“That’s just it,” Ethel replied. “Where are we going? Where is she taking us? I’m so frightened!”
“What, you frightened?” Nell scoffed, although her own voice was none too strong. “How about that time you and I were out sailing on Long Island Sound by Fire Island and the storm came up? You weren’t scared then, Ethel. And that was lots worse than this is! Why, I think this is sort of fun! As Belle says, Teddy and Roy will find us, and I guess we can take care of ourselves. Come on, Ethel, don’t let that horrid old woman see that Easterners aren’t as brave as Westerners! Buck up!”
“That’s the talk!” Belle exclaimed, giving Ethel’s hand a squeeze of encouragement. “Here—” She passed Ethel a tiny handkerchief, seemingly inadequate, but with a smile Ethel dabbed at her eyes and handed it back.
“I’m all right—now,” she declared, patting the pony she was riding. “Belle, did you notice this horse? Isn’t he a positive beauty? I wish I owned him!”
“Something tells me you will, later,” Belle answered giving a laugh. Ethel’s smile had cheered her immensely and things seemed not nearly so dark. After all, this certainly was a unique experience.
Belle thought of the Western books she had read and how she had scoffed at the adventures the heroes and heroines had gone through.
“As though we of the West lived in a land of nothing but rattlesnakes, cyclones, and rustlers!” she once exclaimed. “Those things they write about just don’t happen!”
And now here she was, riding through a canyon to some unknown, far-off place, with a savage old woman forcing them on with a pistol!
“I guess they do happen, after all,” she said to herself ruefully. “Although I’d rather read about this than be where I am!”
She was wise enough, however, to keep her fears from the other girls. Indeed, she did all in her power to cheer them, and insisted that they would be rescued as soon as the boys and her father and Mr. Ball found that they were missing.