The Boss of Taroomba Part 33

She was smiling at him--her old, teasing smile--across the gap between their horses. But his eyes were full of tears.

"Oh, Naomi, you know what I meant!"

"And I suppose it has never occurred to you what I mean?"

He stared at her open-eyed.

"Will you marry me?" he blurted out.

"We'll see about that," said Naomi, as he took her hand and they rode onward with clasped fingers. "But I'll tell you what I _am_ on to do.

I'm on to put Taroomba in the market this very day, and to back you for all that it fetches. After that there's Europe--your mother--Milan--and anything you like, my dear fellow, for the rest of our two lives."