[CHAPTER XX]
THE CAMPING TRIP AND “PETER PAN”
It was several days after Bess’ thrilling adventure before her nerves were again calm and steady and before her muscles had recovered from their soreness. While she felt reluctant to lie in bed, and was sorry because of the extra worry and work which she caused, still it was delicious to experience a mother’s solicitude. No word of reproof had Mrs. West given her, only kindness, attention and anxiety. Bess secretly wished that some one would administer to her the censure which she felt she richly deserved. And yet, how it smarted when it came one morning, just before James and Henry West were about to start on the fall round-up.
They had come into Bess’ sunlit room to say good-bye. Her soft, white hand was enclosed for a moment firmly in West’s hard and sunburned palm. He did not dare speak lest the tremor in his voice should betray him to both sister and brother. As James bent over his sister, with a kiss, he said, “Remember Bess, no more foolish escapades—,” but a firm grasp on his arm checked the words and led him from the room before he could see the welling, nervous tears fill her brown eyes—and then splash on her tightly folded hands.
“What’s the use, Jim old boy—she has had all she can bear already!” she heard the quarter-breed say as they went away.
James turned and quickly re-entered his sister’s room. Taking her in his arms he kissed away her tears and left her consoled and happy once more.
“Hurry and be yourself again, Bess, for the camping trip next week. I only wish the round-up were over so that Henry and I might go, too. We’ll see you and the Kalispell friends in camp as we go over by the Big Arm. Guess we can find the place. So long—sister—” and throwing her a kiss from the door he hurried to join West, who was already in the saddle and anxious to be off.
Bess had been looking forward to the novelty of camp life ever since the invitation had come to her from Mrs. West’s friends at Kalispell. She was to meet them on the fifth of September on the south side of the Big Arm of the Lake, directly opposite Wild Horse Island. Here they were to camp and hunt small game and fish for ten days.