k and bring in more wood.

"I wish we could get him to stay all winter, instead of that Peter
Howling Dog," Mrs. MacDonald said anxiously, after he had gone out. "I
just know Peter's off drinking. I don't think he's a safe man to have
around, Billy Louise. I didn't when you hired him. I haven't felt
easy a minute with him on the place. I wish you'd hire Mr. Warren,
Billy Louise. He's nice and quiet--"

"And he's got a ranch of his own. He doesn't strike me as a man who
wants a job milking two cows and carrying slop to the pigs, mommie."

"Well, I'd feel a lot easier if we had him instead of that breed; only
we ain't even got the breed, half the time. This is the third time
he's disappeared, in the two months we've had him. I really think you
ought to speak to Mr. Warren, Billy Louise."

"Speak to him yourself. You're the one that wants him," Billy Louise
answered somewhat sharply. She adored her mother; but if she had to
run the ranch, she did wish her mother would not interfere and give
advice just at the wrong time.

"Well, you needn't be cross about it; you know yourself that Peter
can't be depended on a minute. There he went off yesterday and never
fed the pigs their noon slop, and I had to carry it out myself. And my
lumbago has bothered me ever since, just like it was going to give me
another spell. You can't be here all the time, Billy Louise--leastways
you ain't; and Peter--"

"Oh, good gracious, mommie! I told you to hire the man if you want
him. Only Ward Warren isn't--"

Ward Warren pushed open the door and looked from one to the other, his
eyes two question marks. "Isn't--what?" he asked and shut the door
behind him with the air of one who is ready for anything.

"Isn't the kind of man who wants to hire out to do chores," Billy
Louise finished and looked at him straight. "Are you? Mommie wants to
hire you."

"Oh. Well, I was just about to ask for the job, anyway." He laughed,
and the distrust left his eyes. "As a matter of fact, I was going over
to Jim Larson's to hang out for the rest of the winter and get away
from the lonesomeness of the hills. The old Turk's a pretty good
friend of mine. But it looks to me as if you two needed something
around that looks like a man a heap more than Jim does. I know Peter
Howling Dog to a fare-you-well; you'll be all to the good if he forgets
to come back. So if you'll stake me to a meal now and then, and a
place to sleep, I'll be glad