I suppose I am
cross and don't seem very grateful. I'm tired out and nervous,
but I am sure that I'll enjoy sleeping out. If I don't I shall
not be so ungenerous as to blame you."
He soon had a cup of steaming coffee ready for her, and the heat
of it made a new woman of her. She sat in the warm fire glow, and
began to feel stealing over her a delightful reaction of languor.
She told herself severely it was ridiculous to have been so
foolishly prim about the inevitable.
"Since you know my name, isn't it fair that I should know yours?"
she smilingly asked, more amiably than she had yet spoken to him.
"Well, since I have found the lamb that was lost, y'u may call me
a shepherd of the desert."
"Then, Mr. Shepherd, I'm very glad to meet you. I don't remember
when I ever was more glad to meet a stranger." And she added with
a little laugh: "It's a pity I'm too sleepy to do my duty by you
in a social way."
"We'll let that wait till to-morrow. Y'u'll entertain me plenty
then. I'll make your bunk up right away."
She was presently lying with her feet to the fire, snugly rolled
in his saddle blankets. But though her eyes were heavy, her brain
was still too active to permit her to sleep immediately.
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