Out from the porch the view was restricted to glimpses between the
pines, and beyond to the opposite wall of the canyon. How shut-in, how
walled in this home!
"In summer it might be good to spend a couple of weeks here,"
soliloquized Carley. "But to live here? Heavens! A person might as well
be buried."
Heavy footsteps upon the porch below accompanied by a man's voice
quickened Carley's pulse. Did they belong to Glenn? After a strained
second she decided not. Nevertheless, the acceleration of her blood and
an unwonted glow of excitement, long a stranger to her, persisted as she
left the porch and entered the boarded hall. How gray and barn-like this
upper part of the house! From the head of the stairway, however, the big
living room presented a cheerful contrast. There were warm colors, some
comfortable rockers, a lamp that shed a bright light, and an open fire
which alone would have dispelled the raw gloom of the day.
A large man in corduroys and top boots advanced to meet Carley. He had a
clean-shaven face that might have been hard and stern but for his smile,
and one look into his eyes revealed their resemblance to Flo's.
"I'm Tom Hutter, an' I'm shore glad to welcome you to Lolomi, Miss
Carley," he said. His voice was deep and slow. There were ease and force
in his presence, and the grip he gave Carley's hand was that of a
man who made no distinction in hand-shaking. Carley, quick in her
perceptions, instantly liked him and sensed in him a strong personality.
She greeted him in turn and expressed her thanks for his goodness to
Glenn. Naturally Carley expected him to say something about her fiance,
but he did not.
"Well, Miss Carley, if you don't mind, I'll say you're prettier than
your picture," said Hutter. "An' that is shore sayin' a lot. All the
sheep herders in the country have taken a peep at your picture. Without
permission, you understand."
"I'm greatly flattered," laughed Carley.
"We're glad you've come," replied Hutter, simply. "I just got back
from the East myself. Chicago an' Kansas City. I came to Arizona from
Illinois over thirty years ago. An' this was my first trip since. Reckon
I've not got back my breath yet. Times have changed, Miss Carley. Times
an' people!"
Mrs. Hutter bustled in from the kitchen, where manifestly she had been
importantly engaged. "For the land's sakes!" she exclaimed, fervently,
as she threw up her hands at sight of Carley. Her expression was indeed
a compliment, but there was a suggestion of shock in it. Then Flo came
in. She wore a simple gray gown that reached the top of her high shoes.