"I"mgladyoucouldtakemeatsuchshortnotice,withtheFourthcomingupnextweek-end."Ishookherhand,puttingaslighttouchofGermanaccentintomyvoicebecauseitwaseasierformethanAmericanifIhadtokeepitupforanylengthoftime.Itdidn"tseemaltogetherwisetobeEnglish.
"We"reseldomfullthisearlyintheseason."Shesmiledasfarupherfaceashercheekboneswhilehereyesskimmedmyclothes,carandluggage.Onlyahotelkeeper"scheckup:ithadn"toccurredtoherthatshe"dseenmebefore.
"I"llshowyoustraighttoyourcabin,ifyoulike?Thenyoucanfreshenupandcomealongheretotheranchhousefordinnerlateron.Therewillbeabell,toletyouknowwhen."
Iparkedthecar,andcarryingmytwosuitcases,theoldoneandthenewonefromJackson,followedheralongagra.s.sywoodlandtracktowardsoneofseveralsmalllogcabinsscatteredamongthetrees.
Shewastallandstrong,andolderthanshehadseemedontheriver:twenty-sixortwenty-seven,Iguessed.Thefairhairnolongerhungchildishlyloose,butwas...o...b..dupintoaroundtopknot,leavingherneckcoolanduncluttered.Sheworedarkbluelevisinsteadofthewhitetrousers,b.u.t.thepinkshirtontoplookedidentical.OneofthestorekeepersinJackson,thefifthItried,hadknownherimmediatelywhenIhadartisticallyletthephotographdropfaceupinfrontofhimasItookmoneyforalocalmapoutofmywallet.
"YolaClive,"hesaidcasually,pickingitup."AndMatt.Friendsofyours?"
"I"dthoughtoflookingthemup,"Iagreed,sortingoutbills."HowdoIgetthere,doyouknow?Ihaven"tbeentotheirplacebefore."
Heobliginglygavemecleardirectionsforafifteen-miledrive,finishing,"andtheHighZeeRanchistheonlyplacealongthere,soyoucan"tmissit.Butifyou"replanningonstaying,I"dgivethemacallandmakeareservation.It"samightypopularplacetheyrun."
"Isurewill,"Isaid:andIdid.Ialsoboughtsomelevisandshirtsandapairofridingboots,andthesuitcasetoputthemin.Incowboycountrygunspa.s.sedwithoutcomment:Iaddedaheavyblacktooledleatherbeltwithasilverbuckle,andtheclerkdidn"tshowanysurpriseatmywantingtomakesurethatthesmall-of-the-backholsterIsometimesusedwouldslotontoit.
Jacksonpreserveditsownwildwesternflavourtotheextentofasmallauthenticstagecoachwaitinginfrontofthedrugstore:b.u.t.thesleepydisillusionedhorsesbetweentheshaftslookedapoorprospectagainstgallopingredskins.Broadraisedboardwalksedgedwithhitchingrailsra.n.a.longinfrontofthestoresintheshortmainstreet,thoughthemudtheyhadbeenbuilttoavoidhadlongbeenmetalledover.Motelswithsignssaying"air-conditioningandcentralheating"werecalled"CoveredWagon"and"Rustlers"Hideout".Jacksonwasanuneasymixtureofevolutionandmakebelieve,andclearlyasuccess.
Isatinthesunonahitchingrailmostoftheafternoon:didabitofthinking,andmadetwocallstoWaltatb.u.t.tressLife.
YolaCliveledmeroundaneatstackofsawnlogs,uptwosteps,acrossaminimalporchandthroughascreendoorandawooddoorintothecabin.
"Bathroomthroughthere,"shesaid,pointing."Andyou"llprobablyneedtolightthestoveintheevenings.Thesnowsonlymeltedheretwoorthreeweeksago,andthenightsarecold."Shesmiledbrieflyandindicatedasmalltubfulofacrumblymixturewhichstoodbesidethesquatblackstove."Lightthelogswithtwoorthreehandfulsofthat."
"Whatisit?"Iasked.
