He hayed Bob's manger, and then loosened both horses' collar chains.
"If you'll sit on the oat-box I'll turn 'em round an' take 'em to water at the trough. That's it."
Joan obeyed him without a word, and the horses were led out. And while they were gone the girl was left to an unpleasant contemplation of the situation. She determined to deal with the matter boldly, however, and began the moment he returned.
"You're quite right, Mr. Buck," she began.
"Buck--jest plain Buck," he interrupted her. "But I hadn't jest finished," he went on deliberately. "I want to show you how you can't do those things the old--your housekeeper was yearnin' to do. Y' see, you can't get a 'hired' man nearer than Leeson Butte. You can't get him in less'n two weeks. You can't do the chores yourself, an' that old--your housekeeper ain't fit to do anything but make hash. Then you can't let the stock go hungry. Besides all of which you're doing me a real kindness letting me help you out. Ther's no favor to you. It's sure to me, an' these creatures which can't do things for themselves. So it would be a sound proposition to cut that 'but' right out of our talk an' send word to your lawyer feller in Leeson Butte for a 'hired' man. An' when he gits around, why--well, you won't be needin' me."
All the time he was speaking his fork was busy clearing the stalls of their litter, and, at the finish, he leant on the haft of it and quizzically smiled into the girl's beautiful, half-troubled face.
Joan contemplated protesting, but somehow his manner was so friendly, so frank and honest, that she felt it would be ungracious of her. Finally he won the day, and she broke into a little laugh of yielding.
"You talk too--too well for me," she cried. "I oughtn't to accept," she added. "I know I oughtn't, but what am I to do? I can't do--these things." Then she added regretfully: "And I thought it would be all so simple."
Buck saw her disappointment, and it troubled him. He felt in a measure responsible, so he hastened to make amends.
"Wal, y' see, men are rough an' strong. They can do the things needed around a farm. I don't guess women wer' made for--for the rough work of life. It ain't a thing to feel mean about. It's jest in the nature of things."