I've just got to go,
and that's all there is to it. I'll fix things with the missus, and tell
her you're in charge. Anyway, I won't be gone any longer than I can
help."
"I believe that, too," said Jim softly, and busied himself with the
shears.
Ford looked at him sharply, in doubt as to just how much or how little
Jim meant by that. He finally shrugged his shoulders and went away to
tell Mrs. Kate, and found that a matter which required more diplomacy
than he ever suspected he possessed. But he did tell her, and he hoped
that she believed the reason he gave for going, and also had some faith
in his assurance that he would be back, probably, in a couple of
days--or as soon afterwards as might be.
"There's nothing but chores to do now around the ranch, and Jack will
ride fence," he explained unnecessarily, to cover his discomfort at her
coldness. "Jim can look after things just as well as I can. There won't
be any need to start feeding the calves, unless it storms; and if it
does, Jim and Jack will go ahead, all right. I'm going to let Dick and
Curly go. We don't need more than two men besides Walt, from now on.
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