“We’ll ride alone,” interrupted Helena rudely. “Come along, Cecil.”
Connie and Alkali watched the two ride away. Helena evidently had taken lessons in the East for she sat her horse well, but her brother bounced high in the saddle.
“That conceited coot will ruin Silvertail’s gait,” Alkali muttered.
“I only hope Cecil isn’t thrown,” Connie replied anxiously.
“It would serve him right to get pitched into a cactus plant—but he’s too lucky for that.”
Connie turned her eyes away from the riders, for just then a car drove into the courtyard. It was Lefty returning from Red Gulch where he had gone for supplies, but the girl was surprised to see two middle-aged women with him.
The cowboy climbed out over the car door and came hurrying toward Connie.
“Say, I dragged home two more dudes,” he reported in a whisper. “Found ’em at the postoffice. They was inquirin’ for a place to stay, so I gave ’em a long line about Rainbow. They’re schoolmarms.”
“Lefty, you’re a genius!” Connie laughed.
She hastened to the car to greet the newcomers. They were pleasant women, spinsters who hailed from Elkhart, Indiana. This was their first trip West and they assured Connie they were enjoying every minute of it.