Kenneth laughed. Then, turning around, he said in a bantering tone:
"But he told me you had gone horseback riding with him, daily, while I was away."
"He's mistaken, Kenneth," responded John Clayton. "Miss Bright went riding with him about three times."
"Three times too many," said Kenneth, apparently teasing, but with an undertone of seriousness. Mrs. Clayton adroitly turned the conversation.
"John, tell Miss Bright about your meeting General C."
Then he told how the general came to Arizona, and of his wise dealings with the red men. He explained the reason for the great unrest of the Indians after the general withdrew. He told how he was summoned from the Department of the Platte in 1882, and of the capture of Geronimo and his band.
"And Geronimo is supposed to be the father of our little Wathemah!" Esther exclaimed.
"Some think so," he said. "I have my doubts. He looks as though he might be a mixture of Apache, Mexican and Spanish."
"Whatever he is, he is an attractive child," she said. "How did you come to meet General C.?"
"He and his troops marched through Gila. I entertained the officers at the ranch over night."