time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第81部分

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　　When　that　wagon　was　maybe　a　kilometer　away；　I　rode　out　to　meet　them…then　was　surprised　and　disappointed。　A　family；　yes；　if　you　count　a　man　and　two　grown　sons　as　a　family。　No　women；　no　children。　I　wondered　how　they　thought　they　were　going　to　pioneer。
　　
　　The　younger　son　was　not　fully　grown；；　his　beard　was　sparse　and　scraggly。　Nevertheless；　he　was　taller　and　heavier　than　I　was；　and　he　was　the　smallest　of　the　three。　His　father　and　brother　were　mounted；　he　was　driving…actually　driving；　they
　　
　　were　not　using　a　mule　boss。　No　livestock　other　than　mules　that　I　could　see；　although　I　did　not　attempt　to　look　into　their　wagon。
　　
　　I　did　not　like　their　looks　and　reversed　my　idea　about　neighbors。　I　hoped　they　would　move　on　down　the　valley；　at　least　fifty　kilometers。
　　
　　The　mounted　two　were　carrying　guns　at　their　belts…reasonable　in　loper　country。　I　had　a　needle　gun　in　sight　myself；　as　well　as　a　belt　knife…and　maybe　other　things　not　in　sight；　as　I　don't　consider　it　diplomatic　to　show　much　hardware　in　meeting　strangers。
　　
　　As　I　approached；　they　stopped；　The　driver　reining　up　his　mules。　I　had　Beulah　stop。　about　ten　paces　short　of　the　lead　pair。　〃Howdy；〃　I　said。　〃Wele　to　Happy　Valley。　I'm　Bill　Smith。〃
　　
　　The　oldest　of　the　three　looked　me　up　and　down。　It　is　hard　to　tell　a　man's　expression　when　lie　wears　a　full　beard；　but　what　little　I　could　see　was　no　expression　at　all…wariness；　perhaps。　My　own　face　was　smooth…freshly　shaved　anc~　clean　overalls；　in　honor　of　visitors。　I　wa~　keeping　my　face　smooth　both　because　Dora　preferred　it　so　and　because　I　was　staying　〃young〃　to　match　Dora。　I　was　wearing　my　best　friendly　look…　but　was　saying　to　myself；　〃You've　got　ten　seconds　to　answer　my　greeting　and　say　who　you　are…or　you're　going　to　miss　some　of　the　best　cooking　on　New　Beginnings。〃
　　
　　He　just　slid　under　the　deadline；　I　had　silently　counted　seven　chimpanzees　when　he　suddenly　grinned　through　that　face　moss。　〃Why；　that's　mighty　friendly　of　you；　young　man。〃
　　
　　〃Bill　Smith；〃　I　repeated；　〃and　I　didn't　catch　your　name。〃
　　
　　〃Probably　because　I　didn't　say；〃　he　answered。　〃Name's　Montgomery。　'Monty'　to　my　friends；　and　I　don't　have　any　enemies；　at　least　not　for　long。　Right；　Darby？〃
　　
　　〃Right；　Pop；〃　agreed　the　other　mounted　one。
　　
　　〃And　this　is　my　son　Darby　and　that's　Dan　driving　the　jugheads。　Say　'Howdy；'　boys。〃
　　
　　〃Howdy；〃　they　each　answered。
　　
　　〃Howdy；　Darby。　Howdy；　Dan。　Monty；　is　Mrs。　Montgomery　with　you？〃　I　nodded　at　the　wagon；　still　did　not　attempt　to　see　into　it…a　man's　wagon　is　as　private　as　his　house。
　　
　　〃Now　why　would　you　be　asking　that？〃
　　
　　〃Because；〃　I　said；　still　holding　Onto　n~v　friendly…idiot　look；　〃I　want　to　trot　back　to　the　house　and　tell　Mrk　Smith　how　many　there'll　be　for　supper。〃　…
　　
　　〃Well！　Did　you　hear　that；　boys？　We've　been　invited　to　supper。　1~iat's　mighty　friendly；　too；　isn't　it；　Dan？〃
　　
　　〃Right；　Pop。〃
　　
　　〃And　we　most　kindly　accept。　Don't　we；　Darby？〃
　　
