So it was after dinner that the four homesteaders started for their borrowed claim, leaving behind three disgusted boys armed for a gopher hunt, an amused father, an interested William, a still doubtful Aunt Nan, and a much-worried Hannah.
“Can’t we even come to call?” asked Carver, holding Vivian’s horse for her to mount.
“No, Carver,” said Virginia sweetly, “you can’t. We want to see how it will really seem to be homesteading all alone. We’ll be back by noon to-morrow, and will go after gophers in the afternoon, if you want to wait. If you don’t, it’s all right.”
“Why not invite us to supper?” suggested Donald. “We’ll go directly afterward, and won’t come too early.”
“I should say not,” cried Priscilla, much to Hannah’s amusement as they galloped away. “Supper is to be an experiment for us, and we don’t want any guests.”
They rode south through the hills to Elk Creek Valley, where the pink and blue of the blossoms were fading a little in the August sun. It would 94 be a golden Valley soon, Virginia said—yellow with sunflowers and golden-rod. Then they climbed the foot-hills to the mesa, and rode eagerly toward their newly-acquired cabin in the southwest corner.
“I feel exactly like the owner,” confided Virginia, urging Pedro forward toward their goal. “I’m wondering if anything has happened since my trip to town.”
Apparently nothing had happened. The cabin was slumbering peacefully in the August sunshine. Watch and King, however, were wide awake. They came bounding around the corner of the house, ready to guard their mistress’ property from all intruders. But in their superior dog wisdom they soon remembered that these young ladies were the friends who a few days before had made their mistress happy, and they gave the Vigilantes a royal welcome—both for Jean and for themselves.
Virginia considered matters for a moment before dismounting.
“I think I’ll leave Pedro’s bridle on,” she said. “Then he won’t stray far, and the others will keep 95 near him. We’ll unsaddle and put the things on the porch. Then that will be done. It’s three o’clock now,” she continued, consulting her watch, “and I don’t think it would be a bad plan to get settled and consider supper, do you?”