Out of Context

The Man of the Forest
Zane Grey

Here Carmichael stole a timid glance at Bo, the result of which was to render him utterly crestfallen. Not improbably he had taken Bo’s expression to mean something it did not, for Helen read it as a mingling of consternation and fright. Her eyes were big and blazing; a red spot was growing in each cheek as she gathered strength from his confusion.

“Well, didn’t you?” demanded Al.

From the glance the old rancher shot from the cowboy to the others of his employ it seemed to Helen that they were having fun at Carmichael’s expense.

“Yes, sir, I did,” suddenly replied the cowboy.

“A-huh! All right, here’s my niece. Now see thet she speaks the good word.”

Carmichael looked at Bo and Bo looked at him. Their glances were strange, wondering, and they grew shy. Bo dropped hers. The cowboy apparently forgot what had been demanded of him.

Helen put a hand on the old rancher’s arm.

“Uncle, what happened was my fault,” she said. “The train stopped at Las Vegas. This young man saw us at the open window. He must have guessed we were lonely, homesick girls, getting lost in the West. For he spoke to us–nice and friendly. He knew of you. And he asked, in what I took for fun, if we thought you would give him a job.”