“M—m! That coffee smells delicious!” Penny cried, sniffing the fragrant aroma. “I’m starved too!”
She and Jerry made their own sandwiches and poured the steaming beverage. After they had finished eating, the reporter suggested one last climb to Knob Hill.
“It’s nearly midnight,” said Louise, before Penny could accept. “Oughtn’t we to be starting home?”
Immediately a loud chorus of protest arose from other members of the party. Penny looked at her wristwatch regretfully.
“I hate to break up the party,” she said. “But I promised Dad I would be in fairly early tonight. Lou and I will run along, and the rest of you stay.”
“I’ll take you home if you must leave,” Jerry offered.
“Oh, Penny has her car,” said Louise quickly. “It’s parked on the roadside just over the hill.”
“Yes,” Penny added, “we’ll ski down there and be home in a few minutes.”
“You’re not afraid to go alone?” Jerry asked teasingly.
“Afraid?” The question caught Penny by surprise. “Why should we be?”