CHAPTER XXVII
In the morning Sheila awoke stiff and sore, but rested. Her strongyoung body, hard and well conditioned by a life in the open and muchhealthy exercise, refused to indulge in the luxury of after effects ofshock. Looking around, she found that her clothes were gone. But spreadready for her was a dainty morning costume, which she knew for ClydeBurnaby's. Dressing quickly, she entered the breakfast room.
Clyde, sitting by the window, rose, smiling, as she entered.
"I hope they fit," she said. "How do you feel, Miss McCrae?"
"They fit very well, and I feel first rate," said Sheila. "I'm sore inspots, but I'll limber up when I get moving. Where is Mrs. Wade? Isuppose Casey has gone to Talapus."
"Kitty's busy cleaning your riding clothes," Clyde replied. "Casey hasgone; I haven't seen him."
It was the first time she had used his given name to a third person. Itslipped out naturally, and she coloured a trifle, but Sheila did notappear to notice. They breakfasted together, and later sat on theveranda enjoying the perfect morning after the storm. Naturally, theyspoke of the events of the preceding day and night. Sheila took apractical view.
"It was lucky Tom McHale wasn't here," she said. "Somebody would havebeen hurt. That's what I was afraid of."
"It was very brave of you," said Clyde. "I admire you more than I cansay. I want you to know it, Miss McCrae."
"Oh, that"--Sheila dismissed the warm praise with a wave of her brownhand--"why, it wasn't anything; only a wet ride in the dark. If myhorse had kept his feet it would have been all right. I simply had tocome. Don't try to make me think myself a heroine. You'd do the samething yourself for a friend."
"I'm afraid I couldn't. I'm not much of a rider, and I couldn't havefound my way in the dark."
"Well, that's no credit to me. I've been riding all my life, and I knowevery foot of this country. Of course, I'd do anything for Casey orTom."
"Yes," said Clyde, "they both think a great deal of you, I know."
"No more than I think of them--especially Casey. Some day I supposehe'll get married, and then I'll have to call him 'Mr. Dunne.'"
"That won't be necessary."
"Oh, yes, it will. His wife wouldn't stand for 'Casey.'"
"Yes, she will," said Clyde. Sheila turned and looked at her keenly."We are going to be married," Clyde added.
"You don't mean it!" Sheila exclaimed. "Well, you are a lucky girl, ifyou don't mind my saying so. Casey's _white_. I congratulate you withall my heart. And he's lucky, too; yes, he is."
"You--you don't mind?" Clyde ventured. She thought it quite possiblethat Sheila might care for Casey, although convinced that he did notlove her.
"Mind? Why should I mind?"
"You know I thought once"--Clyde hesitated--"you see you were suchgreat friends----"
"You thought I might be fond of him? Why, so I am. Not in that way,though. I might have been if he had tried to make love to me, but henever did. You see, Miss Burnaby----"
"I wish you'd call me Clyde."
"If you'll call me Sheila. You see, Clyde, Casey and I are too much twoof a kind. We'd never get on. You'll idealize him; I'd call him down.He'll talk out of his heart to you; he'd talk irrigation, and crops,and horses to me. You'll accept his judgment in most things as final;I'd want him to take my opinion instead of his own. Oh, we'd make anawful mess of it! And so, my dear, don't you think that I'd want hislove, even if I could get it. But at that he's the whitest man I know,and the best friend I ever had. You're lucky. I don't wonder that hefell in love with you, either. I wish to goodness _I_ were as pretty."
"I'm glad," said Clyde, "that you haven't said anything about money.Thank you."
"It's not because I didn't think of it," Sheila admitted frankly. "ButI know it makes no difference to Casey. Fact is, I wonder, knowing himas I do, that he hadn't some absurd scruples on that point."
"He had. He says we can't be married if he loses this ranch and theother lands."
"Nonsense," said Sheila practically. "He won't stay with that if youcoax him; he couldn't."
Clyde laughed happily. "That's the nicest compliment I ever had. You'reabsolutely the first person I've told."
"Well, I'm much flattered," said Sheila. "When did it happen?"
"Last night."
"Everything happened last night. Was he--er--convincing in the part?"
But Clyde, laughing and blushing, refused details. Sheila wished to gohome at once, but Clyde prevailed on her to wait for Casey. It was hiswish.
