He drew up at sight of the two girls and waved his big sombrero at them.
“Been up to Garry’s,” he shouted, as the girls spurred up to him. “Been away all day. With most of his boys, too. Only an old, fat, half-deaf feller in charge, and he says Garry don’t aim to be back much before nightfall.”
The two girls exchanged glances and Dorothy’s face fell.
“You didn’t see anything of my brother Joe about the place, did you, Lance?” she asked, and the cowboy reluctantly shook his head.
“He warn’t nowheres where I could get a sight of him, Miss Dorothy,” he said, adding with an obvious attempt at reassurance: “But most likely if Garry aimed to be away all day he has took the lad with him for safe keeping.”
“Then, I suppose, there is no use going to Garry’s ranch if no one is at home,” sighed Dorothy. “I don’t understand it at all. Oh, Lance, what would you do if you were in my place?”
“I tell you what I’d do, ma’am,” replied Lance Petterby cheerfully. “I’d come right along home with me, you and Miss Tavia, and see Ma. She’s mighty much offended that you ain’t looked her up already. It might sort o’ take your mind off things till Garry gets back.”
“Oh, Dorothy, let’s!” cried Tavia gleefully. “I do so want to see my namesake, my darling Octavia Susan, again. She is such a perfect pet and she loves her auntie, so she do.”
Lance grinned and Dorothy’s anxious expression relaxed into a smile.
“Very well,” she said. “Only we must not stay very long, Lance. Garry may get back sooner than he expects.”