"He did," Cindy said firmly.
"Now, sis, don't go believing your own magic!"
"Have it your own way, but he still had cat's eyes."
"Then I'll sic a dog onto him," Alec laughed. "Come on, sis. There's somebody I want you to meet."
He led her away from the lighted tailboard back into the shadows. Cindy saw her father, mother, and Pete Brent, the man with whom her father would make the ride into Oklahoma as soon as the border was opened. But there was also someone else.
Too surprised to move for a second, Cindy stopped in her tracks. Then she raced forward to fling herself into the arms of a slender, lovely girl whose soft, dark eyes reflected only delight and who, like Cindy, wore a gingham dress that covered her from her neck to the tops of her shoes.
"Mindy!"
They hugged each other, and still holding hands, stepped apart. "When did you come?" Cindy asked happily.
"Daddy met the train to see if there was a message from me. He found me instead."
"Oh! It's so nice to have you back!"