When everything was ready, she called her father and Pete
Letting his horses stand, Pete came trotting. Jed left his work on the house and came too. Alec, who hadn't missed any meals and was far too excited to eat anyhow, continued to plow. Cindy gave the men their portions and took her own. Too anxious to get back to work to have time for talking, the men ate hurriedly and silently. They took smaller second portions and handed their plates back to Cindy.
"Here you are, cook," Pete grinned.
"Would you like some more?" Cindy asked.
"If I eat any more, I'll bust."
"Will you plan supper for after dark?" her father asked. "We shouldn't waste any daylight. I want your mother and sister out here as soon as possible."
"And I want my father and mother," Pete said. "I know they're anxious to come, too."
"The important thing," said Mr. Simpson, "is to get the houses finished and vegetable gardens in. We'll have all summer to build barns for our stock and plow wheat land."
"We'll have to record our claims," Pete reminded him.