The good news had banished all thoughts of MacNutt and his strange actions from his mind.
Scotty had immediately been sent back to the Post to await their arrival.
Mason had broken the news to Josephine and they planned to drive the car to Trader’s Post early the next morning. The girl’s face was all aglow at the prospect of meeting his folks. She had assumed command of the ranch, making the cook brighten up about the bunk-house and mess-room while giving orders to the cowboys about their general unclean appearance that made them gasp in wonder. Mason had come in for his share of the cleaning-up process and after seeing the entire ranch force set in motion, he meekly submitted.
So the next morning after an almost sleepless night found him hard at work on his racing car. He was so deeply interested in his work that he didn’t hear a light step near him until a subdued ripple of laughter caused him to look up in surprise. The mistress of the ranch stood before him and was regarding him with a look of approval. He made her a profound bow.
“Oh, most charming slave-driver, does my work please the little Princess?” he questioned her with mock humility.
Her eyes held him with a smile.
“The machine certainly looks more presentable,” she returned in the same light vein.
She gave the car another sharp appraising look, and glanced at him.
“And you look as though you had tried to clean it, from the appearance of your face and those dirty overalls,” she added.
The smile had cropped out again and with it the appearance of the pretty dimples he secretly adored.