“Seth, I’ve come to help you hoe,” she said.
The man saw that the horse was standing pawing the ground among the potatoes. 70
“I take it friendly of you,” he said, eyeing the havoc the animal was creating. “Guess that horse o’ yours has intentions that aways too. They’re laud’ble, but misplaced.”
The girl checked the creature, and turned him off the patch. Then she quietly slid to the ground and removed her saddle and bridle, and drove him off out on the prairie for a roll.
“I’m so sorry, Seth! I’m afraid he’s made a mess of these plants.”
Rosebud stooped and tried to repair the damage her horse had done. She did not look in Seth’s direction, but her smiling face conveyed nothing of her regret. Presently she stood up and stepped gingerly along the furrows toward the man.
“Did you bring a hoe out for me?” she asked innocently.
But her companion was used to the wiles of this tyrant.
“Guess not,” he said quietly. “Didn’t reckon you’d get back that soon. Say, Rosebud, you’d best git out o’ those fixin’s if you’re going to git busy with a hoe. Ma has her notions.”
“Ye-es. Do you think I’m getting any better with a hoe?”