the Thundering Herd (1984) Read Online Free PDF Page A

carry it," offered Tom.
    "Thank you, I can manage very well," she returned.
    But he took it away from her, and in so doing touched her hand.
    The effect on Tom was sudden and profound. For the moment it destroyed his naturalness.
    "Well--I--it is heavy--for a girl," he said, awkwardly.
    "Oh, I'm very strong," she rejoined.
    Then their eyes met again, as they had when Tom had reached for the horse and looked at her. Only this time it seemed vastly different. She looked away, across the open toward the grove where fires gleamed in the gathering twilight. Then she moved. Tom fell into step beside her. He wanted to talk, but seemed unable to think of anything to say. This meeting was not an ordinary incident. He could not understand himself. He wanted to ask her about who she was, where she was going, what relation she bore to the rude man who had called her Milly. Yet not a word could he utter. He could have spoken surely, if he had not been concentrating on the vagueness and uncertainty of himself.
    Before they had quite reached the edge of the grove she stopped and confronted him.
    "Thank you," she said, softly. "I'll carry it now."
    "No. We're still a long distance from your camp."
    "Yes--that's why," she returned, haltingly. "You must not go with me. . . . He--my step-father, you heard him. I--I can't tell you more."
    Tom did not yield up the parcel with very good grace. "I may never see you again!" he burst out.
    She did not answer, but as she relieved him of the package she looked up, straight and clear into his face. Her eyes held him.
    In them he read the same thought he had just exclaimed aloud. Then she bade him good night, and turning away, vanished in the gloom of the grove.
    Not until she was gone did Tom awake to a realization that this chance meeting, apparently so natural on her part and kindly on his, just an incident of travel, two strangers exchanging a few civilities, was the most significant and appealing and thought- provoking experience of his life. Why had he not detained her, just a moment, to ask for the privilege of seeing her again?
    Still, he could see her to-morrow. That last look of her big black eyes--what did it mean? His mind revolved many useless questions.
    He found a seat at the edge of the grove and there he pondered.
    Night came, dark and cool. The stars shone. Behind him sounded the crackle of camp fires and the voices of men and the munch of horses at their grain.
    A strange thing had happened to him, but what was it? A girl's eyes, a few words, a touch of hands! Had they been the cause of this sudden melancholy one moment and inexplicable exaltation the next, and his curiosity about her, and this delving into himself?
    But he did not call it silly or foolish. Tom was twenty-four years old, yet this condition of mind was new. Perhaps the thrill, the excitement of the prospects ahead, had communicated themselves to an otherwise ordinary incident. The thought, however, he ridiculed. Every moment of his musing tended toward consciousness of a strange, dreamy sweetness inspired by this girl.

    Chapter III
    When Tom roused next morning to Burn Hudnall's cheery call he found that he had slept later than usual for him.
    He rolled out of his bed of blankets under the wagon, and pulling on his boots and washing his face and hands, was ready for breakfast and the eventful day.
    The sun had just risen above the eastern horizon. West and southwest the rolling prairie-land shone green and gold under the bright morning light. Near at hand horses and cattle grazed. Far down the clearly defined road canvas-covered wagons gleamed white.
    Some of the buffalo-hunters were already on their way. Tom stood a moment, watching and thinking, as he drew a deep full breath of the fresh crisp air, feeling that whatever lay in store for him beyond the purple horizon--adventure, hardship, fortune--he was keen to face it.
    While at breakfast Tom suddenly remembered his meeting with the girl, Milly. In the broad light of