Dorothy did not mind their poking fun at her because of her protégé.
The quartette of young folks came back to the hotel before noon and found Aunt Winnie at a late breakfast.
“I have seen one of the lawyers who had charge of Colonel Hardin’s affairs,” she said. “He will be back here in half an hour with certain papers, and I shall go to court with him.
“My intention is to go on to the ranch to-day, as I said last evening,” continued Aunt Winnie. “So don’t go far away from the hotel, children. What time did you tell the man to have the conveyance here, Edward?”
“Two o’clock.”
“And you ought to see it!” cried Nat. “Looks just like the one the Indians chase and capture in the Buffalo Bill show.”
“Is that the best conveyance you could find, Edward?” asked Mrs. White, with some suspicion.
These mischievous young people were forever playing jokes, and she was doubtful. But Ned was serious.
“Best I could find, Mother—believe me! All the carriages they have in this man’s town are buckboards—and we’d have to hire a caravan of those to pile all the baggage on—and us, too. This old coach with four mustangs to draw it, will take ‘all hands and the cook.’”
“I hope you have done the right thing, my son,” said Aunt Winnie. “Take care of yourselves, children, till I come back from the court with Mr. Jermyn.”