"But the snow is not like it was," she argued, almost ready. "It's letting up."
"It's growing finer, which is evidence that it is growing colder."
"Better still," she cried, jumping about frolickingly, her lithe young body as agile as an athlete's. "Now, dada," she let out winsomely, "I shall dash up to Gregory, get all we need, and be back before the sun goes down!" And with that she kissed away further protest, swung open wide the door, stepped out and vaulted lightly into the saddle. A moment later she was gone, but not before her father cried:
"If you should be delayed, stay the night in town. Above all things, don't let the darkness catch you upon the prairie!"
CHAPTER III
AT THE SOD HOUSE
SHE enjoyed the horseback ride to Gregory. Although she trembled at times from the sting of the intense cold, the exercise the riding gave her body kept the blood circulating freely, and she made the trip to the little town without event.
Once there, after thawing the cold out of her face and eyes, she proceeded to do her trading, filling the saddlebags to their fullest.
"Which way do you live from town?" inquired the elderly man who waited upon her at the general store where she was doing her trading.