Free Acres of Unrest by Max Brand Page B

has been making. Where’s Pete now?”
    “In that shed. There, you can see him now.”
    “Aye, and there’s Ruth McNair in the shadow.”

Chapter Thirteen
    Both Ross and Andy Hale advanced a great deal more slowly than they might have done had they wished to avoid overhearing that conversation that was in progress in the shed. But as it was they went on almost on tiptoe. Certainly they heard, for a reward, the most harmless chatter.
    The girl did most of the talking. Peter put in only a word now and then. He seemed to be asking her advice. It appeared to be a matter of the greatest moment to Peter to learn what she might be able to advise concerning the manner in which a table, which he was sandpapering, might be repainted. He wanted to know, also, what suggestions she could give him concerning color schemes.
    The result was that Ruth McNair drew closer and closer until, in the end, the rasping of the sandpaper ceased, and Peter sat on his crippled legs, with Ruth McNair sitting before him, her knees clasped in her hands and her head thrown back with enthusiasm while she uttered her ideas. It was all extremely innocent, but it made Andy Hale grow black of face. He took his brother by the arm and led him hastily away.
    “What’s wrong?” Ross Hale asked blandly.
    “You know well enough what’s wrong,” snapped his brother. “You know well enough, Ross. It’s the thing that’s making you grin so broadly just now.”
    “Got no idea in the world what you mean,” said Ross.
    “Ross,” said Andy, “lemme tell you that you and me have had times when we ain’t been particularly friendly. But that ain’t been because of what I wished. Never wanted anything except to have you for a brother and a friend, Ross. But I’ll tell you this…folks that interfere with my best plans is my enemies, no matter whether they wear the names of brothers…and nephews…or not.”
    He said this with such a solemn air of significance that Ross Hale looked sharply askance at him. “That’s free talk and out-and-out talk,” said Ross Hale. “But still I’m cursed if I know just what you mean.”
    Andy shook his head. “You know as well as I know. Your boy is making a dead set at the girl that’s engaged to marry my boy Charlie!”
    Ross Hale started violently. “It ain’t true, Andy!” he cried.
    “It is true. And you jumped when I said it.”
    “What in the world could put such an idea into your head, Andy? Peter ain’t ever seen her before today.”
    “How many times does a man have to see Ruth McNair before he would want her?” snapped Andy. “Ain’t she got looks enough? Ain’t her father got land and cows and cash enough? Answer me that!”
    “Peter ain’t a fool,” his father said rather weakly.
    “He ain’t a fool,” answered Andy, “and that’s the main reason why I should like to ask you if he ain’t able to see that Ruth McNair would make a likely wife for any man?”
    “He knows,” Ross Hale answered, growing a little husky with excitement, “that she’s engaged to hiscousin. Besides, what chance would a cripple like my Peter have against a fine, upstanding boy like your Charlie?”
    Andy Hale snarled with anger. “You may talk your boy down, but all the time you’re thinking him up. Now, Ross, I’m the last man in the world to run down your boy. He’s got brains and nerve and plain grit and a head that’s working all of the time. He don’t miss any chances. He’s showed that already by the way that he’s running this ranch for you. But he’s showing another thing, too, that he’ll throw no tricks away. And one of the strongest tricks that he has to play with a girl like that is the fact that he’s a cripple, Ross. You know that. You take a girl like that, and when she thinks what a grand athlete Peter used to be, and when she sees him so broken down now…but so hard-working and so clever and so cheerful…how could she hardly help from wanting to mother him?”
    “Andy, you talk