"Pep,"shesaid."Amixtureofdieseloilandsawdust."Hereyesglancedprofessionallyroundtheroom,checkingthateverythingwasinorder."There"sanicemachineoutbackofthekitchen,ifyouwanttomakedrinks.Mostguestsbringtheirownliquor...Wedon"tsellitourselves.Iexpectyou"llwanttogoridingtomorrow.Weusuallyfixthatupoverdinner."Thehalfsmilecameandwent,andYolawalkedquietlyawayalongthetrack.
Sighing,Iinvestigatedmyquarters.Therehadbeenareasonablecompromisebetweenage-oldmaterialsandmodernconstruction,resultinginast.u.r.dytwo-roomedcabinwithapitchedroofandvarnishedtreetrunkwalls.Twosinglebedsstoodonthepolishedwoodfloorinthemainroom,coveredwithpatchworkquilts.Acurtainacrossahalf-shelvedrecessactedascloset,andthetwouprightchairsandthetablewereallhomebuilt.So,too,Idiscovered,werethetowelrail,stoolandshelfinthebathroom.b.u.t.thebackwoodsstoppedshortoftheplumbing:andthelightingwasranchgeneratedelectric.
Iunpackedontoth.e.s.h.elvesandhangers,andchangedfromtownclothesintolevisandablueandwhitecheckshirt.Thecompletevacationer,Ithoughtsourly:andbuckledthegunbeltroundmywaist.
AfterthatforanhourIsatontheporchandlookedattheview,whichwasgoodenoughforachocolatebox.TheTetonrangeoftheRockyMountainsstretchednorthandsouth,withdarkgreenpineforestswashingupfromthevalleytomeetspotlesssnowcappedpeaks.Alongthebottomranasparklingthreadofblueandsilver,atributarytotheupperreachesoftheonethousandmileSnakeRiver:andbetweentheriverandthewoodsonwhoseedgemycabinstood,awidestretchofsagebrushandscrubwasdottedwithyellowweed-likeflowers.
Thewoodsaroundthecabinstoodonthelowerslopesofanotherridgeofpeakswhichrosesharpandhighbehindtheranch,shuttingitin,closeandprivate.Thestreamranrightalong,inandout,b.u.t.theonlyroadintothenarrowvalleystoppeddeadintheparkingareaoftheHighZee.
Abellclangedloudlyupattheranchhouse.IwentbackintothecabinandputonasloppyblacksweaterwhichhidtheLugerandlookedreasonableatninethousandtwohundredfeetabovesealevel,thoughthestillpersistingheatwavewasdoingagoodjobinthemountainstoo.Walkingslowlyalongthedustygra.s.strackIwonderedifMattClivewouldknowme.Icertainlyhadnoclearmemoryofhisfaceonthepunt,thoughInowknewitwellfromthephotograph.Itwasunlikely,sincehisfullattentionmusthavebeenconcentratedonDaveTeller,thathehadtakenmuchnoticeofme;buthemightpossiblyhaveasharperimpressionthanYola,asIhadbeenclosetohimwhenIwentinafterDave.
Ineedn"thavewondered.Hewasn"tthere.
Yolasatatoneendofalonggoldenwoodtableflankedbychatteringwell-dug-inranchguests.Familygroups,mostly,andthreemarriedcouples.Nosingles.e.xceptme.Abrightwell-coiffuredmotherinvitedmetositbesideher,andherheartyhusbandoppositeaskedifI"dhadalongdrive.Ontheothersideofmeasmallboytoldhisparentsloudlythathedidn"tlikestuffedpancakes,andeveryfaceroundthetablelookedsunburned,vitalandoverflowingwithholidayspirits.Ibatteneddownafierceurgetogetupandgoout,togetawayfromallthatjollity.Ididn"tseehowIwasevergoingtomaketheefforttolookasifIwereenjoyingmyself.
Bytheendofthemealitfeltasifmysmileweresetinplaster,rigidandmechanicaltotheextentthatmyfaceachedwithproducingit.b.u.t.theheartymanopposite,QuintusL.WilkersonIII,"CallmeWilkie,"seemedpleasedtohaveapracticallynon-speakingaudience,andmadethemostofit.Ienduredasplashbysplashaccountofhisday"sfishing.HiswifeBetty-Annhadriddentothelakewithhim,andthengoneonintothehillsinapartycontaininghertwochildren,SamanthaandMickey.Iheardaboutthattoo,fromallthreeofthem.Theyaskedmetoridewiththeirpartythenextday,andIwrenchedmytongueintosayingI"dbegladto.
