Page:J Allan Dunn--The Girl of Ghost Mountain.djvu/286

268 "I dunno," she said slowly. "I t'ink you bane better ask the boss."

Red's look of mingled proudness and surprise was almost ludicrous. If he was the boss of that mating he had not yet acquired confidence. But it was very evident that Thora had capitulated completely. She turned to him for the answer and Red moved his head stiffly.

"Well," he answered slowly. "Now you've got the gold, ha'f of it ennyway, you'll be startin' on that water an' alfalfy scheme. Me, I'm handy with a herd while it rums wild. I can hold down a job as foreman of a cattle ranch, but w'en it comes to tumin' farmer an' feedin' tame steers, I dunno. I ain't much on crops, nor on breedin'. You'll be needin' an expert for that, Sheridan. I—we—was thinkin' of goin' in for bees an' goats. They ain't like range cows but they both trail wild. They's money in goats an'—" He faltered, picked up again, "Thora an' me was figgerin' on askin' you for the lease of the Homestead, Miss Mary," he plunged. "Thora said that mebbe you might be aimin' to not be usin' it for a spell. I've rambled a heap an' I've lived sort of various, but I've allus aimed to settle down some time, w'en—" He looked proudly towards Thora.

"I'm sory, Red,*' said Mary. "But I can't do that."

Jackson looked blank and Thora puzzled.

"We warn't tryin' to horn in on enny plans you might have," he started.

"It isn't that, Red. I don't own the Homestead.