The Call Of The Canyon - Zane Grey (easy readers TXT) 📗

Coming To Her. She Had Seen The Bronze Of His Face Turn To

White. How Gaunt And Worn He Looked. Older He Appeared,  With Deeper Lines

And Whiter Hair. His Jaw Quivered.

 

"Carley Burch,  So It Was You?" He Queried,  Hoarsely.

 

"Glenn,  I Reckon It Was," She Replied. "I Bought Your Deep Lake Ranch Site.

I Came Back Too Late . . . . But It Is Never Too Late For Some Things. . . .

I've Come To Wish You And Flo All The Happiness In The World--And To Say

We Must Be Friends."

 

The Way He Looked At Her Made Her Tremble. He Strode Up Beside The Mustang,

And He Was So Tall That His Shoulder Came Abreast Of Her. He Placed A Big

Warm Hand On Hers,  As It Rested,  Ungloved,  On The Pommel Of The Saddle.

 

"Have You Seen Flo?" He Asked.

 

"I Just Left Her. It Was Funny--The Way She Rushed Me Off After You. As If

There Weren't Two--"

 

Was It Glenn's Eyes Or The Movement Of His Hand That Checked Her Utterance?

His Gaze Pierced Her Soul. His Hand Slid Along Her Arm To Her Waist--Around

It. Her Heart Seemed To Burst.

 

"Kick Your Feet Out Of The Stirrups," He Ordered.

 

Instinctively She Obeyed. Then With A Strong Pull He Hauled Her Half Out Of

The Saddle,  Pellmell Into His Arms. Carley Had No Resistance. She Sank

Limp,  In An Agony Of Amaze. Was This A Dream? Swift And Hard His Lips Met

Hers--And Again--And Again. . . .

 

"Oh,  My God!--Glenn,  Are--You--Mad?" She Whispered,  Almost Swooning.

 

"Sure--I Reckon I Am," He Replied,  Huskily,  And Pulled Her All The Way Out

Of The Saddle.

 

Carley Would Have Fallen But For His Support. She Could Not Think. She Was

All Instinct. Only The Amaze--The Sudden Horror--Drifted--Faded As Before

Fires Of Her Heart!

 

"Kiss Me!" He Commanded.

Chapter 12 Pg 202

 

She Would Have Kissed Him If Death Were The Penalty. How His Face Blurred

In Her Dimmed Sight! Was That A Strange Smile? Then He Held Her Back From

Him.

 

"Carley--You Came To Wish Flo And Me Happiness?" He Asked.

 

"Oh,  Yes--Yes. . . . Pity Me,  Glenn--Let Me Go. I Meant Well. . . . I

Should--Never Have Come."

 

"Do You Love Me?" He Went On,  With Passionate,  Shaking Clasp.

 

"God Help Me--I Do--I Do! . . . And Now It Will Kill Me!"

 

"What Did That Damned Fool Charley Tell You?"

 

The Strange Content Of His Query,  The Trenchant Force Of It,  Brought Her

Upright,  With Sight Suddenly Cleared. Was This Giant The Tragic Glenn Who

Had Strode To Her From The Cabin Door?

 

"Charley Told Me--You And Flo--Were Married," She Whispered.

 

"You Didn't Believe Him!" Returned Glenn.

 

She Could No Longer Speak. She Could Only See Her Lover,  As If

Transfigured,  Limned Dark Against The Looming Red Wall.

 

"That Was One Of Charley's Queer Jokes. I Told You To Beware Of Him. Flo Is

Married,  Yes--And Very Happy. . . . I'm Unutterably Happy,  Too--But I'm Not

Married. Lee Stanton Was The Lucky Bridegroom. . . . Carley,  The Moment I

Saw You I Knew You Had Come Back To Me."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Publication Date: 05-13-2014

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