Ilastedoutthecoffee.TheWilkersonspromisedtoseemeatbreakfast,andYolaaskedifIwerecomfortableinthecabin.
"Thankyou,yes."RemembertheGermanaccent.Smile.
"That"sfine,"shesaidbrightly,hereyesslidingpast."Askifthere"sanythingyouneed."
Iwalkedstifflyoutoftheranchhouseandalongthedarktracktotheemptycabin;leanedwearilyagainstoneofthepostsholdinguptheporchroofandlookedattherowofpeaksglimmeringpalelyinshiftingmoonlight,withstreakycloudacrossthesky.Myheadachedwithafeelingofcompression,asifmybrainwantedtoexpandandfillupwithair.
HowcouldIgoonlikethis,Ithought.DinnerhadbeenaboutasmuchasIcouldmanage.Ididn"tknowwhattodoabout.i.t.Nousepraying:nofaith.IfIwenttoadoctorI"dgetabottleoftonicandahomilyaboutpullingmyselftogether.Therewasabsolutelynothingtobedonebutendureit,andgoonwiththatuntilitgotbetter.IfIcouldonlyconvincemyselfthat.i.twouldintheendgetbetter,atleastIwouldhavesomethingtoclingto.
Somewhereinthevalleyastallionshrieked.
MaybeitwasChrysalis.Ifhewasn"tactuallyontheHighZeeRanchIthoughtthechancesveryhighthathewa.s.somewherenear.MaybeKeebledidknowwhathewasdoingsendingmetofindhim,becauseitwasevidentthatIcouldstillfunctionnormallyontheworklevel:concentrationactedlikeaswitchwhichcutoutthepersonalchaos.IfIconcentratedtwenty-fourhoursaday,lifewouldbesimple.
Onetroublewiththat.Itwasimpossible.
Theranchheldupwardsofahundredandtwentyhorses.Aboutfortyofthemwerepennedinabigcorralnearthemainranch-house,saddlehorsesfortheranchgueststoride.
Breakfasthadbeenearly,b.u.t.thefittingofgueststohorsestooksometime,eventhougheveryoneexceptmehadbeentheretwoorthreedaysandknewwhichanimaltheywanted.TheheadwrangleraskedmeifIcouldride,andifso,howwell.
"Ihaven"tbeenonahorsefornineortenyears,"Isaid.
HegavemeadeadquietonewithU-shapedhocks.ThewesternsaddleseemedlikeanarmchairafterthepostagestampI"dbeenteethedon;andtherewerenonew-fangledthingslikebucklesforraisingandloweringstirrups.Theheadwranglerunlacedthethongholdingthethree-inch-wideleatherstothesaddle,slidthemdowntwoorthreeholes,andlacedthemupagain.Goodsoftleather,whichcouldgoalldayandnotrubthehorse.
Overtoonesideoftheranch-house,past.i.tsgreenwateredlawn,therewasasmallishst.u.r.dilyrailedpaddockofnotmorethananacre.I"dspentallbreakfastlookingoutofthewindowatthesevenhorsesinit.Threemares,twosmallfoals,twostallions.Boththestallionswerebays,butonehadawhiteblazeandwasnothoroughbred.
"Whatarethosehorsesoverthere?"Iaskedthewrangler,pointing.
Hepausedasecondwhileheworkedouthowtoput.i.tdelicatelytoanignorantdude,andaforeignerintothebargain,andthensaid,"Webreedmostofthehorses,onthisranch."
"Oh,Isee,"Isaid."Doyouhavemanystallions?"
"Threeorfour.Mostofthese,"heglancedroundthepatientlywaitingmounts,"aregeldings."
"That"sanicelookingbay,"Icommented.
Hefollowedmyeyesovertothesmallpaddockagain."He"snew,"hesaid."Ahalf-bredMattboughtinLaramietwoorthreeweeksback."Therewasdisapprovalinhistone.
"Youdon"tlikehim?"Isaid.
"Notenoughboneforthesehills,"hesaidbriefly,finishingthesecondstirrup."Now,isthatcomfortable?"
