“Yes, I arrived yesterday,” Connie answered as she shook hands. “How is Enid?”
“Oh, fine, fine. She’s grown a lot since you saw her last, but for that matter, so have you. Blakeman here, I suppose?”
“Why, yes, he’s out at the barn,” Connie replied. She wondered what had brought Pop Bradshaw to the ranch but did not like to ask.
“Ride over an’ see Enid,” the old rancher invited cordially. “She’ll be right glad to visit with you again.”
“I’ll do that,” Connie promised.
The old rancher went on toward the barn. Connie sat down on the steps again.
“I wonder what business Pop has with my foreman?” she reflected. “If it’s anything to do with the ranch, I’m the one he should see. But I don’t seem to cut much ice around here.”
Since her arrival Connie had felt somewhat like a guest. She had been treated with the greatest of politeness by Forest Blakeman, but he paid scant attention to any suggestion which she offered. His attitude rather than his words had given her to understand that he did not consider her opinions worthy of notice.
Connie was thinking of going indoors when Pop Bradshaw and the foreman emerged from the barn. Pop was leading a horse. In the gathering dusk the girl could not be certain which animal it was. But as the two men came closer she saw that it was Silvertail.
The foreman did not notice Connie sitting on the porch. He said to Pop Bradshaw: