“I trust you will appreciate our mountains in summer, though you probably consider these hills,” laughed Celeste.
But Hernando was thinking of neither Nevada nor hills. That sweet face, those great brown eyes were raised to his trustfully, and he forgot his own name, while a thrill went through him.
“One always associates Nevada with snowy mountains and balsamy air,” Celeste continued.
Glancing out of the window she saw Eletheer in rubber boots and short skirts with Cornelia on her back, wading through the slush toward the barn. Celeste looked shocked, but attracted Hernando’s attention indoors. She was a little late, however, for seeing her expression, he glanced out just in time to hear Eletheer say, “Hold on tight,” and off they sped.
“I trust she will not fall down with the little one,” said Hernando.
“Eletheer fall!” and Celeste laughed a soft ripple. “She never does that, and it is impossible to lose her in these mountains. When Cornelia was not a year old, mother spied her in the very top of an apple tree sitting in Eletheer’s lap.”
“Mary Genung told me of their experiences after milkweed greens and wild flowers. She says your sister is absolutely fearless.”
“Eletheer is our psychological problem.”
Hernando looked amused and she added, “To her mind time-honored institutions are generally wrong.”
“Marriage, for instance?”