Читать книгу Goose Creek Folks. A Story of the Kentucky Mountains онлайн

4 страница из 46

Around the farther curve of the creek path appeared a horse’s head; then the animal and its rider came slowly into view. “It’s somebody from Stone Jug, I reckon,” said Martin, “only it rides like Dan Gooch.”

“It is Dan Gooch,” decided Talitha under her breath. “Wait and see if he knows us, Mart.”

The old sorrel plodded dejectedly along the path. The man on his back was as loose-jointed and angular as his steed. An ancient broad-brimmed hat slouched over his face to keep out the bright sunlight. If the two seated at the creek’s edge imagined he was about to pass them unnoticed, they were immediately undeceived, for the man raised his head and eyed them as though he had come for that express purpose.

“Howdy!” said Martin with the tone of one stranger saluting another.

“Howdy!” responded the man, still staring. His horse had already stopped and was nosing the herbage. “Hit ain’t Mart Coyle and Tally?” exclaimed Dan Gooch after a speculative silence.

“It is.” Talitha sprang up with a laugh. “But you didn’t know us right off, though.”