Dorothy on a Ranch Read online

  CHAPTER II

  A SPILL BY THE WAY

  The "line" remained busy for so long that the loungers in the hotellobby grew amused at Leslie's impatience while the two girls became veryanxious.

  "It was only an hour or so, Mr. Ford said, before Aunt Betty's trainwould leave and I shall be too late to see her--to bid her good-by--andit's for all summer--a whole long summer! I must go, I must find her, Ishall--I will!" cried poor Dorothy, her own words increasing her fear ofthis calamity, and with a sudden burst of tears. For an instant shetried to keep them back, then careless who might see her crying, dartedoutward to the curbstone and to the hackman waiting there.

  In so doing she collided with a gentleman entering, who staggeredbackward from the impact, then quietly put his hands upon the girl'sshoulders, to steady her also.

  "Beg pardon, little miss! and hello! What's wrong? Did I hurt you? Begpardon twice, in that case!"

  The tone was kindly and to Dorothy it was a case of "any port in astorm."

  "No, no, sir, you didn't! But I'm--we're--in dreadful trouble. Do youknow--do you?--where that other hotel is, that Metropolitan?"

  "Surely, I know. Why?"

  "Is it far? Can I run there quick? The cabman--we haven't any money--itwas a mistake--and I must go, I must!"

  Leslie laid a soothing hand on Dorothy's, which she had claspedimploringly before the stranger, and told their story.

  The effect was surprising. This gentleman was the proprietor of thisestablishment and he well knew Mr. Ford, by reputation at least. Withone angry glance around the lobby and at the now obsequious clerk, hewheeled about, strode to the cab, opened the door and lifted Dorothywithin. Then he as promptly settled Alfaretta beside her, himself tookthe forward seat and motioned Leslie to follow. Then he ordered:

  "Now, cabby, drive like lightning! It'll be worth your while. Straightahead, five blocks--east two--north three! Drive, I tell you."

  And "drive" the man did, as fast as his slow horse could be urged, whilewithin the carriage the three young folks sat in anxiety, Dorothyleaning far forward, as if by that means she could reach her destinationsooner.

  Their new friend beamed upon her, asking a few questions which drew outa brief history of their trip and the plans for their coming summer.Then almost before the cab was halted before a big hotel he had openedits door again and taking the hands of the two girls piloted themstraight into it and through some great halls to the dining room. Therehe halted and gave the name:

  "Mr. Daniel Ford and party."

  "At dinner, sir, private dining room. May not wish to be disturbed. I'llsend to inquire--step into the reception room please," bowed andexplained the employee the gentleman had summoned.

  "That's all right. Direct us. I'm Darby of the Metropole. These youngpeople belong to Mr. Ford's party."

  A moment later they had met Mr. Ford himself, issuing from his privateroom, vexed and anxious at their delay and starting out in theirpursuit.

  "Well, laggards! What does this mean? Wasting the time when there's solittle of it? Mrs. Calvert's fretting so she can't eat her dinnerand--in with you! In with you! There's but fifteen minutes before hertrain starts east!"

  When a good natured man is angry he seems another person and Dorothydrew back in fear. But Alfaretta's own temper rose and she exclaimed:

  "Don't scold us, please, Mr. Ford, it wasn't our fault!" while Leslievainly tried to explain: "A gentleman, a stranger, brought us here andpaid our cab fare. I want a dollar, Dad, to refund him."

  But, for once, the doting father was deaf to his son's words. He did noteven pause in his rapid stride along the corridor, fairly draggingDorothy off her feet in his unconscious haste, and finally depositingher in an empty chair beside Aunt Betty's, with the remark:

  "Here's your 'bad penny' again! She--they all--will learn some lessonsup at San Leon, this summer, or I'm a mistaken man. The one thing nobodyshould dare lose is--time!"

  Mrs. Calvert gave him a surprised look but she had also been hurt byDorothy's absence during the brief space that remained to them together,and she hastened to deliver the many last charges and bits of advicethat seemed needful before their parting.

  A waiter placed their dinner before the three young folks and Alfy andLeslie fell to work upon it with hungry zeal, but Dorothy could not eat.Her eye had discovered a clock on the wall, with the hands pointing fiveminutes to three. At ten minutes past that hour the "Eastern Limited"would roll out of the station and she be left behind. In a suddenimpulse, she threw her arms about Aunt Betty's neck, begging:

  "Take me with you! Please take me with you! I--I love you best of allthe world, so why shouldn't we keep together?"

