ON THE THIRD OF DECEMBER IT BEGAN TO SNOW, first in big heavy flakes that whisked through the air to light, melt, and disappear. The grey clouds, obliterating the sun, closed in about the wooded hills, making the black woods appear like a hazy portent of evil through the storm. The proud young Bannock City became enshrouded by a white mist that covered it like a smoke screen.
On a table in the cabin on the hillside two plates were laid. Bacon, once sizzling hot on the stove hearth, was jellying in the white grease. The coffee still simmered in the pot on the back of the stove.
Dixie Lee, standing by the window, sighed deeply. John had been gone a day and a night without sending any word. "Surely," she thought, "he will be home for breakfast." She didn't know what to make of him of late. Since he had been made deputy to Plummer he talked little and never gave her any information as to his or their business. She felt that she had stood about all that was humanly possible.
Added to her worries over her father was the misery and heartache caused by Bob Bainbridge when he had surprised her by his unexpected call. She regretted now that she had refused to see him. She had secretly hoped that he would return, but evidently he had taken her at her word. She was miserable. Somehow she felt this morning that she needed Bob more than at any other time in her life. If he'd only come back and explain she'd gladly listen and forgive.
She turned to the small table, pushed it back against the wall, and set the bacon untouched in the cupboard. She had no appetite this morning. She felt as though she would never want to eat again.
There came a gentle tapping at the door. For a moment her heart stood still. Her first thought was of Bob. She tucked in a straggling flaxen lock and went to the door.
"Good mornin'," came a woman's voice. "You're Dixie Lee, aren't you?"
Dixie stared at her speechless. "Never mind getting excited, gal. Won't you invite me in? I'm just Daisy Windless. There's no call to get excited."
"Why, of course. Come in," Dixie invited. "I was just surprised to see you--a woman coming to see me. We'll have a cup of coffee together."
Daisy shook the snow from her cloak and threw it on the back of a chair. "I'm right glad to see you, Dixie. I've known you were here, but never had time to call before. This morning I had to come, and a good thing it was, too. If the men folks knew I came over here I don't know what they'd say. But I'm taking the chance for your happiness, Miss Dixie."
"But why should anyone care about my happiness?" Dixie was troubled.
"Oh, my man Shorty wouldn't care. But I was thinking about Bob."
"Bob?" Dixie's face was ashen.
"Sure. Bob Bainbridge. He's proud, is Bob, and he wouldn't want me meddlin', but then us women's got to hang together. I thought I'd drop a few hints, as it were."
"If it's anything to do with Bob Bainbridge, I don't want to hear it!"
"Sure, I'm not blamin' you, Dixie. But just the same you're going to hear what I've got to say, whether you like it or not. I know you're dead stuck on one another, and nothin' but pride stands in your way. I know you think Bob sent the Vigilantes to wipe out the shebang where you and your father was living. But that ain't so, gal. He was dead sick on his back in Lewiston. He didn't tell no one about you because well, Bob is like that when it comes to women--bashful. When he heard about it he nearly went crazy, and he followed, even when he wasn't in no ways in any condition to ride."
"But why did he marry Mrs. Ford?" Dixie countered.
"Someone's been stuffing you, child! " Daisy scolded. "Before we left Oro Fino we had a letter from Bill Beechy and him and Mrs. Ford are married. Bob would never marry anyone but you, Dixie. If the truth's known, he's eatin' his heart out this here minute for you. He declares he's goin' to get you out of the clutches of this gang if he has to murder the lot of them and take you against your will."
"Oh, Daisy, and to think he came here and I wouldn't see him, wouldn't listen to him! I even told him I hated him!"
"No tears, now, child. I've got a scheme, but you must never give me away. Bob would never forgive me, and he is the whitest man, except my Shorty, that ever forked a horse. You write a little note to him asking him to call because you need him. Then just see how quick he comes."
"Oh, how can I ever repay you, Mrs. Windless?" she replied, laughing and crying at the same time. "I'll keep it a secret, and I hope we can be friends always."
While they were talking they heard horsemen ride into the yard; then they heard subdued voices. Both women stared apprehensively toward each other. A gentle knock came at the door. Dixie arose to answer it.
As she drew the door back a little cry broke from her lips. There in front of her door stood Bob and Shorty carrying the dead body of her father. Daisy jumped to catch the swaying Dixie as she fell into a faint.
Bob's face was pale and drawn. Without a word they placed the body of John Lee on the bed, then turned their attention to Dixie.
When she began to revive Bob turned to Daisy. "Tell her it was Bob Bainbridge who killed him. He was a claim jumper and fought back when we went to take our property."
"I can't tell her that, Bob Bainbridge, you lummox! She loves you. She couldn't stand it, poor child. Get to blazes out of here. Then come back after a while and bury her father. It's the least you can do."
After they rode away Dixie opened her eyes, and for several moments lay still. When she spoke it was with surprising calmness.
"I heard what he said, Daisy. I don't think I'll write that note we spoke about."
"Don't be in a hurry to make up your mind, child. But of course you won't do it today. I'll get the truth out of them damned rascals, and when I do you'll hear a different story."
"But he was my father!" she moaned sadly, "even if he was in bad company!"
