“I’m staying with Val,” Gale agreed. “Nine chances out of ten it will be a wild goose chase anyway.”
“You’re going to miss all the fun,” Carol threatened.
“I don’t mind,” Val said. “Besides, I don’t want even one more glimpse of Pedro or I’ll dream about him again.”
“Oh, but everybody is going,” Janet said, “Virginia--Madge--Tom--us,” she enumerated.
“You’ll be quite alone,” added Carol.
“We don’t mind,” Gale assured them.
From the house came Virginia and Phyllis and Madge. Their voices were added to Janet’s and Carol’s, but Gale and Valerie remained firm in their decision to remain at the ranch. The girls trailed off to the corral to get their mounts. Valerie and Gale walked with them and joined Mr. Wilson, Tom, and the Sheriff where they were talking.
“Going along?” Tom asked.
“No,” Gale shook her head. “We’re of the opinion it is all a wild goose chase so we’re staying here.”
“I rather agree with you,” he said in a low tone, “but it is up to the Sheriff to follow every lead you know or the people will say he is shirking his duty. I don’t believe those fellows are even in the United States any more,” he continued. “Anyway, it won’t take long to make sure.”