"Fine,"Isaid."Thankyou."
Henoddedwithcasualfriendlinessandwenttoseetosomeoneelse.Thewranglersdifferedfromthedudesonlyinthematterof.a.geanddress.Theywereallboysoryoungmenbetweeneighteenandthirty,severalofthemcollegeboysworkingtheirvacation.Thedudeswereeitherparentsorchildren;scarcelyoneinthetwenties.Noone,Betty-AnnWilkersontoldmeknowledgeably,calledcowboys...o...b..ysanywhereexceptinfilms.Cowhandwaspossible,b.u.t.therightwordwaswrangler.TherewerenocattleontheHighZee.Thewranglersherdedthehorses,andthehorseswerethereforthedudestoride.
Inthematterofclothesthewranglerswerelessflamboyant,lesswellpressed,altogetherdustier.Theyhadbeenupsincefive-thirtyandotherpeople"sholidaysweretheirhardwork.
"Theyturnthehorsesoutonthehillseverynight,"Wilkieexplained,"andgoupandherdthemdowninthemorning."
Wesetofffromtheranchintwoparties,abouttwelveguestsandtwowranglersineach.Downoveraflatwoodenbridgeacrossthenarrowriver,andupintothemainTetonrangeopposite.WilkierodeinfrontofmeandBetty-Annbehindaswewoundupwardsthroughthewoodsinsinglefile;andneitherofthemtiredoftalking.
"Theyturnthehorsesoutonthehillsoverherebecausethereisn"tenoughpastureinthevalleytofeedthem."WilkieturnedhalfroundinhissaddletomakesureIcouldhear."Theygomilesaway,mostnights.Thewranglersfixabellontosomeofthem,likecowbellsinSwitzerland,sothattheycanfindtheminthemorning.Theonestheyputbellsonarethesortofnaturalleaders,thehorsesotherhorsesliketobewith."Hesmiledheartily."It"ssuredifficulttoseethemsometimes,withthesunshiningthroughthetreesandmakingshadows."
Whathesaidwastruebecausewepa.s.sedagroupofthreeinahollowlateron,andIdidn"tseethemuntilonemovedhisheadandclinkedhisbell.
"Theyonlybringinthenumbertheyneed,"Betty-Annfilledin."Theyjustleavetherestout,andmaybebringsomeofthemintomorrow,iftheycomeacrossthemfirst."
"Sosometimesahorsecouldbeoutforaweekatatime?"Isuggested.
"Iguessso,"Wilkiesaidvaguely.Hedidn"treallyknow."Ofcourse,iftheywantoneparticularhorse,thewranglerswillgorightupthemountaintofindhim,Idoknowthat."
"Anyonewhocanridewellenoughcangoupwiththewranglersinthemorning,"Betty-Annsaid."b.u.t.theycanterupanddownhereinsteadofwalk."
Thepathwa.s.steepandalsorocky.
"Thesehorsesareborntoit,honey,"saidWilkiekindly."Notliketheridingschoolhorsesbackhome."
Ateleventhousandfeetthepathlevelledoutontoasmalltree-shadedplateauoverlookingabreathtakingpine-woodedvalleywithabigbrilliantbluelakeinitsdepths.Thecamerascameoutandclickedexcitedly.Thechatteringvoices.e.xclaimedoveranorderofbeautythatdemandedsilence.Andeventuallywerodedownagain.
YolaaskedmeatlunchifIhadenjoyedmymorning,andIsaidwithoutdifficultythatIhad.TheWilkersonchildrenwerecallingmeHansandaskedmetoswiminthestreamwiththemintheafternoon.WilkieclappedmeheartilyontheshoulderandtoldmeIwasagoodguy,andBetty-Annhadirritatinglybegunlookingatmeinawaywhichwouldchangeherhusband"smindaboutthatinstantly,ifhenoticed.
Ileftthelunchtablelastandwhiskedawayalargesliceofbreadinapapernapkin.AlonginmycabinIunpackedsomespeciallyacquiredgroceries,filledonepocketwithsugarcubes,andontothebreadscoopedoutawholetinofsardines.WiththebreadheldstillinthenapkinIwalkeddownthroughthesagebrushandalongtothemares"andfoals"paddock,reachingitonthefarsidefromtheranch-house.
