Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Butthebarometersuggestedthepresentconditionoftheweatherandthelikelihoodofrain.Insuchcase,muchwastobedoneinthewayofgettingtheseedreadyandoverhaulinghisploughsanddrills.Hehadnotbeenawayfromthehouseintwodays.Itwastimetobeupanddoing.Hedeterminedtoputintheafternoon“takingalookaround,”andhavealatesupper.HewouldnotgotoLosMuertos;hewouldignoreMagnusDerrick’sinvitation.Possibly,though,itmightbewelltorunoverandseewhatwasup.

           “IfIdo,”hesaidtohimself,“I’llridethebuckskin.”Thebuckskinwasahalf-brokenbronchothatfoughtlikeafiendunderthesaddleuntilthequirtandspurbroughthertohersenses.ButAnnixterrememberedthattheTrees’cottage,nextthedairy-house,lookedoutuponthestables,andperhapsHilmawouldseehimwhilehewasmountingthehorseandbeimpressedwithhiscourage.

           “Huh!”gruntedAnnixterunderhisbreath,“IshouldliketoseethatfoolDelaneytrytobustthatbronch.That’swhatI’Dliketosee.”

           However,asAnnixtersteppedfromtheporchoftheranchhouse,hewassurprisedtonoticeagreyhazeoverallthesky;thesunlightwasgone;therewasasenseofcoolnessintheair;theweather-vaneonthebarn—afinegoldentrottinghorsewithflamboyantmaneandtail—wasveeringinasouthwestwind.Evidentlytheexpectedrainwascloseathand.

           AnnixtercrossedovertothestablesreflectingthathecouldridethebuckskintotheTrees’cottageandtellHilmathathewouldnotbehometosupper.