　　〃Right；　Pop。〃　…
　　
　　I　was　getting　tired　of　the　echo；　but　I　kept　my　sweet　expression。　〃Monty；　you　still　haven't　told　me　how　many。〃　〃Oh。　Just　three。　But　we　eat　enough　for　six。〃　He　slapped　his　thigh　and　laughed　at　his　own　joke。　〃Right；　Dan？〃
　　
　　〃Right；　Pop。〃
　　
　　〃So　you　stir　up　those　jugheads；　Dan；　we've　got　reason　to　hurry　now。〃
　　
　　I　interrupted　the　echo　to　say；　〃Hold　it；　Monty。　No　need　to　overheat　your　mules。〃
　　
　　〃What？　They're　my　mules；　son。〃
　　
　　〃So　they　are　and　do　as　you　please　about　them；　but　I　was　sent　out　ahead　so　that　Mrs。　Smith　would　have　time　to　be　ready　'for　you。　I　see　you're　wearing　a　watch〃…I　glanced　at
　　
　　…my　own…〃your　hostess　will　expect　you　in；　one　hour。　Unless　you　need　more　time　to　get　there　and　unharness　and　water　your　mules？〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　them　jugheads　will　keep　until　after　supper。　If　we're　early；　we'll　set　awhile。〃
　　
　　…〃No；〃　I　said　firmly。　〃One　hour；　no　sooner。　You　know　how　a　lady　feels　about　guests　arriving　before　she's　ready　for　them。　Crowd　her；　and　she　might　ruin　your　supper。　Do　as　you　please　about　your　mules…but　there　is　an　easy　place　to　water　them；　a　little　beach；　where　the　river~es　closest　to　the　house。　Nice　place　to　spruce　up　a　bit　yourself；　too…　before　dining　with　a　lady。　But　don't　e　up　to　the　house　short　of　one　hour。〃　…
　　
　　〃Your　wife　sounds　mighty　particular　。　。　for　way　out　here　in　the　wilds。〃
　　
　　〃She　is；〃　I　answei'ed。　〃Home；　Beulah。〃
　　
　　I　moved　from　a　trot　into　Beulah's　fast　lope　and　did　not　get　over　an　uneasy　feeling　between　my　shoulder　blades　until　I；　was　certain　I~　was　too　far　away　to　be　a　target。　There　is　only　one　dangerous　animal；　yet　at　times　you're　forced　to　pretend　that　he's　as　sweet　and　innocent　as　a　cobra。　…
　　
　　I　didn't　stop　to　unsaddle　Beulah；　I　hurried　inside。　Dora　heard　my　slam…bang　arrival；　was　at　the　pound's　door。　〃What　is　i~；　dear？　Trouble？〃
　　
　　〃Could　be。　Three　men；　I　don't　like　them。　Nevertheless；　I've　promised　them　supper。　Have　'the　kids　'eaten？　Can　we　put　them
　　
　　。~1　a
　　
　　right　to　bed　and　convince　them　that　if　they　so　much　as　lel　out　a　peep；　they'll　be　flayed　alive？　I　didn't　mention　children；　we　aren't　going　to　mention　them；　and　I'm　going　to　take　a　fasi　look　around　to　make　sure　there　is　nothing　in　sight　that　says　'kids。'
　　
　　〃I'll　try。　Yes；　I've　fed　them。〃
　　
　　*
　　
　　Right　on　the　hour　Lazarus　Long　met　his　guests　at　the　doot　of　the　pound。　They　drove　and　rode　up　from　the　direction　of　the　beach　he　had　described；　so　he　assumed　that　they　had　watered　their　animals；　but　he　noted　with　mild　scorn　that　t？ey　now　did　not　bother　to　unharness　their　team　for　what　was　sure　to　be　a　long　wait。　But　he　was　pleased　to　note　that　all　three　Montgomerys　had　made　some　effort　to　spruce　up…perhaps　they　w~ere　going　to　behave；　perhaps　his　sixth　sense　for　trouble　was　hypersensitive　from　too　long　in　the　wilderness。　…
　　
　　Lazarus　was　dressed　in　his　best…kilt　with　full　kit　save　that　the　effect　was　marred　by　a　faded　work　shirt　of　New　Pittsburgh　origin。　But　it　was　indeed　his　best；　worn　only　for　children's　birthdays。　On　other　days　he　wore　anything　from　overalls　to　skin；　depending　on　work　and　weather。　…
