Brewster, smiling as she saw how she had succeeded in her effort to
change the thoughts and conversation of her family.
"And Jeb said he had the horses ready for you girls as soon as you
wanted to try them out," added Mr. Brewster.
Dinner was dispatched hastily after this announcement, and the girls
ran to don their habits. All idea of Barbara's wiring for return-ticket
money that day was forgotten as they went gayly towards the corral to
try out different horses.
The entire afternoon was given over to exciting sport, as the girls,
and even Mrs. Brewster, tried to outride each other about the great
enclosure. Polly made Noddy happy by mounting her silky little back and
whispering fond nothings in the long ears. Anne was pleased to find her
Chicago friends could ride so well on the restive western horses, and
both Chicago girls were surprised to find what a magnificent rider Mrs.
Brewster was. She was slowly rising in their private opinions of her.
During the following days, the girls took short rides to points of
interest in Bear Forks Valley and nearby mountains. And then came
Sunday. Barbara had not openly declared her satisfaction with the ranch
or time spent with its people, the past week, but neither had any one
heard a hint of her returning to Chicago. In fact, so much had been
crowded in the days just gone by, that no moment had been found in
which to _think_ of returning home.
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