Her imperiousness changed as the tremendous portent of her words seemed to make Las Vegas a blank, stone image of a man. With a wild-rose color suffusing her face, she swiftly bent over him, kissed him, and flashed away into the house. Her laugh pealed back, and it thrilled Helen, so deep and strange was it for the wilful sister, so wild and merry and full of joy.
It was then that Roy Beeman recovered from his paralysis, to let out such a roar of mirth as to frighten the horses. Helen was laughing, and crying, too, but laughing mostly. Las Vegas Carmichael was a sight for the gods to behold. Bo's kiss had unclamped what had bound him. The sudden truth, undeniable, insupportable, glorious, made him a madman.
"Bluff--she called me--ride Blue-Bo saf'ternoon!" he raved, reaching wildly for Helen. "Mrs.--Tom--Carmichael--before dinner--preacher--presentable bridegroom!... Aw! I'm drunk again! I--who swore off forever!"
"No, Tom, you're just happy," said Helen.
Between her and Roy the cowboy was at length persuaded to accept the situation and to see his wonderful opportunity.
"Now--now, Miss Helen--what'd Bo mean by pre--presentable bridegroom?... Presents? Lord, I'm clean busted flat!"
"She meant you must dress up in your best, of course," replied Helen.
"Where 'n earth will I get a preacher?... Show Down's forty miles.... Can't ride there in time.... Roy, I've gotta have a preacher.... Life or death deal fer me."
"Wal, old man, if you'll brace up I'll marry you to Bo," said Roy, with his glad grin.
"Aw!" gasped Las Vegas, as if at the coming of a sudden beautiful hope.
"Tom, I'm a preacher," replied Roy, now earnestly. "You didn't know thet, but I am. An' I can marry you an' Bo as good as any one, an' tighter 'n most."
Las Vegas reached for his friend as a drowning man might have reached for solid rock.
"Roy, can you really marry them--with my Bible--and the service of my church?" asked Helen, a happy hope flushing her face.
"Wal, indeed I can. I've married more 'n one couple whose religion wasn't mine."
"B-b-before--d-d-din-ner!" burst out Las Vegas, like a stuttering idiot.
"I reckon. Come on, now, an' make yourself pre-senttible," said Roy. "Miss Helen, you tell Bo thet it's all settled."
He picked up the halter on the blue mustang and turned away toward the corrals. Las Vegas put the bridle of his horse over his arm, and seemed to be following in a trance, with his dazed, rapt face held high.