The Long Dim TrailHooker, Forrestine C. (Forrestine Cooper)
General
The Long Dim Trail
Hooker, Forrestine C. (Forrestine Cooper)
Arizona -- Fiction; Cowboys -- Fiction; Ranch life -- Fiction; Western stories
The little dining-room into which Powell was summoned half an hour
later, showed no traces of the hurried visit of the Apaches. The table
was spread with fresh linen and decorated with a bowl of wild flowers.
Despite the raid on her larder, Katherine had managed to provide a
luncheon to tempt even a jaded palate.
"You must have Aladdin's lamp hidden somewhere," Powell remarked
admiringly as he took the place opposite Limber.
Katherine glanced up smiling, as she served a dainty omelette.
"Nothing so magical as that," she said. "The truth is that the Indians
overlooked the springhouse where we keep surplus stores. Limber helped
more than Aladdin, for he milked the cow, found a few eggs and chopped
the wood. With that much accomplished, any woman could manage a meal."
"We must agree to disagree," dissented Powell, but the conventional
compliment was sincere. He was filled with admiration for the woman, who
within twenty-four hours had gone through such experiences, yet retained
her poise. "I wish some of my hysterical women patients could meet you,
Mrs. Glendon."
Her surprise was not assumed. "Don't give me credit that I do not
deserve," she answered simply. "When circumstances conspire against one,
there is no time to plan or think. You just do things instinctively.
Then, too, women living on ranches learn to adapt themselves to many
things that would seem hardships to other women. Beside, you and Limber
reached me just as I was beginning to quake. So I don't feel entitled to
any praise."
"I am thankful that we happened to come when you needed us most," the
doctor responded heartily. "We wanted to see Doctor King; but, finding
him away from the ranch, Limber suggested that we ride down here and
possibly find out when he might return."
"Leon's baby was sick," she explained, and Limber nodded. "He'll be back
in a couple of days, he said."
"I want to find out whether the doctor will consider a proposition of
mine regarding building a sanitarium at the Springs," Powell went on.
"Mr. Traynor said King had such an idea, himself, and needed a
partner-physician. That was how Limber and I came this way today."
"You know our Arizona custom--our homes are the homes of our friends.
You are royally welcome to the best we have until Doctor King returns."
The two men exchanged sudden glances, and Limber hastened to say, "I've
got to get to Willcox this evening, for the boys are on the road with a
shipment of stock. But, Doctor Powell could wait here till King gets
back. I was thinkin' I had better ride down to Leon's and head King back
this way. Then he and Doctor Powell could talk together, whilst I kin
go to Willcox by the San Pedro road instead of comin' back here."
"Don't change any plans on my account," the woman said quickly, sensing
their thoughts. "My husband and Juan will be home tonight, so there is
no occasion for anxiety."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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