They were not booted for walking, however, and the ground was uneven. So they hobbled on very slowly.
Tavia seized Dorothy’s arm. “Oh! what’s that?”
“Now, don’t you begin scaring me,” commanded Dorothy. “Oh!”
“Didn’t I tell you?”
“A man on horseback.”
They could see him between them and the skyline. He was riding slowly, and riding toward them. The girls hugged close to the fence and their dark traveling frocks were not noticeable.
The horseman drew nearer. The girls, clinging together, saw that he wore a wide hat and sheepskin chaps that looked like a woman’s divided skirt, they were so wide.
His pony pranced and snorted, doubtless scenting the girls. But the man spoke a soothing word and did not even gather up the reins that lay loose on the animal’s neck.
His voice had a pleasant, drawling tone to it. “Easy, there, Gaby—yuh shore ain’t gettin’ no thousand plunks er night for dancing yere—no, Ma’am! Stan’ still a moment, Gaby.”
Then a spark flared up and the girls knew the cowboy had been rolling a cigarette and was now lighting it.