  If there were tears in Mrs. Calvert's bright, dark eyes, she did notallow them to fall. Unclasping her darling's arms and gently laying themdown, she silently signalled to Mrs. Ford and almost as silently leftthe room.

  The "Gray Lady" followed and Aunt Betty whispered:

  "I'm getting too old for good-bys. I'm going to slip away in the hotelstage and don't let Dolly follow me, please, till it's too late. She'llbe all right again, directly, and--and so shall I. Good-by to you,though, and--that's all."

  Dolly dropped her head on the edge of the table, as Aunt Betty loosenedher arms. She was bravely trying to overcome the sudden loneliness whichpossessed her and in this was helped by Alfy's warning:

  "Dolly Doodles! Take your head out of your soup plate! Are you crazy?There goes your ribbon right into the mess!"

  The head was lifted so suddenly that the ribbon flew off and fell intothe dish and its owner's tears ended in a giggle. Then her face flushedat thought of her own awkwardness and she looked down expecting areprimand from Mrs. Calvert. When none came she lifted her eyes andfound the next chair empty. This was a relief. She'd hide the ribbonbefore her aunt discovered it! But already the waiter had whisked thatplate away and was supplying her with another.

  Funny! Where Aunt Betty had gone! But, of course she'd merely left theroom for a minute and would be back to say good-by. Then she picked ather food for a moment, wondering why Mr. Ford had also disappeared, andat the eagerness with which Leslie and Alfaretta enjoyed the good thingsserved to them.

  Gray Lady slipped back to her own place between the other two youngpeople and began to ask them about the adventure which had delayed them.Presently they were all talking together, even Dorothy adding hercomments and forgetting to look again at that warning clock.

  Besides, she was listening to the grumbles of Leslie who, for once, wasangry against his father and was explaining to his mother:

  "I never felt so ashamed of myself. The idea of letting that stranger,and the proprietor of a rival hotel, pay our cab fare! I wish you'd handme the cash and I'll send a boy to hunt him up and settle. I--"

  Mrs. Ford stopped his further complaints by a nod of her head and theodd remark:

  "They must have arrived by this time and the others must be gone. Yes,they ought to be here. I hope they'll not delay us, too, as you did.Money? No, dear, I can't give you that. Not in this case when yourfather has denied it. Ah! Fifteen minutes after three! Then our friendsmust be well out of the city by now."

  Lady Gray, as her son still loved to call her, now took her eyes fromthe clock she had been studying and cast a tender look upon the face ofDorothy. The girl had sprung up from her chair and had fixed her owngaze upon the time-piece while the color left her cheeks and shetrembled violently. But Mrs. Ford's arm was about the slender waist andher voice was comforting:

  "Your Aunt Betty thought it was the best. She shrank from the good-bysfor both your sakes. She's a wonderful woman and thinks of everythingthat will make people happier. She said she'd just postpone thefarewells till you meet again. She went away as cheerfully as possibleand you must follow her example. Ah! hark!"

  Dorothy's bent head lifted slightly. There was a sound of merry,youthful voices in the corridor, the genial tones of Mr. Ford minglingwith them, and presently the portieres were parted and the opening was
filled by a group of faces matching the voices and belonging to--Couldit be? Could it!

  "Molly Breckenridge! Helena! Oh! Oh! Jim--you dears!" cried theastonished Dolly, rubbing her eyes that had been so dimmed by tears, andgazing at the faces in the doorway as if she couldn't believe her ownsight.

  There, too, was Alfaretta, clasping the hands of all the newcomers,fairly dancing up and down in her excitement, "hail-fellow-well-met"with them all, forgetful for once of the difference in their socialpositions which had used to make her shy and restrained.

  "Be I awake or asleep? How in my senses have you all got away out hereto this jumpin' off place of all creation? Jim Barlow, you darlin' oldJim! How's Ma Babcock? How's Pa? How's every single one the preciousfolks up-mounting? Oh! I could just squeeze the life out of you, I'm soterrible glad to see you!" almost screamed the girl, as she now for amoment forsook the "'ristocratics" of the party to hug and kiss JamesBarlow.

  He, poor fellow, rid himself of her clasping arms as soon as possible,reddening yet laughing, and casting an appealing look upon the lady whohad risen from the table and stood smiling her welcome to them all.

