When they came to the long road that crossed over the desert for many miles without a curve, she whispered, “Jerry, let’s fly across.”
The cowboy shook his head. “I reckon you’ve forgotten what happened once before—”
“No, I haven’t.” Then suddenly changing the subject, she asked, “How long before the Seagull will get to Bar N, do you suppose?”
“I reckon soon after we do,” Jerry said. Dick scanned the sky. Far away there was a speck growing larger. Lower and lower the circling Seagull dropped, then landed gracefully and easily. Before the others could reach them, Harry had helped Etta out of the pit. A small boy clambered out without help.
“All is well!” Dora said to Dick. “Sister Theresa has given little Jack to Etta.”
“Oh, it was simply too wonderful for words,” Etta told the girls. “We went so high that the mountain ranges looked like, well, a row of tents, maybe.” Then, as Jackie nestled close to her, she told what had happened. “There was real gold money in that box and Government bonds and beautiful blue gems. Harry took it all to the bank that looks after the convent’s finances, and, oh, I guess you’re wondering why little Jack is here. Sister Theresa asked me if I’d be willing to let him live with us.”
“I’m ever so glad for the little fellow,” Mary hurried to say. “And now,” she added, whirling to look from one to another, “if no one is too tired, I want to ride up to Jerry’s own ranch. I want to look at the view from there before I go.”
Dora and Dick exchanged puzzled glances. They were sure that Mary’s flushed excitement had something to do with her plan, but what? Harry was enthusiastic as they rode in the shade of the trees. “What a place for a summer home,” he exclaimed, “so cool and restful.”
Mary and Jerry were some distance ahead. They reached the far-flung ledge where the cowboy had said he someday planned to build a house. Riding close to him, the fair girl asked, “Big Brother, when are you going to build a house here?”
“Never,” the cowboy said, “unless someday you’ll be willing to make a real home of it.”