American fiction -- 20th century; Arizona -- Fiction; Western stories
“Pretty! Why, it's grand!” exclaimed Bo. “I've called it Paradise Park.”
“Paradise Park,” he repeated, weighing the words. “You've named it an'
also the creek. Paradise Creek! I've been here twelve years with no fit
name for my home till you said that.”
“Oh, that pleases me!” returned Bo, with shining eyes.
“Eat now,” said Dale. “An' I reckon you'll like that turkey.”
There was a clean tarpaulin upon which were spread steaming, fragrant
pans--roast turkey, hot biscuits and gravy, mashed potatoes as white as
if prepared at home, stewed dried apples, and butter and coffee. This
bounteous repast surprised and delighted the girls; when they had once
tasted the roast wild turkey, then Milt Dale had occasion to blush at
their encomiums.
“I hope--Uncle Al--doesn't come for a month,” declared Bo, as she tried
to get her breath. There was a brown spot on her nose and one on each
cheek, suspiciously close to her mouth.
Dale laughed. It was pleasant to hear him, for his laugh seemed unused
and deep, as if it came from tranquil depths.
“Won't you eat with us?” asked Helen.
“Reckon I will,” he said, “it'll save time, an' hot grub tastes better.”
Quite an interval of silence ensued, which presently was broken by Dale.
“Here comes Tom.”
Helen observed with a thrill that the cougar was magnificent, seen erect
on all-fours, approaching with slow, sinuous grace. His color was tawny,
with spots of whitish gray. He had bow-legs, big and round and furry,
and a huge head with great tawny eyes. No matter how tame he was said
to be, he looked wild. Like a dog he walked right up, and it so happened
that he was directly behind Bo, within reach of her when she turned.
“Oh, Lord!” cried Bo, and up went both of her hands, in one of which
was a huge piece of turkey. Tom took it, not viciously, but nevertheless
with a snap that made Helen jump. As if by magic the turkey vanished.
And Tom took a closer step toward Bo. Her expression of fright changed
to consternation.
“He stole my turkey!”
“Tom, come here,” ordered Dale, sharply. The cougar glided round rather
sheepishly. “Now lie down an' behave.”
Tom crouched on all-fours, his head resting on his paws, with his
beautiful tawny eyes, light and piercing, fixed upon the hunter.
“Don't grab,” said Dale, holding out a piece of turkey. Whereupon Tom
took it less voraciously.
As it happened, the little bear cub saw this transaction, and he plainly
indicated his opinion of the preference shown to Tom.
“Oh, the dear!” exclaimed Bo. “He means it's not fair.... Come,
Bud--come on.”
But Bud would not approach the group until called by Dale. Then he
scrambled to them with every manifestation of delight. Bo almost forgot
her own needs in feeding him and getting acquainted with him. Tom
plainly showed his jealousy of Bud, and Bud likewise showed his fear of
the great cat.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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