  "Don't mind Alfy, ma'am; she always did have to be the middle ofthings," begged the lad, overcoming his own shyness rather than havethat beautiful lady think he was a "softie" who liked kissing girls.Also, he was thankful that Dorothy had contented herself with merelyholding tight to his hand and simply looking her affection.

  "Oh! that's all right. We love Alfy; and this, I see, is that wonderful'Jim' of whom I've been told so much. I--we--are delighted that you wereable to take your holiday with us; and though we are not there yet, Ibid you hearty welcome to San Leon," said Lady Gray, now moving forwardand warmly shaking the hand of the "work boy" as Dorothy released it.

  "Isn't it splendid? Is it a surprise? Didn't you know a thing about it,Dolly Doodles?" demanded pretty Molly, hugging her friend, then standingback to hold her at arm's length and study the changes which a fewmonths' separation had made in the beloved face.

  Helena Montaigne, too, was trying to clasp her in equally tender arms,and Molly reluctantly released Dorothy, while she let Mr. Ford lead herto his wife, introducing her as:

  "The daughter of my old friend, Judge Breckenridge. He and I wereclassmates once, and come here, Leslie boy! I've heard this little ladyspoken of as 'Jolly Molly,' and you must make it your business that notone day of her coming summer with us shall be anything save 'jolly.' Ah!Erminie, young people on a ranch!"

  Evidently, Leslie was as much in the dark as Dorothy and Alfy had been,this visitation of so many young strangers a complete surprise to him;but he was trained to good manners and at once captivated Molly'sadmiration by his cordial greeting. So that, a moment later, shewhispered to Dorothy:

  "Isn't he a dear! I declare he's just a heavenly handsome boy, with hisblue eyes and--and his _air_! He really is too sweet for words, thatboy!"

  Whereat Dolly laughed and answered:

  "Oh! you funny Molly! You don't change a bit! Still 'doting on boys' asmuch as ever! How's Melvin?"

  "Melvin's a poke. The invitation included him, too, but he sets himselfup stiff as stiff and said he had no time to waste visiting. He'd got tolearn the business soon as he could, for his mother--Oh! a lot of boshabout his mother, and her trusting him. Even my father--"

  "Never mind him, then, but tell me how in the world you happened to comejust here and now?"

  The two had retreated to the window and stood with arms about each otherand Dorothy's eyes now free from tears. Indeed, so surprising was thiswhole affair that she had, for a moment, forgotten Aunt Betty'sdeparture.

  "Why, it's this way. Mr. Ford is an old friend of Papa's and when hefound out that you knew us, too, he just planned the whole thing for agrand treat to you! He wrote Papa that he was under 'lifelongobligation to you' because--well, of something or other. I wasn't toldwhat, but it doesn't matter. The thing that does matter is that we're tobe together all summer long, at least for three whole months. Think ofthat, girlie, just think of that! He wrote Papa, too, that he'd haveliked to gather the whole 'House Party' together if it had beenpractical, but his wife didn't think it would. I reckon she knew she'dhave her hands full enough, chaperoning eight youngsters, without askingmore. We came pretty near not getting Helena and Herbert, though! Mr.Montaigne fancied it was too much like an imposition to let them come,because he didn't know the Fords. Helena wrote me that, so I got Dad tosend him a letter to make him stop and think! Besides, Jim--that boy isjust grand! He--"

  "Of course, honey. He's a boy, you know."

  "Laugh away! I'm too happy to care. I do like boys best. Why shouldn'tI? They're heaps more fun than girls--except you. And to think! Helenaand Jim were the real chaperons of our trip, though Helena's governess,Miss Milliken, was called such. But she's a stick! I had the time of mylife, keeping her scared all the way on. Oh! I'm glad to be off thattrain. Mr. Ford says we're to finish our journey in wagons. I likethat."

  "But I don't see Miss Milliken, Molly."

  "No. She knows some people here in Denver and they met her at thestation and carried her off to dine with them. I wish she'd get belatedand left behind. She was a regular kill-joy all the way out."

  "Poor, meek, timid woman! She used to have so little snap that Herbertnicknamed her 'The Worm.' It was horrid--"

  "Well, she's 'turned,' then. Of course, we were pretty full of fun andscared her with some of our pranks. But--Ah! there she is now! You can'tlose that woman! Mrs. Montaigne told her that 'the lives of her preciouschildren were entrusted to her hands,' and the governess feels herresponsibility to the full, I tell you. Even Helena--"

  "Dinner for the newcomers!" called Mr. Ford, interrupting, as a freshmeal was placed upon the table and they were invited to their seats. Thezeal with which they accepted and the fine appetites they displayed senta satisfied smile to their host's lips, and he nodded merrily to hiswife:

  "No invalids among them! Glad of that! But youngsters, eat first,chatter afterwards! The wagons will be at the door very soon and I wantto get in a good thirty miles before bedtime!"