ThereIofferedsugarinonehandandsardinesintheother.Themarescameandsniffed,andallchosesugar.Thefoalschosesugar.Thebaywiththewhiteblazechosesugar.Thedustyhalf-bredthatMattboughttwoorthreeweeksagoinLaramiecamelast,lesscuriousthantherest.
Hesniffedatthesardinesandraisedhisheadwithhisearsp.r.i.c.ked,staringacrossatthehighTetonsasifhearingsomefaroffsound,smellingsomedistantscent.Hisnostrilsquiveredgently.Ilookedatthesplendidlinesofboneintheskull,thegracefullyslantedeye,theperfectangleofheadonneck.Hehadthecrestofathoroughbredstallion,andthehocksofaracehorse.
Hebenthisheaddowntothesardinesandatethelot.
YolaandMattClivelivedinacabinoftheirown,separatefromthemainranch-house,whichcontainedonlythedining-room,kitchens,sittingroom,andwet-daygamesroomfortheguests.
Yolabackedanolive-drabpickupwithsmallwhiteletteringonitsdoorsoutofashadycarportbesidehercabin,anddroveawaydownthedustyroad.Istaredafterher,halfamazed,halfsmiling.Fullmarkstothehorsevandrivers,Ithought.They"dseenboththeSnailExpressvanandthepickup.Theymusthaveseenthembothseveraltimes,butevenso,they"dremembered.
Guestswereallowedtousetheonetelephone,whichwaslocatedinthedives"cabin.Istrolledoverthere,knockedonthedoor,andfoundtheplaceempty.Notlocked,thoughinthiscasetherewasakey.Therewerenolocksonanyoftheguestcabindoors:onecouldonlyboltthemontheinside,withasimplewoodenwedgeslottedintothelatch.
AquicktouroftheClives"cabinrevealedtwoseparatesinglebedrooms,living-room,kitchen,bathroomandoffice.Iplantedthreehypersensitivelisteningdevicesasinvisiblyaspossible,andunhurriedlyleft.
AfterthatIclimbedintotheChevroletanddrovemyselfbacktoJackson,wherethetelephonewasmoreprivate.Mycalltob.u.t.tressLifelastedalongtime,andWalt"scontributiontothesecondpartoftheconversationconsistedofgaspsandprotestsof"Youcan"t."
"Listen,Walt,"Isaidintheend."We"renotpolicemen.Iimagineyourcompanywouldsettleforthepropertybackandnoquestionsasked?AndmybriefistorestoreChrysalistoDaveTeller.Justthat.Nothingmore.Ifwestartthingsthewayyouwant,we"llendupwithalotofsmartlawyersandmostprobablyadeadhorse."
Therewasalongpause."Allright."Hesaidslowly."O.K.Youwin."
Hewrotedownalonglistofinstructions."ThisisWednesday,"Isaid,thinkingaloud."Sundaymorning.Thatgivesyouthreecleardays.Shouldbeenough."
"Onlyjust."
"Nevermind,"Isaidsoothingly."Youcandomostofitsittingdown."
Waltwasn"tamused."Andyou,whatexactlyw.i.l.l.youbedoing?"heaskedsarcastically.
"Onaduderanch,"Isaidreasonably."Onedudes."
AtthePostOfficeImailedofftohimbyexpressdeliverysixhairsfromthemaneofthesardinehorse,andmotoredbacktothegrimbusinessofactingtheholidayI"dfearedfromthestart.
Thethreedaysseemedeternal.Ridingtookupthemorningsandmostafternoonsandthatwasthebestofit.Mealscontinuedtobeadesperatetrial.Thenightswerelong.IwishedthatLynniecouldhavecomewithme,becauseinhercompanythedepressionseemedtoretreat,butshewasEunice"scrutch,notmine.Andherfather,trustmeashemight,wouldhavefoundithardtobelieveIwouldonlyaskforherdaytimecloseness.AndmaybeIcouldn"thavedoneit.Sonoprops.Nopropsatall.
