The rider cantered up, then deliberately slowed his horse to a walk. Louise stole a quick sideways glance. The young man was dark-haired, about twenty-six and very good looking. His flashing brown eyes were friendly and so was his voice as he spoke a cheery, “’Lo, girls.”
“Hello,” Penny responded briefly. Louise immediately nudged her in the ribs, a silent warning that she considered the stranger “fresh.”
Nevertheless, Penny twisted sideways in the saddle the better to look at their road companion. He wore whipcord riding breeches and highly polished boots. From the well-tailored cut of his clothes she decided that he too was a comparative stranger to the hill country.
“Not looking for a horse by any chance, are you?” the young man inquired.
Louise’s snub nose came down out of the sky. “Oh, we are!” she cried. “Where did you see her?”
“A mare with a white foot? Her left hind one?”
“Yes, that’s White Foot!” Louise exclaimed joyfully. “The stupid creature wandered off.”
“Saw her making for the valley about five minutes ago. Like enough she turned in at Silas Malcom’s place.”
The name took Penny by surprise. Although she had hoped to find the old man who had visited the Star office, she had not thought it possible without a long search.
“Does Mr. Malcom live near here?” she inquired.