The Ranch Girls at Home Again

An hour before sunset several persons were standing in a small group facing the western horizon. But although the prairie was covered with a crop of young grass, a pale green mirror to reflect the colors of the sun, they were not looking at the landscape but toward two figures on horseback, a girl and a boy who were riding across the country as rapidly as their horses could carry them.

“Will Jack Ralston ever learn to be less reckless about her riding, Jim?” Ruth Colter inquired. “Since we returned from Europe it seems to me that she has grown more attached to the Rainbow Ranch than ever before. Yet at about the time we were married, dear, do you know I had a fancy that Jack and Frank Kent were going to care for each other seriously? Of course, I was mistaken since he has never been to see her in almost a year.”

Then with both hands held out invitingly, Ruth received a small pink and white bundle which Jim deposited in them with infinite care, for the bundle consisted of an absurdly tiny person measuring its early existence by weeks instead of months or years. And its face, though as delicately shell pink as the blanket enveloping it, yet bore a ridiculous resemblance to the tall man’s in whose arms it had lately been borne.

A moment later Jim Colter strode forward with a blond girl at his side. For by this time, the two riders were almost within hailing distance, the girl’s horse scarcely a neck in advance of her companion’s.

“Carlos doesn’t like Jack,” Frieda Ralston remarked unexpectedly to her guardian, “so I do wish that she would not keep on doing things to irritate him. He perfectly hates to think that a girl can beat him at any outdoor sport and yet he rarely gets ahead of Jack. Indians are so strange and silent that sometimes I feel afraid he may try and revenge himself upon her for some fancied wrong. See, he is furious now at her having won their race!”

“Well, I expect Miss Ralston will be able to manage him;” Jim returned. “Nevertheless, the boy has not turned out as I had hoped; he is lazy and proud and extremely ungrateful. Sometimes I have half an idea of turning him off the ranch, and I came very near doing it the other day, only Jack pleaded for him. Because he is Olive’s friend she seems sentimental about keeping him on here, at least, until Olive joins us. Bravo, Jack! Be careful, you hoyden, don’t you know you are a grown woman!” he cried.

And with his tone divided between admiration and anger, Jim caught at the flying figure of a girl as she landed lightly on the ground at his feet. She jumped from her pony while it was still going at full speed and then ran along beside it until she was able to stop without losing her balance.

“I wish you would not behave like a circus rider, Jack,” Frieda scolded. For at eighteen Frieda Ralston had become a far more dignified and reposeful character than her older sister, who was now past twenty.