Yolarantheranchwithasortofsuper-efficiencywhichlookedeasy,jugglingstaffandguestsintoharmonywithoutasinglewrinkleofanxietyandwithoutanyshowof.a.ggression.Thefairhaircontinuedtobeworntidilyontop.Herclotheswerejeansandshirtandsoftflatshoes.n.o.boots:nomasculinity.Sheradiatedfriendlinessandconfidence,andhersmileneveroncereachedhereyes.
Shedidn"tgoridingwithherguests,andIneversatnexttoheratmealsbecausemostofthehusbandsandmanyofthewivesconductedadignifiedscrambleforherfavours,butonThursdayevening,whenwithseveralothersIwasdrinkingafter-dinnercoffeeoutintheopenonthelongporch,shedroppedgracefullydownintotheemptychairbesideme,andaskedifIwereenjoyingmyholiday,andwasfindingmycabincomfortable.
Iansweredwithhalf-trueplat.i.tudes,towhichshehalflistened.
"Youareyoung,"Isaidnext,withgreatpoliteness,"toownsobeautifulaplace."
Sherepliedtothissmallprobewithfrankease."Itbelongedtomygrandfatherandthentomymother.Shediedayearortwoback."
"Hasitalwaysbeenaduderanch?Imean,itseemsabithillyforcattle..."
"Alwaysaduderanch,"sheagreed."Mygrandfatherbuilt.i.taboutfortyyearsago...Howdidyouhearofus?"
Iglancedatherunhurriedly,butshewasmerelycurious,notsuspicious.
"IaskedinJacksonforsomewheregoodandfairlyquiet,outinthemountains."
"Wh.o.r.ecommendedus?"
"Justamaninthestreet."
Shenodded,satisfied.
"Whatdoyoudointhewinter?"Iasked.
Therewasaflickerintheeyesandaquickprivatesmileonthemouth:whatevershedidinthewinterpleasedhermorethanhotelkeeping.
"Wemovedownsouth.SnowcompletelyblocksthisvalleyfromNovemberthroughMarch.Mostyearsit"sMaybeforewecomeback...WeusuallyopentheranchthesecondweekinJune,b.u.t.thecanyonsareoftenimpa.s.sablethen."
"Whatdoyoudowiththehorses?"
"Oh,theyG.o.downtotheplain,onafriend"sranch."
Hervoicewasa.s.strongandcapableastherestofher.Iwatchedhereyesslideroundtowardsthepaddockwiththemaresandfoals,andpausetherecalmly,andreturntome.Expressionless.
Ismiledheraforcefiveversionofanadults-onlysmile,andaskedifsheeverfounditlonely,sofaroutinthewilds.Tothismildbutunmistakablecome-ontherewasnoreactionbeyondacrispshakeofthehead.Iwastheonlymantherenotguardedbyawatchfulwife:Yolawasn"tintheleastbitinterested.
Icomplimentedherontheranchfood,andonthehelpfulnessofthewranglers.ShesaidshewasgladIwaspleased.Iyawnedandapologised,andsaiditmustbeallthefreshair...she"dhearditalldozensoftimesayear,saideverythingshe"dsaidsooftenthatshenolongerhadtothink.Nouseonthisoccasionusinganyjoltingtechniquetoforceoutanunguardedphrase:joltingherwasroughlythelastthingIwantedtodo.
AfterawhileIstooduplazilyandsaidIwouldturnin,andshegavemetheusualmeaninglesshalf-way-upsmile.Shehadn"treallyseenmeatall:wouldn"tremembermeinanothermonth.UnlessIinadvertentlygavehercause.
Thethreebugsinhercabinworkedontheaudio-switchprinciple:anynoise,andspeechespecially,whichtheypickedup,automaticallystartedtherecordingmachinewhichoccupiedthebackhalfoftheordinarylookingtransistorradiostandingbesidemybed.b.u.t.therewaslittletooverhear.Yolasleptalone,andapartfromoneeveningwhensheinvitedfouroftheguestsinforadrink,theonlyconversationsweretelephonecalls.
Inmycabineachevening,warmingbythesquatblackstove,Iplayedbacktheday"s"take".Nearlyallthecallsweretodowithbusiness:groceryorders,laundry,blacksmith"ssupplies,andfuturebookings.Butonecall,onFridayevening,wasworthallthetrouble.