“No, I suppose not,” Connie sighed. “I talked with the banker today, Lefty.”
“What did he say?”
“Oh, you might know he refused to extend my note. All the way home I tried to think what I could do. Unless I sell there’s only one way out. I’ll have a big roundup and dispose of every Longhorn I own. What do you think of the idea?”
Lefty was silently chewing a blade of grass.
“We’ve been losin’ money on cattle ever since Blakeman took over the ranch,” he said slowly. “I think it’s a smart thing to do, Connie.”
“Then I’ll talk with Blakeman right now,” the girl declared. “There’s no time to be lost. We’ll start the roundup tomorrow.”
Before broaching the subject to the foreman Connie asked the man for an explanation of why he had taken the party of dudes to the Rainbow River instead of the cliff dwellings.
“I figured it would prove more entertainin’ to them,” he replied with a shrug.
“After this I wish you would carry out my orders, Mr. Blakeman. But I’ll say no more about it. I’d like your opinion now on another matter—I’m planning a big roundup.”
She went on to tell of her idea, and was surprised when the foreman offered opposition.