“Of course somebody will,” said Marjorie sympathetically. “And I shouldn’t be surprised if some of the other girls wouldn’t like to go, too.”
“Yes, I’d be glad to,” said Mae.
“And I, too,” put in Lily.
“But you’ll miss today’s trip to that wonderful place!” cried Alice, in amazement. “How could you?”
“The ranch is good enough for me,” said Doris.
The subject was discussed at greater length, and the plans made. The Melville boys agreed to conduct the girls across to a little town where they could hire a Ford to take them back to the ranch.
“I suppose you can go without a chaperone,” said Mrs. Hilton, “because you will surely reach the ranch by afternoon. So I had better stay here.”
“May Daisy and I ride a little piece with them?” asked Marjorie, who was not in the least tired or stiff. Somehow she dreaded a whole morning of inactivity; for the party had promised to wait there until after lunch for the boys to return.
They started early, the girls in high good spirits at the prospect of reaching the ranch without encountering the dangers of the steep descent of the trail they had just climbed. They all talked and laughed so much that Marjorie and Daisy wished they might accompany them to the place where they were to get the automobile; but Tom persuaded them that this would be foolish, that they would tire themselves so that they would not be fit for the afternoon’s ride.
“You better turn back now,” he said, consulting his watch; “but do be careful not to get lost.”