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drown you； honey。 Just put confidence in me； and when I get over my
head； I'll holler for help。 I judge I can put five good years' work on you
without exhausting my stores。 I can read amongst the small words pretty
peartthe young calves； so to sayand lots of them big steers in three or
four syllables；I can sort o' guess at their road…brands from the company
I've saw 'em traveling with； in times past。 And I can write my own name；
and yours too； I reckon。Lahoma Gledwareyes； I'm toler'ble well versed
on a capital 'G'you just make a gap with a flying tail to it。〃
〃My name NOT Lahoma Gledware；〃 she interposed in some severity。
〃My name； Lahoma Willock。 Beautiful namelovely； like flower
Willock； call me Lahoma Willocklike song of little stream。 Gledware；
hardrough。〃
Brick Willock stared at her in amazement。 〃Where'd you get that
from？〃
〃My name Lahoma WillockRed Feather tell me。〃
He smoked in silence； puffing rapidly。 Then〃My name is Brick
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Willock。 How came you to be named Lahoma Willock？〃
Lahoma suggested thoughtfully〃All white people named Willock？〃
〃There's a few；〃 Willock shook his head； 〃with less agreeable names。
But after all； I'm glad you have my name。 Yesthe more I think on it； the
more pleased I get。 I reckon we're sort of kinfolks； anyhow。 Well； honey；
this is enough talk about being civilized； now let's make the first move on
the way。 You want to see your mother's grave； and lay some of these wild
flowers on it。 That's a part of being civilized； caring for graves is。 It's just
savages as forgets the past and consequently never learns nothing。 Come
along。 Them moccasins will do famous until I can get you shoes from the
settlements。 It's seventy mile to Vernon； Texas； and none too easy miles。
But I got a pony the first time I ventured to Doan's store； and it'll carry you；
if I have to walk at your side。 We'll make a festibul march of that journey；
and lay in clothes as a girl should wear； and books to last through the
winter。〃
Willock rose and explained that they must cross the mountain。 As they
traversed it； he reminded her that she had not gathered any of the flowers
that were scattered under sheltering boulders。
〃Why？〃 asked Lahoma； showing that her neglect to do so was
intentional。
〃Well； honey； don't you love and honor that mother that bore so much
pain and trouble for you； traveling with you in her arms to the Oklahoma
country； trying to make a home for you up there in the wilderness； and at
last dying from the hardships of the plains。 Ain't she worth a few flowers。〃
〃She dead。 She not see flowers； not smell flowers； not know。〃
Willock said nothing； but the next time they came to a clump of
blossoms he made a nosegay。 Lahoma watched him with a face as calm
and unemotional as that of Red Feather； himself。 She held her back with
the erect grace and moved her limbs with the swift ease of those among
whom she had passed the last two years。 In delightful harmony with this
air of wildness was the rich and delicate beauty of her sun…browned face；
and the golden glow of her silken brown hair。 Willock's heart yearned
toward her as only the heart of one destined to profound loneliness can
yearn toward the exquisite grace and unconscious charm of a child； but to
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the degree that he felt this attraction； he held himself firmly aloof；
knowing that wild animals are frightened when kindness beams without its
veil。
〃What you do with that？〃 She pointed at the flowers in his rough hand。
〃I'm going to put 'em on your mother's grave。〃
〃She not know。 Not see； not smell。 She dead； mother dead。〃
〃Lahoma； do you know anything about God？〃
〃YesGreat Spirit。 God make my path white。〃
〃Well； I want God to know that somebody remembers your mother。 It's
God that smells the flowers on the graves of the dead。〃
They walked on。 Pretty soon Lahoma began looking about for flowers；
but they had reached the last barren ledge； and no more came in sight。
〃Take these； Lahoma。〃
〃No。 Couldn't fool God。〃 They began the last descent。 Willock
suddenly discovered that tears were slipping down the girl's face。 He said
nothing； he did not fear； now； for he thought the tears promised a brighter
dawning。
Suddenly Lahoma cried joyfully； 〃Oh； look； Brick； look！〃 And she
darted toward the spot at the foot of a tall cedar； where purple and white
blossoms showed in profusion。 She gathered an armful； and they went
down to the plain。
〃Her head's toward the west；〃 he said； as they stood beside the pile of
stones。 Lahoma placed the flowers at the Western margin of the pyramid。
Willock laid his at the foot of the grave。 The sun had set and the warmth of
the heated sand was tempered by a fragrant breeze。 Though late in October；
he felt as if spring were just dawning。 He took Lahoma's hand； and his
heart throbbed to find that she showed no disposition to draw away。
He looked up with a great sigh of thanksgiving。 〃Well； God；〃 he said
softly； 〃here she isYou sure done it！〃
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CHAPTER VIII
GETTING CIVILIZED
During the two years passed by Brick Willock in dreary solitude；
conditions about him had changed。 The hardships of pioneer life which；
fifty years ago； had obtained in the Middle States yet prevailed； in 1882； in
the tract of land claimed by Texas under the name of Greer County； but
the dangers of pioneer life were greatly lessened。 As Lahoma made the
acquaintance of the mountain…range； and explored the plain extending
beyond the natural horseshoe； Willock believed she ran little danger from
Indians。 He； himself； had ceased to preserve his unrelaxing watchfulness；
after all； it had been the highwaymen rather than the red men whom he
had most fearedand after two years it did not seem likely that such
volatile men would pre serve the feeling of vengeance。
With the wisdom derived from his experience with wild natures； he
carefully abstained from any attempt to force Lahoma's friendship； hence
it was not long before he obtained it without reserve。 As she walked beside
him； grave and alert； she no longer thought of his bushy beard and
prodigious mop of harsh hair； and the daily exhibition of his strength
caused him to grow handsome in her eyes because most of those feats
were performed for her comfort or pleasure。 In the meantime he talked
incessantly； and to his admiration； he presently found her manner of
speech wonderfully like his own； both fluent and ungrammatical。
He knew nothing of grammar； to be sure； but there were times when
his mistakes； echoed from her lips； struck upon his ear； and though he
might not always know how to correct them； he was prompt to suggest
changes； testing each； as a natural musician judges music； by ear。
Dissatisfied with his own standards； he was all the more impatient to
depart on the expedition after mental tools； despite the dangers that might
beset the journey。
His first task prompted by the coming of Lahoma； had been to
partition off the half of the dugout containing the stove for the child's
private chamber。 Cedar posts set in the ground and plastered with mud
higher than his head； left a space between the top and the apex of the
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ceiling that the temperature might be equalized in both rooms。 Thus far；
however； they did not stay in the dugout except long enough to eat and
sleep； for the autumn had continued delightful； and the cove seemed to the
child her home； of which the dugout