"My prayers were answered!" whispered Columbine, and she closed her eyes tight.
"An' his father wants him to come home to run the ranch," went on Wade.
"Oh!" Her eyes popped open with sudden fright. "But he can't--he won't go?"
"I reckon not. He wouldn't if he could. But some day he will, an' take you home with him."
Columbine covered her face with her hands, and was silent a moment.
"Such prophecies! They--they--" She could not conclude.
"Ahuh! I know. The strange fact is, lass, that they all come true. I wish I had all happy ones, instead of them black, croakin' ones that come like ravens.... Well, you're better to-day?"
"Yes. Oh yes. Ben, what have you got for me?"
"You're in an awful hurry. I want to talk to you, an' if I show what I've got then there will be no talkin'. You say Jack hasn't been in to-day?"
"Not yet, thank goodness."