They arrived late. “Reckon it’s just as well for you an’ the children,” said Mrs. Hartwell to Jane. “These dances last from seven to seven.”
“Well, I am a tenderfoot from Missouri. But that’s not going to keep me from having a wonderful time.”
“You will, dear, unless the cowboys fight over you, which is likely. But at least there won’t be any shootin’. My husband an’ Springer are both on the committee an’ they won’t admit any gun-totin’ cowpuncher.” Here Jane had concrete evidence of something she had begun to suspect. These careless, love-making cowboys might be dangerous.
Jane’s first sight of that dance hall astonished her. It was a big barn-like room, roughly raftered and sided, decorated enough with colored bunting to take away the bareness. The volume of sound amazed her. Music and trample of boots, gay laughter, deep voices of men, all seemed to merge into a loud hum. A swaying, wheeling horde of dancers circled past her. No more time, then, was accorded her to clarify the spectacle, for Springer suddenly confronted her. If Jane needed assurance of what she had dreamed of and hoped for she had it in his frank admiration. “Sure it’s somethin’ fine for Bill Springer to have the prettiest girl here,” he said.
“Thank you—but, Mr. Springer—I sadly fear you were a cowboy before you became a rancher,” she replied archly.
“Sure I was. An’ that you may find out,” he laughed. “Of course, I could never come up to—say—Frank Owens. But let’s dance. I shall have little enough of you in this outfit.”
So he swung her into the circle of dancers. Jane found him easy to dance with, though he was far from expert. Jane felt strange and uncertain with him. Then soon she became aware of the cessation of hum and movement.
“Sure that was the best dance I ever had,” said Springer, with something of radiance in his dark face. “An’ now I must lose you to this outfit comin’.” Manifestly he meant his cowboys Tex, Nevada, Panhandle and Andy, who presented themselves four abreast, shiny of hair and face.
“Good luck,” he whispered. “If you get into trouble let me know.”
What he meant quickly dawned upon Jane. Right then it began. She saw there was absolutely no use in trying to avoid or refuse these young men. The wisest and safest course was to surrender, which she did. “Boys, don’t all talk at once. I can dance with only one of you at a time. So I’ll take you in alphabetical order. I’m a poor old schoolmarm from Missouri. It’ll be Andy, Nevada, Panhandle and Tex.”