Then she walked slowly back up the hill, scorning the ride offered her by the old bus driver. She wanted to be alone and think and not have to listen to his garrulous chatter.
Dinner was in progress when she arrived at Happiness House. Instead of going into the dining room she went upstairs. Once there she flung herself upon the bed and smothered her sobs in the pillow. Her tears were all for Phyllis; for her own helpless position, helpless to aid the friend who had tried to aid her, Gale, in like circumstances; for the friend who had saved Gale serious injury that day from the falling lumber.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Ricky demanded bursting in. “My eagle eyes caught sight of you sneaking in just now and I—say, what’s the matter? Gale! You aren’t sick!”
Gale sat up, wiping away her tears. “Nope.”
“Then why the anguish? Bucking Bronchos! Don’t tell me you flunked your Biology!”
“Nothing so simple,” Gale said.
“Simple? Biology is anything but simple! I never heard of so many bugs back on the ranch,” Ricky mourned. “I sometimes wish I had stayed there.” She put her arm about Gale. “Tell Auntie what the trouble is.”
Haltingly Gale told Ricky everything the Doctor had said.
“We gotta do something,” Ricky said. She sniffed. “You’ll have me crying too in a minute. Does Phyllis know?”
Gale shook her head. “We don’t want her to—yet.”