Virg shook her head. Then slipping her hand in that of her friend, Megsy, said earnestly, “I agree with you. I’d heaps rather raise beets to sell.”
A merry laugh greeted this remark, and then Betsy, who was never long content with just conversing exclaimed. “Virg, let’s do something interesting right after lunch.”
Virginia smiled. “I was going to suggest that we all take a siesta.” Then she laughed at the dismay pictured in the face which a moment before had been so eager.
But the youngest was not to be daunted. Whirling toward Barbara, she wheedled. “Babsie, you don’t want to sleep, do you? Let Megsy and Virg siesticate if they wish, but suppose you and I go for a ride.”
“I’ll make a bargain with you, Betsy.” It was Virg who was speaking. “If you’ll be as quiet as a little mouse and let us, who wish to, nap until three, we’ll all go for a ride anywhere you choose.”
“Oh, will you, honest injun, cross your heart!” The would-be little detective seemed more eager than before and the reason was that she wanted to get Virginia to promise to do something without telling her what it was.
The unsuspecting older girl nodded, then as the bell was ringing they all went in to lunch. Betsy lingered back of Virg and beckoning Babs she whispered something in her ear. “Oh, Virg won’t do that,” Barbara told her.
“But she’ll have to. You yourself heard her promise to ride this afternoon in any direction that I wish and I’m just wild to go there.”
CHAPTER VII
A PLANNED RIDE
Directly after lunch, Virginia, Margaret and Barbara retired to their rooms for the customary afternoon nap which seemed to be as much a part of desert life as anything else in the routine. The sun beat down upon the shimmering white sand relentlessly during the noon hours and all live creatures were glad to seek the cool of some shadow or to hide in underground burrows if that was according to their nature.