"Two weeks!" Pete exclaimed. "We might as well go back to our claims!"
"If your number's called sooner, and you aren't here, you have to start
all over again."
"Oh, my gosh!"
All the happiness had gone out of the day, and sadness had entered in.
While Cindy and Alec watched nervously, their father and Pete talked in
low tones. When they finished, they called the youngsters to them.
"It'll mean two more weeks without your mother," Mr. Simpson said
unhappily, "but there seems to be no way out of it. The claims must be
recorded and the sooner the better. Can you two make out all right on
the homestead?"
"Sure," Cindy said.
"We can," said Alec.
"Then go back and take the horses with you. No sense boarding them if we
don't have to. We'll walk, and we'll be there as soon as possible."
Cindy looked around to discover one of the men who had been with Tom
LaMott standing very near. Again, he must have overheard everything.