The Ranch Girls at Rainbow Lodge
CHAPTER XVI.
WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK.
"THERE is not the least harm in it, Cousin Ruth. It is only that youdon't understand our Western customs," Jack announced sweetly.
She was standing in front of the living-room fire with her hands claspedbehind her. Her head was up in the air, showing the firm line of herchin and the mutinous expression of her eyes, which were half closed.
It was after tea at Rainbow Lodge and, except for Jack and Cousin Ruth,the scene would have been a peaceful and beautiful one.
Jean was playing softly on a new piano which had lately been installedat the Lodge, for among other things the new governess was giving theranch girls music lessons. Jean, who had studied before and had a gooddeal of talent, was rarely away from the piano when she was in thehouse. Frieda leaned against her cousin, watching her play, while Olivehad a book in her lap, pretending to read. Cousin Ruth sat by thelibrary table with a basket of mending beside her and a veryuncompromising expression on her face. She was pale to-night, althoughshe looked in better health and younger than she had when she firstarrived at Rainbow Ranch three weeks before.
"I am sorry to differ with you, Jack," Ruth returned firmly. "But itwould be very difficult to convince me that a round-up is any place fora young girl. If it is a western custom for girls to attend them, then Ithink the custom is shocking. In any case I am certainly not willing foryou to go."
Jack's eyes flashed defiantly. For three weeks there had been a kind ofarmed neutrality between Jacqueline Ralston and her new cousin. Jackconsidered that she had been very patient with Cousin Ruth's bossing.Ruth believed that she had been very forbearing with Jack's pride. Jackhad given up her beloved custom of riding over the ranch every morning,to spend three poky hours in the schoolroom with the other girls, butshe did not intend to be interfered with any further in her plans forrunning their ranch.
"I am sorry, Cousin Ruth," Jack argued, still keeping her temper undercontrol. "In anything else I should be quite willing to give up to yourjudgment, but you see I happen to know about our Wyoming round-ups andyou don't. They are not nearly so wild and bloodthirsty as you imagine.I shall not go near the place where they are herding the cattle, thoughlots of times women drive over to the round-ups and stay on theoutskirts of things just to see the cowboys and horses pass by. It'ssimply great!" For a moment Jack's eyes sparkled, but then she tried toappear more serious. "Besides, Cousin Ruth, it happens to be a matter ofbusiness for me to attend the round-up this fall. This is the last oneuntil spring and, as I told you, it will be only a small one, but lotsof our cattle have been disappearing for months and I want to consultwith some of our neighboring ranchmen about it. Jean Bruce, do pleasestop making that noise," Jack demanded, her bad humor flashing out atJean.
Jean brought her music to an end with a loud crash, and then came overand sat down cross-legged on a rug by the fire in front of Ruth.
"Don't waste your time arguing with Jack, Cousin Ruth," Jean advised."When she says she ought to do a thing, she means she intends to do it.It is perfectly absurd for Jack to insist that she has any business atthe round-up, for she knows perfectly well that Jim can attend toeverything. It is nobody in the world but old Dan Norton who is stealingour cattle and it seems to me we had better not have any more troublewith him, until more important affairs are settled."
"I entirely agree with you, Jean," said Cousin Ruth severely. "Jack, youare not old enough to decide such matters for yourself."
Jack did not answer. She directed a single angry glance at Jean, butJean was hard to quarrel with. She made the most irritating speeches andthen looked as innocent as a lamb. Frieda had stolen up to Jack andslipped her hand in her sister's. It frightened Frieda terribly whenpeople quarreled, and Jack saw that her little sister's eyes were fullof tears.
Jack walked over and sat down in a big chair, drawing little Frieda upin her lap and there was an uncomfortable silence in the room untilfeet sounded along the hall and a knock came at the living-room door.
"Why it's Jim!" Jean exclaimed in surprise, scrambling to her feet. "Iwonder what brings him up to the ranch house to-night? We have seenhardly anything of him since Cousin Ruth arrived!"
Ruth bent her head lower over her work. It was true. She need not havefeared Mr. Colter's influence with the ranch girls, for he had not beento the Lodge, except on business, since she undertook to chaperon them.He was very polite to her, but he seemed afraid to speak in herpresence. Ruth wondered if she seemed as much of an old maid to him ashe had thought her at first.
"Jim, what's up? You are a swell to-night," Jean teased. "Did you thinkwe were giving a party?"
Jim did look different. He wore a stiff white shirt instead of a softflannel one and could hardly turn his head in his starched linen collar.
Frieda flew to him with a little cry of welcome.
"What's the matter, baby?" Jim demanded, noticing Frieda's flushedcheeks. As he gazed slowly around the family group, he noticed MissJacqueline Ralston's haughty expression and Miss Ruth Drew's severe one;saw Olive's troubled face and Jean's mischievous one. "I guess I hadbetter be going," Jim suggested, backing toward the door.
"Oh, no, Jim," Jack insisted carelessly. "There is nothing the matter,only Cousin Ruth does not wish me to go to the round-up with you in themorning. Will you please tell her that cowboys aren't all villains!"
Jim frowned. "If your Cousin don't want you to go, Jack, seems like youhad better stay at home," he declared quietly.
A little flush of triumph spread over Ruth's face. This was her firsttrouble with any one of the ranch girls and their friend had sided withher. She gave him a grateful glance, then closed her lips more firmlythan ever. With any one of the four girls save Jack, she would havetried persuasion instead of command. But it seemed to her perfectlyuseless to attempt to influence Jack.
Jack shrugged her shoulders. "I don't agree with you, Jim," she declaredobstinately.
Jim brought his lips together with a snap and stared straight at theelder Miss Ralston. "Look here, Jack," he said, "wasn't it you whoasked your cousin to come out here to live with you, so as to have someone to tell you what was right? Now it seems to me that you only wanther to tell you what you happen to want to do. I wasn't at all certainthat you ought to ride over to the round-up with me, but I've beentreating you like a boy so long, I can't somehow remember you're a girl.Stay at home and keep out of mischief." Jim laughed.
Ruth smiled, thinking the battle was won, but Jack got up calmly andmarched out of the room and they heard her bedroom door close.
"I am afraid Jack is kind of hard-headed, but you mustn't mind," Jimmurmured apologetically. "You see she has always had things pretty muchher own way."
"Oh, let's don't talk about Jack," Jean expostulated. "Jim, I have beentelling Cousin Ruth that it is perfectly absurd for her not to learn howto ride horseback and that she might as well be buried alive as not toknow how to ride out here on the ranch. The very idea, we can't go toreturn Mrs. Simpson's and the lovely Laura's call without hitching upour old mess-wagon. For goodness sake, won't you teach Cousin Ruth toride? She won't be so scared with you."
"Sure Mike," Jim exclaimed heartily and then turned a dark mahogany fromembarrassment. He had intended to use only copy-book language in hisconversation with the new governess.
Ruth was surprised. Jim was a puzzle to her, but there was no doubt thathe was very kind and very good-looking.
"I shall be horribly stupid and nervous, Mr. Colter," Ruth protested,"but if you are sure you won't mind the trouble?"
Jim did not leave the ranch house until ten o'clock that evening. Hemanaged to have five minutes alone with Ruth, after the girls saidgood-night.
"Miss Drew," he whispered, "will you be good enough not to let Olive goaway from the ranch alone? I came up to the Lodge to-night not knowingwhether or not I should tell the girls, but I have received threateningnotices from the Indians lately. They say they are going to have thegirl back with them at any cost. I don't believe
they have any right toher. She is old enough to be a free agent, but the Indians are a queer,revengeful lot. They can bide their time and strike when you leastexpect it."