Once or twice he hesitatingly, and somewhat appealingly, she imagined,
tried to broach the subject of his work there in the West. But Carley
wanted a little while with him free of disagreeable argument. It was a
foregone conclusion that she would not like his work. Her intention
at first had been to begin at once to use all persuasion in her power
toward having him go back East with her, or at the latest some time
this year. But the rude log cabin had checked her impulse. She felt that
haste would be unwise.
"Glenn Kilbourne, I told you why I came West to see you," she said,
spiritedly. "Well, since you still swear allegiance to your girl from
the East, you might entertain her a little bit before getting down to
business talk."
"All right, Carley," he replied, laughing. "What do you want to do? The
day is at your disposal. I wish it were June. Then if you didn't fall in
love with West Fork you'd be no good."
"Glenn, I love people, not places," she returned.
"So I remember. And that's one thing I don't like. But let's not
quarrel. What'll we do?"
"Suppose you tramp with me all around, until I'm good and hungry. Then
we'll come back here--and you can cook dinner for me."
"Fine! Oh, I know you're just bursting with curiosity to see how I'll do
it. Well, you may be surprised, miss."
"Let's go," she urged.
"Shall I take my gun or fishing rod?"
"You shall take nothing but me," retorted Carley. "What chance has a
girl with a man, if he can hunt or fish?"
So they went out hand in hand. Half of the belt of sky above was
obscured by swiftly moving gray clouds. The other half was blue and was
being slowly encroached upon by the dark storm-like pall. How cold
the air! Carley had already learned that when the sun was hidden the
atmosphere was cold. Glenn led her down a trail to the brook, where
he calmly picked her up in his arms, quite easily, it appeared, and
leisurely packed her across, kissing her half a dozen times before he
deposited her on her feet.
"Glenn, you do this sort of thing so well that it makes me imagine you
have practice now and then," she said.
"No. But you are pretty and sweet, and like the girl you were four years
ago. That takes me back to those days."