d, being called, ran for the creek whooping and yelling, and while
Kate watched John and his helpers dish up the meat, the guests--nearly
all men--seated themselves pell mell at the long benches. It was a
noisy assemblage, overflowing with good-nature, and when Kate, very
trim in corduroy, appeared again at the tables the demonstrative ones
rose and led in a burst of cheers. Kate enjoyed it but when they began
calling for a speech, she ran to join her father. She found him and
old man Pettigrew at the table, Laramie calmly seated with them and the
fourth place waiting for her.
Van Horn, as host to other cattlemen and guests, presided at the next
table. Unluckily, where he sat, he could see Laramie opposite Kate.
But if he was discomfited, the group at the next table below, where
Doctor Carpy presided, flanked by Lefever, Sawdy, Kitchen and McAlpin,
was correspondingly elated at the spectacle of the Falling Wall and the
Crazy Woman sitting in harmony.
Despite the unpleasant stories Kate had heard about him she found
nothing to complain of in Laramie's manners. But he was, she told
herself, on his good behavior, and under the circumstances would
naturally try to appear at his best. Little as she relished her
assignment of making things pleasant for him, the friendly spirit of
the occasion to some extent infected her, and soon she found it not
difficult to help along with small talk and make the queer combination
at the table go.
There was really no great need for her to work hard in this way--both
her father and Pettigrew were very lively. Laramie seemed a bit dazed
at being set up with such honors in the house of his enemies. But
though he did not volunteer much, when Kate said anything that afforded
a chance for comment, he improved it.
The talk went a good deal to cattle, and range matters, but Pettigrew,
a crafty fellow, told good stories about men that everybody in and out
of Sleepy Cat knew, and appealed frequently to Laramie for confirmation
or a laugh. Some of the laughs he got were a little dry but they were
not ill-natured, and Kate enjoyed the rough humor. The two cattlemen
finished their dinner, and without ceremony got up to see how the crowd
was being served, leaving Kate with Laramie. "How do you like old
Pettigrew?" was the first thing Laramie asked as the bearded cattleman
moved away with her father.
"The only thing I don't like about him," answered Kate candidly, "is
his eyes."
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