CHAPTER VII
A FALLING OUT
It was quite late when they reached the ranch, and an anxious crowd was awaiting them on the veranda. Blue Bonnet wished there were rather fewer people there; it was tiresome to make explanations before such an audience. Besides, she did not know the visitor's name,—introductions had been of a rather sketchy sort that day. Suddenly she made up her mind: she would explain nothing just then, and trust to her grandmother's ready tact to understand her reasons.
"This is—" Blue Bonnet looked at the youth inquiringly.
"—Knight Judson," he supplied.
"—and he's met with an accident and will stay here till his arm is better," she said rather breathlessly to her uncle.
"Very glad to have you, I'm sure," said Uncle Cliff with ready, outstretched hand.
Knight Judson took the proffered hand with an air of relief. "You're very kind, sir," he stammered.
"Not at all," Mr. Ashe protested cordially. "Come right in to supper."
They all went in without further ceremony to the delayed supper which Juanita stood waiting to serve; and the meal progressed in the usual gay fashion that prevailed at the ranch. Knight Judson was placed between Alec and Uncle Cliff, and in that congenial company the youth lost his shyness and was soon chatting away like an old friend. The awkwardness of eating with one hand gave him occasional bad moments, but little services, rendered unobserved by his attentive neighbors, tided over even these trying times.