  They tried to check their eager talk but they were all too excited forquiet, and presently rose from the table, ready for the ride, while Mr.Ford said:

  "Now, Erminie, wife, you do the pairing off of the youngsters, andarrange how we shall divide. First, count noses! Eight youngsters, threeoldsters, two 'boys'--thirteen passengers in all! Miss Milliken, did youever 'cross the plains' before?"

  The prim little lady, who had been standing beside Mrs. Ford, appearednot to hear the gentleman's question, but turned with an air of anxietyto ask in turn:

  "Madam, did I hear there were 'thirteen,' THIRTEEN?"

  "Yes, Miss Milliken. Why?"

  "Then I think you'll have to excuse me. I might follow you later ifthere were some way but I positively decline to make the thirteenth ofany party."

  There certainly was nothing wormlike, or undecided, about the governess,whose lips had closed in such a thin line of obstinacy as changed herwhole appearance, while her would-be hostess inquired with amusement:

  "Are you superstitious, Miss Milliken? Surely, with your culture and--"

  Helena advanced with an air of authority:

  "Milliken, this is absurd! Please get back your common sense. Rememberwe are guests and have no right to object to anything."

  The chaperon bridled, but kept silence, till Mr. Ford explained:

  "Thirteen doesn't mean the whole party. There'll be three drivers,besides. Possibly more men picked up along the road. Moreover, thirteenis my 'lucky number,' if 'luck' is anything. Well, Mrs. Ford, have youarranged the company?"

  "No, I cannot. I know them so slightly, as yet, and the best way is todraw lots. How many will the first buckboard carry?"

  "Eight, all told. A dozen, if need be. Well, time's precious! Here's alot of matches. The whole ones go in number one, the next lengths inwagon two, and the little ones in the last. See, I've snapped them off,and Miss Milliken, as head
of the expedition, please draw first!"

  The lady flushed and drew. Her lot was in the last and smallestbuckboard which would carry but two more beside the driver; and it fellout that her companions would be Alfaretta and Monty Stark. The driverwas known as Silent Pete, and it certainly was an odd combination whichhad resulted from the first "drawing."

  To the leading wagon the "lots" assigned the three Fords and Jedediah,their colored "boy," with Molly, Helena and Herbert--their driver, LemHunt, the most talkative man at San Leon but, also, the crack whip ofthe ranch.

  The driver of the second team was "Tenderfoot Sorrel," so called becauseof his red hair and his comparatively recent arrival from the east. Hewas less familiar with the country than the other two teamsters and hadbeen assigned to the place in the middle of the little cavalcade, sothat "he can't lose hisself afore or ahind, ary way," as Lemuelexplained it.

  Naturally, everybody was disappointed at the result of the lots, Mrs.Ford protesting that it was inhospitable to put all her family in onevehicle, and that the best, but that "a Ford should have been in each."

  "Let's change, then," begged Monty, "and let one of the girls settle itas she knows we'd like it."

  But Alfy gave him such a frown that he ducked his head, avoiding animaginary blow, while Miss Milliken as vigorously declared:

  "You mustn't do that. Oh! don't do that! 'Twould be the very worst luckof all. Something would surely happen!"

  "Well, if there doesn't I shall be disappointed! We're all eager foradventures, and that's why I took this long, roundabout way to theranch. We could have gone there in next to no time, by rail, but that'stoo humdrum a thing. Anyhow, I bow to Miss Milliken's prejudices for thetime being. We shall be in sight of each other all the time, I expect,and meet at Roderick's for our suppers and beds! All off for San Leonthat's going!" cried Mr. Ford, in imitation of a steamboat steward, andtaking his wife's arm led her and her guests out of the hotel.

  The trunks and heavier luggage had already gone ahead in other wagonsand only suit-cases and hand-bags were on hand. These were hastilybestowed in the boxes of the two less crowded buckboards, and noattention paid to their ownership, since it was expected that all wouldmeet at "Roderick's," where every traveller could find his own.

