_ CHAPTER X. NEIGHBORS
Sim Gage, hesitant at the door of his bare-floored tent in the cool dawn, saw smoke arising from the chimney of Wid Gardner's house. From a sense of need he determined to pay Wid a visit. His leg was doing badly. He needed help, and knew it. He hobbled over to the cabin door, where all was silent; knocked, and knocked again, more loudly. She still slept--slept as she had not dreamed she could.
"Who's there?" she demanded at length. "Oh yes; wait a minute."
He waited several minutes, but at length heard her at the door. His eyes fell upon her hungrily. She was fresher, her air was more eager, less pitiful.
"Good morning, ma'am," said he. "I've come to get the breakfast." All she could do was to stand about, wistful, perplexed, dumb.
"Now, ma'am," said he, after he had cooked the breakfast--like in all ways to the supper of the night before--"I'm a-going to ask you to stay here alone a little while to-day. You ain't afraid, are you?"
"You'll not be gone long? It's lonesome to me all the time, of course." In reality she was terrified beyond words at the thought of being left alone.
"I know that. But we got to get a dog and some hens for you. I just thought I'd go over and see Wid Gardner, little while, and talk over things."
"How is your knee now?" she asked. "It seemed to me you sounded rather limpy, Mr. Gage."
"Is that what you want to call me, ma'am?" said he at last--"Mr. Gage? It sounds sort of strange to me, but it makes me feel taller. Folks always called me Sim."
She heard him turn, hesitant. "You'll not be gone long?" said she.
"I reckon not."
"Then bring me the pan of potatoes in here, so that I can peel them."
"You're mighty helpful, ma'am. I don't see how I kept house here at all without you.
"Ma'am," he went on, presently, hesitating, after his bashful fashion. "This here is a right strange place, way you and me is throwed in here together. I only wish't you wouldn't git scared about anything, and you'd sort of--
believe in me, till we can shape things out somehow, fairer to you. Don't be scared, please. I'll take care of you the best I can. The only trouble is I'm afraid about folks, that's all."
"What do you mean--about folks?"
"If there was a woman within fifty miles of you knowed you wasn't married to me, she'd raise hell sure. All women is that way, and some men is, too. There ain't been no room for talk--yet."
"Yet?" she said. "What do you mean?"
But this was carrying Sim Gage into water too deep for him. He only stepped closer to the door. "Don't you be scared to be alone a little while. So long," he added, and so he left her.
She heard his hobbling footfalls across the boards at the end of the house, heard them pass into silence on the turf. What had he meant? How long could she maintain her supremacy over him, here alone in the wilderness, helpless, blind? And those other women? What, indeed, was her status to be here? When would he tire of this? When would he change?
Questions came to Sim Gage's mind also. Now and again he paused and leaned against the fence. He was in much pain alike of body and of mind.
He saw Wid himself turn out at his gate and approach him; dreaded the grin on Wid's face even before he saw it.
"Well, there, neighbor," said the oncomer. "You're out at last. How's everything?"
Sim looked down at his bandaged leg with a gesture.
"How come that?"
"One of them damn broncs cut me with his forefoot when I was unhitching. Did you git track of them anywhere? They run off."
"They're hanging around here," said Wid indifferently. He bent over the wounded member. "So struck you with his front hoof? That's a bad leg, Sim. It's getting black; and here's some red streaks."
"I'm some scared about it," said Sim. "Seems to me I'd better get to a doctor. I got to get me a dog first, and some hens."
Wid Gardner took a hasty but careful inventory of his friend's appearance, his shaven face, his clean hands, his new clothing.
"How's your wife, Sim?" he said, grinning.
"That lady, she's all right. Left her paring spuds. And I want to say to you, Wid, while I'm away from there, everybody else stays away too."
"What, not get to see the bride? That ain't very friendly, seems to me."
"Well, what I said goes."
"You're a jealous sort of bridegroom?" said Wid, laughing openly.
The dull color of Sim's face showed the anger in his heart. "That lady, she's there at my house," said he, "and she's going to be left alone there. She's sort of shy. This country's plumb new to her."
"But honest, Sim"--and his neighbor's curiosity now was apparent--"what sort of a looker is she?"
"Prettier'n a spotted pup!" said Sim succinctly.
"She like the country pretty well?"
"Says it's the prettiest she ever seen," replied Sim. "That's what she said."
"And you owe all this to me, come to simmer it down."
"I ain't simmering nothing down," said Sim. "Here's your gate. Down there is mine. Don't none of you go in there until I tell you it's time, that's all."
"Well, I dunno as I care to," replied Wid.
"Better not," said Sim Gage. "I ain't a-going to have that girl bothered by nobody. Of course, you and me both knows we ain't married, and won't never be. It was a housekeeper I was after, and I got one, and a damn good one. But I don't want her bothered by no one fer a while. I've played this game on the level with her so far, anyways, and I allow to play it that way all the way through."
"But now," he added, wincing with pain, "let's cut out all this sort of thing. I believe I got to get to a doctor."
"I'll tell you," said Wid Gardner, "I'll hitch up and take you down to the doctor at the big dam, twenty-five miles below. He's taking care of all the laborers down there--they're always getting into accidents; dynamite, you know. He's got to be a good doctor. I'll take you down."
"Wid," said Sim, "I wish't you would. I don't believe I'll go back home first. She'll be all right there alone, won't she?"
Wid still smiled at him understandingly. "Jealousest man I ever did see! Well, have it your own way. It'll take just so much time anyway--if we get back by nine or ten o'clock to-night we'll be lucky. She'll have to begin sometime to get used to things." _