“I think they are all settlers,” Ruth declared.
“How far must we travel after we reach Deercroft?” asked Ted. Jean smiled and shook her head.
“Miles, and miles, Ted. We won’t be home before ten anyway, and perhaps it will be later. The roads are dry and good, and father or Don will meet us with the surrey, or maybe with two teams. It’s moonlight, too. You don’t know how near the sky seems out here in Wyoming; the night sky, I mean, when the moon shines, and you are driving. Here we are.” She leaned forward suddenly, her gray eyes alight with happiness and expectancy. The train was approaching Deercroft. Lying in the valley below them was the little town. It looked small and barren, somehow, to the girls, accustomed as they were to the Virginia towns with their backgrounds of abundant verdure and foliage. But there was little time for any fixed impression. Before they fully realized that the journey was at an end, they were standing on the platform, and the westbound train was giving out its final call as it slipped through the hill break on its way to far Vancouver.
Jean marshaled her forces and the suit-cases, but before she had a chance to look around, there was a rush of somebody right into the midst of the little group, somebody who fairly flung herself on Jean, and held her in a royal bear hug.
“Jeanie, Jeanie, you dear old sis. Father and Don are here too. They had to hold the ponies. When the train came through the cut, they danced right up in the air,” she explained, too excited to be explicit.
“Girls, this is Peggie,” Jean said, as soon as she could get in a word. “Polly, Sue, Ruth, Isabel, and Ted, Peggie. You must pick them out for yourself, and get acquainted.”
“I’m glad to see you,” Peggie said, smiling rather shyly at the girls. She seemed like Jean at first sight, with her gray eyes, and quick smile, but her hair was short and curly and brown. “Jeanie’s stopping to say hello to Jim Handy, the station agent,” she added presently. “Let’s go to father.” She led the way around to the far side of the small pine depot, where two teams waited with a couple of ponies to each.
“These are Jeanie’s girl friends, father,” she said, happily. “Polly and Sue and Ruth and Ted and Isabel.”
“How could you remember our names so soon?” Ted asked impulsively.
“I’ve known them for a long time from Jean’s letters. I know the names, but I can’t fit them right yet.”