Page:Morley roberts--Painted Rock.djvu/264

 for the unmerried, specially unmerried gals. Ain't there, Mary?"

"Mebbe, George," said Mis' Higginson, who was very weary of her brother-in-law and troubled little about Amandy's "merriage." She had heard too much of it from Bill.

"I'd like to see you merried right off," mused George, who was sadly afraid he'd seen more than he had known at first. He got surer of it every minute.

"I ain't reckonin' to be merried," said Amandy angrily.

"You ain't, Amandy?"

"No, I ain't."

George shook his head. Evidently the bad and wicked and large cowboy wouldn't marry her!

"I'll speak to Bill. We'll see if he won't," said George to himself. "No cowboy kin insult and destroy any o' our fam'ly without invitin' deestruction."

By now he was absolutely sure he had seen dreadful things.

"Pore little gal!" said George; "but I'll see her righted. Oh, won't I, jest?"