"Just three weeks to Blue Bonnet's birthday," said Sarah, who was engaged in making some mental calculations.
"Sixteen! Just think how old I'm getting!" Blue Bonnet's smile showed her not at all depressed at the prospect.
Uncle Joe cleared his throat gruffly. Why on earth did everybody keep harping on Blue Bonnet's growing up?
"I reckon you'll be having some howling celebration?" he asked rather crossly.
"You wager we will!" Uncle Cliff replied, all the more cheerfully because he guessed the reason for Uncle Joe's irritation. "A sixteenth birthday only comes once in a lifetime."
Mrs. Clyde, feeling an unusual sympathy with Uncle Joe, was silent.
"We must have some sort of a party that's—different," exclaimed Blue Bonnet.
"Everything's different in Texas," Sarah remarked, and the usual laugh followed.
"We can't have a dance without any boys," Blue Bonnet reflected.
"No boys?" exclaimed Uncle Joe, with a return of his twinkle, "Well, for a ranch that keeps a baker's dozen of cowboys—"