　　
　　After　Montgomery　dismounted；　he　paused　and　looked　over　his　host。　〃My；　aren't　we　fancy！〃
　　
　　〃In　your　honor；　gentlemen。　I　save　it　for　very　special　occasions。〃
　　
　　〃So？　It's　mighty　nice　of　you　to　honor　us；　Red。　Isn't　it；　Dan？〃
　　
　　〃Right；　Pop。〃　……
　　
　　〃My　name　is　Bill；　Monty。　Not　'Red。'　You　can　leave　your　guns　in　your　wagon。〃
　　
　　〃Well！　Now　that's　not　very　friendly。　We　always　wear　our　guns。　Don't　we；　Darby？〃　…
　　
　　〃Right；　Pop。　And　if　Pop　says　your　name　is　'Red；'　that's　your　name。〃
　　
　　〃Now；　tiow；　Darby；　I　didn't　say　that。　If　Red　wants　to　call　himself　Tom；　Dick；　or　Harry；　that's　his　choice。　But　we　wouldn't　feel　dressed　without　our　guns；　and　that's　the　truth；　uh；　Bill。　Why；　I　even　wear　mine　to　bed。　Out　here。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　was　standing　in　the　opened　door　of　the　pound。　He　made　no　move　to　step　aside　and　let　his　visitors　in。　〃That's　a　reasonable　precaution　。　。　on　the　trail。　But　gentlemen　don't　wear　arms　when　they　dine　with　a　lady。　Drop　them　here　or　put　them　in　your　wagon；　whichever　you　wish。〃　'
　　
　　Lazarus　could　feel　the　tension　grow；　could　see　the　younger
　　
　　two　watching　their　father　for　instructions。　Lazarus　ignored　them　and　kept　his　easy　smile　on　Montgomery；　while　forcing　his　muscles　to　stay　loose　as　cotton。　Right　now？　Would　the　bear　back　off？　Or　treat　it　as　a　challenge？
　　
　　Montgomery　split　his　face　in　his　widest　grin。　〃Why；　sure；　neighbor…if　that's　how　you　want　it。　Shall　I　take　off　my　pants；　too？〃　…
　　
　　〃Just　yeur　guns；　sir。〃　（He's　right…handed。　If　I　were　righthanded　and　wearing　what　you　are　wearing；　where　would　my　second　gun　be？　There；　I　think…but；　if　so；　…it　must　be　small
　　
　　either　a　；needle　gun　or　possibly　an　old…fashioned　snubnoted　assassin's　gun。　Are　his　sons　both　right。~handed？）
　　
　　…　The　Montgomerys　put　their　gun　belts　on　the　seat　of　their　wagon；　caine　back。　Lazarus　stood　aside　and　weled　them　in；　then　slid　the　bar　into　place　as　he　closed　the　door。　Dora　was　waiting；　dressed　in　her　〃party　dress。〃　For　the　first　time　since　a　very　hot　day　on　the　prairie　she　did　not　wear　her　rubies　at　the　evening　meal。　…
　　
　　〃Dear；　this　is　Mr。　Montgomery　and　his　sons；　Darby　and　Dan。　My　wife；　Mrs。　Smith。〃
　　
　　Dora　bobbed　a　curtsy。　〃Wele；　Mr。　Montgomery；　and　Darby；　and　Dan。〃
　　
　　〃Call　me　'Monty；'　Mrs。　Smith…and　what's　your　name？　Mighty　pretty　place　you've　got　here　。　。　for　so　far　out　in　the　country。〃
　　
　　〃If　you　gentlemen　will　excuse　me；　I　have　a　couple　of　things　to　do　to　get　supper　onto　the　table。〃　She　turned　quickly　and　hurried　back　into　her　kitchen。
　　
　　Lazarus　answered；　〃I'm　glad　you　like　it；　Monty。　It's　the　best　we've　been　able　to　do　so　far；　while　getting　a　farm　started。〃　The　back　wall　of　the　pound　had　four　rooms　built　against　it：　storeroom；　kitchen；　bedroom；　and　nursery。　All　had　doors　into　the　pound；　but　only　the　kitchen　door　was　open。　The　rooms　interconnected。
　　
　　Outside　the　kitchen　door　was　a　Dutch　oven；　in　the　kitchen　was　a　fireplace　used　for　other　cooking　and