you get down sick as I done once from causes incidental to being
made of flesh and blood； and she come and laid her hand on my burning
forehead； her touch always made me think of an angel's wing； somehow；
although I ain't never set up to be religious； and I think of such things as
little as may beexcept when Bill draws me to the subject from seeing
him so puny； at times。〃
〃Lahoma's not here？〃 Wilfred asked anxiously。
〃Not now； nor for some time；〃 answered Brick。
〃I wish；〃 interposed Bill glumly； 〃that when you're going to talk about
me； Brick； you'd begin with Bill and not be dragging me in at the tail…end
of what concerns other people。 I reckon； Wilfred； you just traveled here to