CHAPTER VI
_CASA GRANDE_
The soft, tinkling ripple of a fountain in that interior court added toa feeling of unreality. It was a stage set for a play. Palm trees andmany flowering plants grew in profusion and The Merriweather Girls,unused to the luxuriant verdure of the south, stood looking about themin surprise.
Even Kit was astonished, for Casa Grande had been neglected for yearsbefore Judge Breckenridge had bought it and restored its beauty.
Enid's face shone with happiness. She was the first to speak. "Isn'tit glorious!" she cried as she clasped her hands together. "Just thinkof being miles and miles away in the desert and having a place likethis. It's like a miracle! I love it!"
"Who wouldn't?" laughed Joy. "You are a lucky girl, Enid. You simplycan't appreciate it!"
"Can't I?" Enid smiled as she gave a little sigh.
Joy noticed the wistful look and hastened to add: "Of course youappreciate it, Enid. I'm just envious, that's all."
Bet was so moved by the loveliness of the garden that tears stood inher eyes. "I'd like to stay here always," she said with a catch in hervoice.
"Do you mean it, Bet?" asked Joy. "I think it's great, of course, butit's too much like a hothouse to suit me. I wouldn't think of livinghere forever."
At that moment they were interrupted by the silent appearance of Tang,the Chinese cook. A tea wagon was being wheeled in by two youngChinese boys, Tang himself being too dignified to help in the serving.When he wanted to give an order to his boys he clapped his hands andthey responded as quickly as if he delivered his command in a loudvoice.
Tea was served in small Chinese bowls with preserved fruits, ginger andwafer-like cakes. A bland smile covered the face of Tang as he glidedsoftly about the veranda; a well satisfied air expressed his contentwith life. He motioned to the boys to place a stool here and anotherthere beside the chairs. These were to be used as tables.
"Some service!" whispered Shirley in Bet's ear. "Don't you love it?"
"I feel like a million dollars--or maybe two!" answered Bet.
The old professor seemed quite at ease. He accepted the attention ofthe servants without the least surprise or embarrassment over hissoiled clothes.
The honking of an auto horn announced the arrival of the second car.Somewhere during the trip the silent Judge seemed to have lost much ofhis reserve. He hailed Tang as if he were an old friend, and thedignified Chinaman placed the pillows on a reclining chair whichawaited Mrs. Breckenridge, as the Judge carried her into the patio.The invalid might have been a child, so easily did the tall man lifther and move her from place to place.
"How lovely this is!" the woman cried. "I'm sure I'll get well now. Ibelieve all the peace in the world is right here."
Enid was standing beside her mother, arranging and rearranging thepillows to make sure that the invalid was comfortable.
"Of course you'll get well," laughed the Judge. "Before long you'll bebusting broncos, as Kit says. You can't help but feel better in thisglorious air," he said, stroking her thin hand.
The woman smiled at the happy faces about her then her eyes restedhungrily on her daughter. Her heart had not yet been satisfied, shewas eager to make up to that daughter for the years of separation.
The Judge had owned the ranch for three years, but this was the firstvisit his wife had made to it. The doctors had tried to persuade herto leave the Long Island home where the memories of her lost daughtersurrounded her, but she had clung to the place, always waiting, alwaysexpecting the child to be returned.
She had had a long wait, but happiness had come at last. And infinding Enid, they had found The Merriweather Girls, those four chumsthat had crept into their hearts.
Tang was once more gliding about the veranda, following after the boysto see that tea was served properly. And when a sudden shaft ofsunlight struck across the face of the sick woman, Tang clapped hishands sharply once more and the boys ran to his side. As the older manindicated the chair, the boys picked it up gently and carried it to ashaded spot. Not a word had been spoken.
"Service!" chuckled Joy. "That's service!"
Shirley was already busy with her camera. She had it pointed towardthe invalid's chair.
"Don't take a picture of me, yet, Shirley," exclaimed Mrs.Breckenridge. "Wait a few weeks until I am well."
But Enid interrupted: "No, Mother, we want one now. You know you dolook lovely there, and besides we want a picture to show how much youimprove."
"Before and after taking!" Mrs. Breckenridge's cheery laugh echoedthrough the corridors.
The Judge smiled back at her. It was good to see her happy once more.
The old professor had found his way into the hearts of the Judge andhis wife. He had a charm about him. Most people immediately likedhim, and his childlike qualities brought out a protective feeling inothers. And everybody from Tang and his boys to the Judge were eagerlywatching a chance to do him a favor.
And without trying to do it, the professor had gained the Judge'sinterest in the Indian excavations. Not that the Judge was interestedin Indian relics in themselves, but the professor had a way of passingon his enthusiasms to others.
Kit's mother was hovering about the sick woman, eager to serve,suggesting all sorts of things that might help her. One could see thatalready Mrs. Breckenridge was looking toward the mountain woman foradvice.
"They are going to be good friends, those two," whispered Kit to Bet asshe watched them. "Isn't it good!"
"Who could help being friends with your mother, Kit? I love heralready," returned Bet a little wistfully. While Colonel Baxter wasdoing his best to make up to his daughter for the loss of her mother,it couldn't entirely satisfy her when she saw other girls being caredfor.
Suddenly footsteps were heard on the walk outside and a queer coupleintroduced themselves to the Judge. The man had the face of a hawk, along beak that seemed as if it were prying into the most privateaffairs of his audience. His loose-jointed body sprawled as he stood,leaning against a post.
