CHAPTER XVIII
ELIJAH NELSON'S RANCH
"Call it Fate, call it Destiny, something stronger than my own will is shaping my destiny."
—Douglas Spencer.
AT dawn Judith stirred, blinked at Douglas, and sat up, staring. Her eyes were bloodshot and deep sunk in her head, but her look was full of energy, nevertheless. Douglas was standing on the opposite side of the fire.
"Have you been up all night?" she demanded.
"Had to keep the fire," he mumbled, swaying as he spoke.
Judith crawled out of the blankets, took Doug by the arm, and pushed him down in the warm nest she had left. Then she covered him carefully.
"It's my turn now," she said.
He slept until noon. When he woke, Judith was making coffee, and the little wild mare was munching oats with the other horses. The Wolf Cub was gnawing on a bone, and the sun sifted brilliantly through the cedars. Douglas got to his feet stiffly and Judith looked up at him from her cooking with a smile.
"Nothing like having your breakfast served immediately on waking," said Douglas.
"Come and eat, Doug. We must be on our way."
Judith poured a tin cup of coffee and offered Douglas a bacon sandwich as she spoke.
322