"I know, I know, child. But if Bob Bainbridge killed him, it was an accident, or he didn't know who he was shooting at. No one can shake my opinion of Bob Bainbridge. He never would have killed your father, knowin' it, and he never killed a man who was obeyin' or upholdin' the law. I own he's bitter against Plummer and his gang because his own sister was ruined and destroyed by them. And unless you let him protect you they'll get you too."
Dixie's mind revolved Plummer's scheme to marry her, and she knew that Daisy spoke the truth. "I'll kill myself first!" she declared bitterly.
"That's about what Nan, Bob's sister, done. Now listen, Dixie. You're all upset and this is no time to talk about such things. I want you to come home with me while the boys bury your father. No, you won't need to meet Bob if you don't want to. He lives out in the flat alone."
Dixie had been sobbing quietly. "That's good of you, Daisy, but I can't go tonight."
"Then I won't move a peg. I'll stay right here with you, child. Why, I wouldn't rest a minute knowin' that you was up here all alone and at the mercy of that gang."
"Sh-h! There's someone coming, Daisy!"
The door was pushed roughly back, and Plummer stood in the opening. Seeing Daisy he stopped in surprise.
"Who's this, Dixie?" he demanded roughly.
Dixie wiped the tears from her cheeks. "A friend of mine. One of the prospectors' wives just called in. She was here when they brought John home."
The explanation seemed to suffice, for he addressed himself to Dixie without noticing Daisy again.
"Sorry about John Lee, gal. Two men, Buck and Dante, come riding in this morning, hell bent and right on their heels was a couple of lawbreakers. I had to lock my two men up to protect them. They had taken some claims up in the head of the valley, and was jumped this morning and shot up. That's how come your father was shot. I brought some of the deputies to bury the old man."
"You don't need to bother, Plummer. I have friends who will attend to that," Dixie advised him quietly.
"Friends? Who the hell's the friends?" he shot back.
"This woman's husband, for instance. We'll get along. Thanks, just the same."
"Oh, yes?" he sneered. "I'm still boss around here, and don't make no mistake! John Lee was one of my deputies, and we bury our own dead!" He turned to the door. "Get down, men!" he ordered. "There'll be a shovel and pick around here. Get busy now and dig a grave for the old man. And now, Dixie, Buck told me some news this morning. Bob Bainbridge is here and he's at the bottom of this! There'll be hell to pay as long as he's in the Basin!"
Dixie caught her breath at mention of Bob.
"Know Pokerface Bob, the Vigilante?" he asked. "Well, he's no Vigilante any longer. He's outside the law now, and we're sitting in the saddle. I'm offering a thousand dollars for his head. I guess that'll finish him," he chuckled.
Dixie eyed him angrily without flinching. "So, you consider your own hide worth one thousand dollars? That's what I thought! If there's one person living who chills the blood in your veins it's Bob Bainbridge! I wouldn't stake too much on that reward saving your neck!"
"So, you figure on turning against me, huh?" he snarled evilly. "Nobody, man nor woman, turns against Hen Plummer and gets away with it! Besides, I'm planning to make you my woman Why, dammit, I'd even marry you if you'd act right. But right or no right you're going to be Plummer's woman!"
Daisy walked up to Plummer and with hands on hips spoke up. "I don't claim any acquaintance with you, Plummer, for I'm in the habit of associatin' with honorable folks, but I'll gamble on this: You'll never marry Dixie Lee!"
"So," he said, "it's you who's been putting notions in the gal's head. Well, we'll see about this!"
"Dixie Lee is plenty smart herself, Hen Plummer! The thing that surprises me most is that the sheriff of this territory'd make threats against women, which is against law and order. What do you think the honest miners in this Basin'd do if they was to hear what I've heard you say today?"
"Oh, you're going to squeal, eh?" he snarled dangerously.
"I didn't say so, sheriff," Daisy remarked wisely, "but I'm a friend to Dixie Lee, and as long as she ain't molested against her will, I don't care a tinker's dam what you do."
Plummer grinned over what he considered a victory. "That sound's more like it. Now, let me tell you something for your own good, woman. If you want to remain the healthy gal you are, don't meddle in the sheriff's business. When you hear bullets, duck, for we're going to run the outlaws out of this country."
"But just suppose," Daisy interrogated, "that some of your deputies should jump some claims and shoot some innocent miners?"
"I'd lock them up and they'd be tried by the miners meeting, same as anyone else. But we can't just let the miners take the law in their own hands. I'm just telling you this to put your mind at rest, so that you'll understand that I'm on the side of law."
"I see," said Daisy quietly.
The men came in at this moment to take the body away. Dixie controlled her feelings surprisingly well. She stooped down and kissed John Lee goodbye.
"It wouldn't have been like this if Mother had lived," she whispered to him softly. "I'm glad you're out of it at last."
After the men had gone to perform the last rites for John Lee, the two women sat in silence together. Dixie was crying softly to herself. Outside the ground was white, and the snow was still falling.
Presently they heard the men as they came back to their horses. They heard Plummer say, "Now, we'll take a look for these new outlaws. Remember, Pokerface Bob is not to be given a chance. He's greased lightning and sudden death with his guns."
Dixie crept over to Daisy and buried her face in her lap. Daisy stroked her flaxen hair sympathetically.
"Cry it out, child," she soothed, "then you'll feel better. When you're through you're going home with me."