Free Prospector's Gold and Canyon Walls (1990) by Zane Grey

eyes that did not need half their piercing quality to see through Monty.
    "Howdy, miss," hazarded Monty, though this was Mormon country.
    "Howdy, stranger," she replied, very pleasantly, so that Monty decided to forget that he was looking for a fictitious dog.
    "Could a thirsty rider get a drink around heah?"
    "There's the brook. Best water in Utah." "An' how about a bite to eat?"
    "Tie up your horse and go around to the back porch."
    Monty did as he was bidden, not without a few more glances at the girl, who he observed made no movement. But as he turned the corner of the house he heard her call, "Ma, there's a tramp gentile cowpoke coming back for a bite to eat."
    When Monty reached the rear porch, another huge enclosure under the cottonwoods, he was quite prepared to encounter a large woman, of commanding presence, but of most genial and kindly face.
    "Good afternoon, ma'am," began Monty, lifting his sombrero. "Shore you're the mother to thet gurl out in front--you look alike an' you're both orful handsome--but I won't be took fer no tramp gentile cowpuncher."
    The woman greeted him with a pleasant laugh. "So, young man, you're a Mormon?"
    "No, I ain't no Mormon, either. But particular, I ain't no tramp cowpoke," replied Monty with spirit, and just then the young person who had roused it appeared in the back doorway, with a slow, curious smile on her face. "I'm just lost an' tuckered out an' hungry."
    For reply she motioned to a pan and bucket of water on a nearby bench, and a clean towel hanging on the rail. Monty was quick to take the hint, but performed his ablutions most deliberately. When he wa s ready at last, his face shining and refreshed, the woman was setting a table for him, and she bade him take a seat.
    "Ma'am, I only asked fer a bite," he said. "It's no matter. We've plenty."
    And presently Monty sat down to a meal that surpassed any feast he had ever attended. It was his first experience at a Mormon table, the fame of which was known on every range. He had to admit that distance and exaggeration had not lent enchantment here. Without shame he ate until he could hold no more, and when he arose he made the Mormon mother a gallant bow.
    "Lady, I never had sech a good dinner in all my life," he said fervently. "An' I reckon it won't make no difference if I never get another. Jest rememberin' this one will be enough."
    "Blarney. You gentiles shore have the gift of gab. Set down and rest a little."
    Monty was glad to comply, and leisurely disposed his long, lithe, dusty self in a comfortable chair. He laid his sombrero on the floor, and hitched his gun around, and looked up, genially aware that he was being taken in by two pairs of eyes.
    "I met a shepherd lad on top an' he directed me to Andrew Boller's ranch. Is this heah the place?"
    "No. Boller's is a few miles further on. It's the first big ranch over the Arizona line."
    "Shore I missed it. Wal, it was lucky fer me. Are you near the Arizona line heah?" "We're just over it."
    "Oh, I see. Not in Utah atall," said Monty thoughtfully. "Any men about ?"
    "No. I'm the Widow Keetch, and this is my daughter Rebecca."
    Monty guardedly acknowledged the introduction, without mentioning his own name, an omission the shrewd, kindly woman evidently noted. Monty was quick to feel that she must have had vast experience with menfolk. The girl, however, wore an indifferent, almost scornful air.
    "This heah's a good-sized ranch. Must be a hundred acres jist in alfalfa," continued Monty. "You don't mean to tell me you two womenfolks run this ranch alone?"
    "We do, mostly. We hire the plowing, and we have firewood hauled. And we always have a boy around. But year in and out we do most of the work ourselves."
    "Wal, I'll be dogged!" exclaimed Monty. "Excuse me--but it shore is somethin' to heah. The ranch ain't so bad run down at thet. If you'll allow me to say so, Mrs. Keetch, it could be made a first-rate ranch. There's acres of uncleared land."
    "My husband used to think so,"