She had been ruder than an outsider could appreciate. A portion of the Rainbow Ranch belonged to her new stepmother. The house in which they were living had been built and paid for by the money discovered in Rainbow Creek. The house had been the property of the four original Ranch Girls.
Her father and mother had lived in it, because the former Ranch Girls had married and moved away.
The new Ranch Girls understood that their present home was too large and too handsome for their father's income and position. He accepted its use as a portion of the salary he received as manager of the large estate, which was now partly his own.
Jeanette understood that her stepmother's additional income from her former husband made her a wealthy woman. Concerning this fact her own father was sensitive. Now and then it was his impression that he had accepted more from his wife than he was able to give.
Upstairs in her room with the door locked Jeanette's cheeks burned. Like other persons in anger, she had said more than she intended and hurt the person she had not meant to injure. Her desire had been to arouse her stepmother's, not her father's resentment. But not once since her arrival had Jeanette been able to accomplish this.
All her girlhood Jacqueline Ralston had been famous for her sweet temper; now that she was older and had passed through many trying experiences, her sweetness and generosity of nature had deepened. If Jeanette Colter were to succeed in seriously annoying her, she must reveal some worse fault than a childish impulse to make scenes.
Now, as Jeanette sat curled up in her favorite position on a window seat, the fact that her stepmother had given her no cause for disliking her made her resentment keener.
One afternoon a week later the informal reception at the Rainbow Ranch took place.
Indoors Mr. and Mrs. Colter stood receiving their guests.
Outside on the front lawn Lina and Jeanette were entertaining their younger friends.