Jack had a shrewd idea that Jeanette had her own way with her sisters more than any of them realized. Lina was studious and calm in temperament. Her interests were more in books than in the outside world. She seemed to love peace and quiet in order to pursue her own tastes. She would be inclined to surrender to Jeanette on some occasions because she was indifferent, on others to avoid argument.
Olivia, who was the gentlest of the four girls, with a wistful, imaginative quality, was under the spell of her next older sister's more active personality.
Without walking any distance from the house, Jack watched Jeanette ride away. She sat her pony fairly well, but more carelessly than Jack herself approved of.
She had no idea of riding before breakfast. She had come outdoors to walk for an hour about the place and watch its awakening.
She went first to the Rainbow Creek, where gold had first been discovered. There was little work going on at the mine at present.
Ralph Merritt, who had married Jean, her cousin, had accepted an engineering position farther West.
Jack regretted the fact that no one of the three other original Rainbow Ranch Girls would be at the old ranch during the present summer. She and her husband had decided this would be wisest. The others had agreed.
Frieda's husband, Professor Russell, having completed his scientific experiment, did not desire to remain longer at the ranch, now that Peace, their little girl, was in better health.
Olive and her husband, Captain Bryan MacDonnell, had returned to England, taking Jacqueline's own son, Jimmie Kent, to visit his father's people.
Returning to the house, Jack found her husband dressed and outdoors searching for her.