“Oh, do be careful!” she cried as he swooped it up to his shoulder. “Oh!” she screamed as it thumped against the top of the door frame.
“Whoa! Back up!” cried Bill, executing the order. “Easy, boy–all right, off we go!”
“Grace, Mary,” cried Helen, “we are all ready to go!”
“Ain’t there any more boxes?” asked Bill from the coach.
“Come, girls,” cried Mrs. Shields as she stepped into the coach. “Close the door after you, and lock it, dear.”
Bill gallantly helped the ladies into the coach, grinned at the cake box and started toward the front wheel when he was called back.
“Now, William,” cautioned Mrs. Shields, laughing. “We will not be pursued by Apaches to-day, and this cake must not be shaken!”
“You won’t know you’re riding, ma’am, you shore won’t,” he assured her as he danced toward the front wheel again.
“Wake up there, you!” he yelled from the box. “Come on, Jerry, think you’re glued to the earth? Come on, Tom! Easy there, you fool jackrabbit! –haven’t you learned that you can’t reach this high!”
When they had arrived at the A-Y the baskets were carried into the ranch-house and the women became very busy getting things ready for the feast. Bill took care of his team and then carried the blankets to the grove.