“I’ll say I’ll wash,” was the characteristic reply. “Oh, girls, aren’t we going to have scads of fun? Of all my maddest, gladdest, never-expected-to-come-true dreams, this is the superlativest.” Betsy was getting into her traveling suit with little heed to which button went where. However, so rapidly and skillfully did loving hands help that by quarter to ten they were all in the lower corridor waiting for the second bus.
“Megs, I wish you’d give me the once over,” Betsy begged. “I feel sure some of the hooks got into the wrong eyes, and my hair actually feels tousled.”
Margaret laughed. “Betsy won’t care how her hair looks when she rides bareback out on the desert,” she said to Babs.
“Me? Ride bareback? Why, I’ve never even been on horseback.”
“Then you have a new experience ahead of you. I’ll prophecy that before a week is out you’ll be riding the wildest broncho Malcolm has on V. M.,” Margaret told her.
Just then the principal appeared and Virginia, stepping from the group, said: “Mrs. Martin, the girls have asked me to tell you that we are most grateful for all that you have done for us during the past year. Babs is coming back, but Margaret and I are planning to remain with my brother.” Then impulsively the girl added. “Mrs. Martin, won’t you come West some day and visit us?”
In thinking of it afterwards Virginia could only recall that the principal had kissed her with unusual tenderness, then the bus had arrived, the trunk was carried out and the girls were urged by Micky to hurry.
As the two big white horses turned out between the high stone gates, Virginia looked back at the imposing building. Her mother’s wish had been fulfilled. The daughter she so loved had been East to school, and how Virginia hoped that she was now better fitted to fill that loved mother’s place in the home that had been so lonely on V. M. Ranch.
THE END