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
"Tears, Nell?"
"Tears of happiness," she answered tremulously. "The tears that come
when one's heart is too happy for laughter."
Nell had a distinct recollection of her first view of the ranch when she
had seen it from the stage coach, but the thought now that this was her
home and Allan's lent a different interest to the little village of
cream-coloured buildings with red roofs, surrounded by cottonwood and
willow trees. Here and there poked windmills that supplied the troughs
and ponds with water. That other ride had been filled with anxious
uncertainty as to what lay before her, but now, the whole world was a
wonderful dream of happiness and love. This was her home.
The carriage entered the big driveway into the main stable, where the
men and Fong were waiting to meet them. A pack of greyhounds lying on
the floor, leaped and began to yelp in excitement. From the box-stalls
sleek heads of handsome horses peered curiously, then they whinnied a
welcome home to the team that pawed the floor impatiently.
Nell scarcely had time to note it all when Doctor Powell came from the
court-yard of the house and helped her from the carriage.
"I got back yesterday," he said, after they had all exchanged words of
welcome. His eyes rested on Jamie, "Well, I believe Arizona is fattening
you up already," he exclaimed, taking the child's hand in his own. "You
and I must be chums, Jamie, for we're both tenderfeet, and have lots to
learn. Limber picked out a fine little pony for you to ride, and I found
a saddle in Tucson that is just your size. We'll both learn to be
cowboys, now. Won't that be fine?"
The child's smile told that Powell had won a loyal follower. The
doctor's love for children was a magnet that drew them to him at once.
Now he looked down at the child, measuring the battle to be fought, and
knew the victory would not be easily won, for the child's vitality had
been deeply sapped.
Nell paused in the court-yard. It was eighty feet square, with deep
porches on all four sides. Triangular flowerbeds were in each corner,
and over a pergola climbing roses in full bloom mingled with honeysuckle
and flowering syringa, which recklessly distilled their combined
fragrance. Even the windmill in the centre of the court was completely
hidden by vines.
She followed her husband into the low-ceilinged living room, and with a
little smile she dropped into the same big chair that had held her in
sleep when the cowboys discovered her that unforgettable day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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