"Her and Old Heck got pretty well introduced last night, holding hands the way they did, and—"
"Dry up," Old Heck interposed with a foolish grin, "and come on to breakfast!"
Carolyn June and Ophelia were charmingly fresh and interesting in dainty blue and lavender morning gowns. A bowl of roses, plucked by Ophelia from the crimson rambler by the south window, rested in the center of the table. The cowboys saw the flowers and exchanged glances. Old Heck and Skinny blushed.
Carolyn June noticed the vacant place at her right.
"Th' Ramblin' Kid ain't up yet," Skinny volunteered.
"Then the storm did drive him to shelter, after all?" Carolyn June asked with the barest trace of contempt in her voice.
"I wouldn't hardly say that," Bert Lilly remarked, holding his cup for
Sing Pete to fill with coffee; "—he brought in the Gold Dust maverick."
"Yes," Chuck said with mock gravity, "it was quite an undertaking—he sprinkled salt on her tail—"
"How clever!" Ophelia exclaimed, looking interested, "and is that the way they catch—mavericks?" stumbling over the unusual word.
"Chuck's joking," Parker said; "he always was foolish—"