Malcolm listened to the enthusiastic chatter of the two girls, who,
having read Eleanor’s letter to him were each trying to outdo the
other in thinking up arguments that might persuade the lad that
accepting the invitation was the very best thing that he could do
and just what he should do to regain his strength.
“But who will conduct the V. M. Ranch? Tell me that,” the lad
protested.
“Uncle Tex was overseer whenever Dad went away, and if our father
could trust his judgment, surely we can.”
“Righto, and, with such able helpers as Slim and Lucky, I really
have nothing to fear on that score, and yet, of course, they might
need my advice now and then. Did your friend, Eleanor, mention a
town from which one could telegraph?”
“Why, no, she didn’t, but of course there are towns everywhere.
However, that is the one thing we want to get you away from, a long
distance telephone or any other method of easy communication, for
every day you would be wanting to call up and find out if V. M. were
all right.”
Then, as Malcolm still hesitated, Virg hastened on to say, “Of
course, I didn’t know that we might go to California, as I only just
now received this letter, but I _did_ know that we wanted to go
_somewhere_, and so, yesterday, I talked it all over with dear old
Uncle Tex and he agrees with me that it is your duty to all of us to
go where you can rest and when I said, ‘You could take charge of V.
M. just as you used to do for Dad, couldn’t you?’ Well, Malcolm, I
wish you could have seen that dear old man’s face. Glowing doesn’t
describe it. ‘Miss Virginie, dearie, Ah’d take it as powerful
complimentin’ if Malcolm’d trust me, Ah sure would, an Lucky an’
Slim’d stand by me, that’s sartin’, was what he said, and his voice
trembled, brother, honestly it did.”
“I know how he feels,” the lad declared earnestly. “Uncle Tex has
felt much like an old horse may, one that we feel has outlived its
usefulness and is given pasturage for the rest of its life. Dad told
us that he once had a horse like that. He thought it had served him
long enough, and so he did not permit any of the boys to ride it,
but after a time, he noticed that the old horse used to come up to
the bars when its companions were being saddled and actually looked
wistful, as though it were being left out. Then came the day of the
great stampede. You’ve heard Father tell about it time and again,
Virg, how the boys were all away helping Mr. Slater with his
roundup, and only old Peter left in the fenced-in pasture. The boys
had cut out our cattle and had started them for home, Dad says, when
all of a sudden he heard a noise that sounded like distant thunder.
As it neared, he knew it to be the pounding of hoofs; then he could
hear the bellowing of frightened cattle. He was alone on the ranch
and the only horse nearby was old Peter.
“Dad ran to the rise of ground above the dry creek and saw that the
maddened herd was swerving toward the north and might be lost in
that waterless part of the desert called ‘The Burning Acres.’ While
he was wondering what could be done to stop them, he heard a shrill
whistling neigh from old Peter. Dad turned in time to see that horse
race across the small pasture and leap that high-barred fence, nor
did it stop, but kept on galloping as it had in its younger days,
directly toward the mass of surging cattle. Dad said he was sure the
old horse would be trampled to death. Many a time, in years gone by,
he himself had ridden Peter when he wanted to turn cattle back, and
now, though riderless, the old horse seemed bent on doing that very
thing. Dad said he held his breath, but the unexpected happened. The
cattle, not knowing what to make of the horse that was hurling
itself at them, did swerve, and then, to Dad’s great joy, they
descended into a dry creek where, since they could not run, they
were soon under the control of the cowboys who came riding on ponies
that were covered with lather.”
“What of old Peter?” Megsy inquired. “Did he die then from
exhaustion?”
“Indeed not!” Malcolm told her. “And never again was he treated as
though his days of usefulness were all over. Dad himself rode him,
not on hard rides, to be sure, but whenever he was just going to the
station or to visit with a neighbor, and, after that, the old horse
seemed much more content.” Then turning to his sister, the lad said,
“I recalled that story when you told me how almost wistfully eager
Uncle Tex was to be once more trusted as overseer of the place. And
he shall be, too. Dear faithful old man.”
“Then you will go with us? You will let us take you to this
wonderful San Ceritos?” the two girls cried at once.
Laughingly the lad held out a hand to each of them. “Damsels fair,”
he said, “take me wherever you wish, but now please depart. I wish
to lay my plans.”
Then Margaret accused, “Malcolm, there are twinkles in your eyes. I
do believe that you are amused at something.”
The lad, who still held the hand of his ward, turned and looked at
her, then he smiled again as though he were pleased with what he
saw, as indeed he well might be, for Margaret had been so excited
that her cheeks were flushed and as pink as roses, while her dreamy
brown eyes were shining like stars. Then, as the lad continued to
gaze at her, the color deepened, and, withdrawing her hand, she said
mischievously, “Virginia, perhaps we better go, since Malcolm has
just told us that he prefers his own thoughts to our company.”
“I’ve changed my mind,” the lad declared. “I’d rather have you
stay.”
Virginia, who for the last few moments had been busy in another part
of the room, turned suddenly and looked intently at her brother as
though she were surprised about something. He was usually so
serious, so occupied with business that she had forgotten that he
could tease. Then her face brightened, and stooping, she kissed him
lightly on the forehead. “You are much better, dear, aren’t you?”
she said, then taking her friend by the arm, she continued, “Come,
Megsy, let’s hie us to our rooms and select the wardrobe we are to
take with us. Eleanor’s telegram may come tomorrow and we will then
have not more than three days to prepare for the journey.”