  With a blast on his coach horn, a crack of his long whip over hisfour-in-hand, proud Lemuel led the way along the city street, out of thetown, and into the open country beyond.

  All the horses attached to the blackboards were the picked ones of theSan Leon stables, with a record known as well in the far east as in thatwide western land. As one spectator of this gallant start remarked:

  "It goes without saying that Dan Ford will drive no second-ratehorseflesh, any more 'n he will a second-class railroad. My! See 'emtravel! At that gait they'll pick up the stretch 'twixt here and'Roderick's' long before nightfall, or I'm no judge."

  "Likely enough, likely enough. Only I don't like the looks of thatsecond span--I mean the one to the middle buckboard. Them blacks. Theboys up to S' Leon hadn't no right to trust a tenderfoot to drive themcritters!" remarked another observer, as the fretful animals passed outof sight, following their leaders.

  Even Lem Hunt looked back once or twice, as they left the city limits,and waved a warning hand toward "T. Sorrel," who merely tossed his redhead and continued to draw upon the reins he should have loosened. Also,Silent Pete opened his lips for once and hallooed to the man ahead:

  "Let 'em out, you fool! Give 'em their heads, I say!"

  Then he relapsed into his normal condition, attending strictly to hisown business and making himself deaf to the timid shrieks of MissMilliken, from the rear seat. He was known to "hate silly women" andfelt his fate a hard one in having to escort such a one as thegoverness. She, accustomed only to the sedate pace of the fat Montaignesteeds, felt that the spirited animals before that wagon were simply onthe road to destruction and nowhere short of it! She clung to herseat-arm with one hand and clutched Pete's coat collar with the other,frantically beseeching him:

  "Do stop! Oh! you--man--just stop--and let me get my breath! I--I bumpso--I--I can't even think!"

  But this western jehu merely flicked her fingers off as he would atroublesome fly, while Monty coolly advised:

  "Don't try, Miss Milliken. Fast? Why, they call this mere walkin' outhere. I'm going to take a nap."

  He settled himself sidewise on his seat, folded his arms upon its back,dropped his face upon them and tried to sleep. He was cross. He hadwanted to ride in the foremost vehicle with the fine four-in-hand. Hehated being put at the tail end of the procession with stupid AlfarettaBabcock, a speechless man, and a nervous, half-hysterical woman forcompanions. But the chuckle that escaped him a moment later proved thathis slumber was only a pretended one. At a particularly rough spot inthe road and a particularly shrill scream from Miss Milliken, the angryranchman faced about and rudely ordered: "Shut up!" Then his lips closedwith a click and nothing further escaped them during all that drive.

  Alfaretta giggled; then strained her eyes again to pierce the distancewhich she had been studying for some time. Then she laid a hand onMonty's head and shook it vigorously:

  "Wake up, boy! Look ahead and see if either wagon is in sight! 'Tisn'tso awful dark yet but I wish--I wish I could get a glimpse of Dolly andJim. That fool driver might have taken the wrong road where it branchedoff a ways back."

  Silent Pete heard and guessed this was the truth, but he ventured noreply. His business was to drive his own horses and let the tenderfootlook out for himself. But Monty roused himself enough to assure Alfy:

  "He wouldn't do that! Why, that road is nothing but a trail through thewoods. Dark as midnight. Don't worry." Then he settled himself to sleepagain.

  Now the fact was that "T. Sorrel," as his fellow ranchmen called him,had more conceit than common sense. He had heard that the branch roadwas a short cut to "Roderick's," but not that it was impassable for ateam. A man on horseback might pass safely over it, by daylight and witha trustworthy mount. Not otherwise; and though the opening was fairlyclear the trail entered a hopeless tangle of underbrush and fallentimber but a short way further on. To go forward then became impossible,and equally so the turning back. The lively blacks resented thescratching of briers and broken branches upon their tender limbs andpranced and fretted wildly. A molly cottontail scurried across the trackbefore them and with a mutual, frenzied impulse they shied and spranginto the air.

  The buckboard flew upward, turned turtle, scattered its load in alldirections, then settled into a broken heap, while the light tracesyielded to the strength of the horses, and they rushed madly forward outof sight.

  At that very moment it had been, that Silent Pete and his wagon hadpassed the entrance of that trail; and even in that dusk his trainedeye had noted fresh wheel and hoof prints. But it was not his businessto stop and investigate. He had been set to bring his party to"Roderick's", not to take care of a tenderfoot who ought to have anurse, the fool!