"'Neither foes nor loving friends'—shall hinder me from doing that same, if—!"
And with this word, Sandy, too, galloped after the others.
Alec was to accompany the boys as far as the ford. As he rode away on Strawberry, looking very straight and manly in the saddle, General Trent gazed after him with an expression of pride in his eyes.
"The change in the boy is hardly short of marvellous, Miss Blue Bonnet," he said at last, turning to her. "I should never have believed it if I had not seen him. I'm very grateful to you for writing me that letter, though I confess you had me badly puzzled."
Blue Bonnet had stood looking regretfully after Carita, but at the General's words she turned with a brightened face. If he was grateful, then he must have forgiven her for bringing him to Texas on what was evidently an unnecessary errand.
"I was afraid you might think I had—rushed in," she said.
"Not at all!" he replied. "Though I did not quite understand—you weren't entirely clear, you know."
Indeed she did know!
"But Alec has explained the situation," the General continued, "and I understand everything now."
Blue Bonnet drew a quick breath of relief. "Then it's all right?"