"And that settles it from your point of view, of course," said Sheila."Well, I'll wait."
Casey returned at noon. Clyde met him halfway between the stable andthe house, bareheaded, the fresh wind fluttering her skirts andspinning little tendrils of coppery gold across her forehead. He wouldhave taken both her hands, but she put them behind her, laughing.
"Not here, sir!"
"It's my ranch and my girl."
"In order of merit?"
"My girl and my ranch, then. But tell me: How is Sheila?"
"Quite well, except for her bruises. What a plucky girl she is, Casey!"
"I should say she is," he agreed heartily. "You must be friends.Somehow you never seemed to like her."
"I understand her better now. I've told her about--us."
"Fine! And Kitty Wade?"
"Yes. Come in and face the music yourself."
But Casey got off lightly. They lunched without Wade, who had gone totown for mail; but as they were finishing the meal he entered.
"Casey," he cried, "I hope to Heaven I haven't foundered your horse,but I have all kinds of news for you!"
Casey's mouth tightened a little. "Let it go, Wade. Maybe it's all forthe best."
"Part of this is, anyway. Don't look so glum; it's all right, I tellyou. Now, this was the way of it: When I got my papers at the postoffice I saw that Western Air stock, which had been playing anticsbefore, had gone clean crazy. It's been boosted sky high. All sorts ofrumours, the chief being that the Hess System people were responsible.So I wired for the latest. Got a reply that it was impossible toconfirm rumours. Then, just as I was leaving, in comes a wire for Clydewhich I herewith produce and put in as Exhibit A, and which, I stronglysuspect, throws light on the situation. Open it, Clyde, for Heaven'ssake, and put us out of our misery!"
Clyde tore the envelope with fingers which trembled slightly. She readthe message and handed it to Casey.
"Aloud?" he asked, and she nodded. He read:
Sending you power of attorney and proxy to vote shares recently purchased by your brokers. We now control corporation. Advise friends to drop lawsuit. They will get a square deal.
JIM.
Casey looked up. He did not understand. Wade struck him a violent blowon the back.
"Hooray!" he shouted. "It's blamed unprofessional, but I was never soglad to discontinue an action in my life. Clyde, you're a darling!" Hecaught her in his arms and whirled her around the room.
"Harrison!" Kitty cried, "have you gone crazy?"
Wade released Clyde, breathless, and sank into a chair.
"Bring me an expensive drink!" he commanded. "This needs celebrating."
"Will somebody tell me what's the matter with him?" Casey asked.
"What!" exclaimed the lawyer. "Don't you see it?"
"Not yet," Casey admitted.
"Why, you old dub," cried Wade, "the wire is from Jim Hess, Clyde'suncle. His interests control Western Air. He promises you a squaredeal."
"Eh!" Casey ejaculated, staring at him.
"You blamed idiot!" snapped the lawyer, "why don't you thank Clyde? Shestarted the old chief on the warpath after York's scalp."
Casey turned to her. "Tell me he isn't raving mad! Is it so?"
"It's so," she said, "but I----" He interrupted by catching her in hisarms.
"Here, hold on, old man!" Wade protested. "Gratitude's a fine thing,but you're too----"
His wife took him by the arm. "Come on, Harrison, y
ou stupid! You'reworse than he is. Can't you understand anything?" Sheila's skirts werealready fluttering through the door.
"Great Scott!" Wade exclaimed, "you don't mean----"
"You--you _bonehead_!" she cried, exasperated, and hustled him outside.
Careless of them, Casey held Clyde, looking down into her eyes."Sweetheart," he said, "you never told me!"
"I was afraid."
"Of raising false hopes?"
"Not that, so much. But you wouldn't let me help you with money. And Iwas afraid that if you knew, you'd consider yourself under anobligation and wouldn't--wouldn't----"
"Wouldn't what?"
"Wouldn't be sensible and tell me you loved me," she said softly."You're so funny about such things, Casey. You aren't angry now, areyou?"
"Angry?" he said. "Dear, I'd put the savings of years into thisland--years when I'd worked like a very slave to get enough cashtogether to swing some good deal when I should see it. That was mystake. And the others! Why, girl, you've saved Talapus to the McCraes,and their ranches for the men who made them. We can't repay you; wewon't try."
Desert Conquest; or, Precious Waters Page 27