He was very different from the compact little woman beside him, whoheld her plump body stiffly erect.
"My name's Kie Wicks," the man explained. "And this is the missus!"Then on seeing the familiar face of Mrs. Patten he grew confused for amoment and added: "Mrs. Patten there can tell you we're O. K. We havethe store over at Cayuga and I thought as how I'd better be a welcomingcommittee and drop in and say howdy."
"Come right in," greeted the Judge, amused at the manners of themountaineer.
"We'll probably be seeing a good deal of each other, so I says toMaude, (that's the missus) we'll just go over first thing and getacquainted."
"That's very kind of you," smiled Mrs. Breckenridge from her chair."Do sit down, Mrs. Wicks. There's a nice shady place right here besideme."
The Judge sized up the pair at once and did not care to be alone withthem at this time. Seeing that Mrs. Patten was getting ready to leave,he begged her with a glance to delay her departure.
"You was just a-goin' wasn't you, Mrs. Patten?" enquired Kie Wicks."Don't let us stop you."
"Oh, I'm not in a hurry. I'll sit a while. It's been a long timesince I've seen Mrs. Wicks."
This did not seem to please Maude Wicks, but were was nothing furtherto say. Mrs. Patten settled back in the easy chair and smiled.
Kie Wicks and his wife talked about the weather, the stock and thesheep men, who should be run out of the country, he assertedvehemently, and when finally he rose to go he said: "I'll be over someday and have a talk with you private-like, Judge. There's people inthese mountains that you should be warned against. And I'm willing togive you the inside facts about them. It's come to such a pass thatyou can hardly trust anyone around you."
"Oh, now, Mr. Wicks," laughed Mrs. Patten. "You know that isn't so. Ithink the people around here are a fine lot. They're neighborly andkind when you're in trouble. Only last year when Dad cut his foot, themen and boys came every day and helpe
d with the cattle."
"Sure, that's right, Mrs. Patten. They _are_ kind hearted even if theyare ignorant," broke in Maude Wicks, her sharp little eyes shining outfrom the depths of her fat cheeks.
Kit at that moment made a face behind the back of Kie Wicks and Betsmothered a giggle and hastily left the veranda, motioning the girls tofollow her. Once outside they ran far enough away to indulge in a goodlaugh.
"Where's Tommy?" asked Enid suddenly. "He disappeared and I can't findhim anywhere."
"We're looking for Tommy Sharpe," called Kit to a boy who stood nearthe ranch house. He was dark-skinned and handsome.
The boy turned and Joy gasped with surprise. "Who is he?" shewhispered to Kit. "Who is that boy?"
"Oh, just one of the cow hands," answered Kit.
"You mean a cowboy?"
"Sure."
"But Kit Patten, you said there were no _handsome_ cowboys! Did younotice his eyes?" Joy pulled at Kit's arm to stop her. "He'swonderful! So romantic!"
"Come along, Joy Evans, and don't be a little fool. That's just aMexican boy and I don't see anything romantic about him at all."
"But his eyes!" thrilled Joy. "I don't think I ever saw such beautifuleyes. Can't I speak to him?"
"No!" snapped Kit. "Not now! Wait until you get a little bit ofsense. We don't make friends with the Mexican laborers."
Joy turned reluctantly away. "Just my luck!--when I find a handsomecowboy to be told I can't make friends with him."
"Oh, come on, Joy. You're silly!" laughed Bet.
"Don't _you_ think he's handsome, Bet?" asked Joy.
"Well, maybe, a little bit. But if Kit says you're not to be seentalking to him, that goes. Kit knows the ways of the mountains."
"Yes, and like as not she'll introduce me to some man as ugly as thatfellow who just called on the Judge, and I'll be expected to besatisfied with that."
"Who is that man, Kit?" demanded Bet. "I don't like him!"
"Few people do like him and those who do are not the kind to chumaround with," answered Kit. "I've known Kie Wicks ever since I was alittle girl, and I've never yet heard any good of him."
"He looks crafty," said Shirley.
"Like a cat that's just eaten the canary," added Enid.
"Well, let's not spoil our day by thinking up mean things about thatman. Let's nail down the furniture and anything that can be carriedaway." Bet laughed merrily as she strode toward the center of thecourt. "Come on, let's find Tommy."
"Oh, look at that lovely dog!" cried Enid. A large collie was comingtoward them leisurely. "He looks like the owner of the ranch."
"He is! Judge Breckenridge told me about him one day when we werecomparing him with Smiley Jim, my own dear dog. I get lonesome forSmiley some days. I do hope Auntie Gibbs is looking after him allright." Bet patted the head of the collie.
"What's his name?" Enid stooped to examine the brass plate on hiscollar. "It's Rex. That's a nice name for a dog."
Rex showed his friendship by waving his tail around and going from oneto the other of the girls. But a moment later he growled menacinglywhen Kie Wicks and his wife appeared.
"Evidently he doesn't like that pair any more than we do," smiled Bet.
And the dog continued to growl until the couple had gone.
"There's a man we want to steer clear of." Bet was in deadly earnest."Rex has warned us."
At that moment Tommy Sharpe appeared. "Come on over and see my home,"he called.
Bidding good-bye to Mrs. Patten and the professor who were just leavingand after promising that Kit would be allowed to go home soon, thegirls hurried out to see Tommy Sharpe.
The boy was as proud of his own little corner of the ranch as if he hadan estate. It was the first home the poor fellow had ever known.
Enid took the boy by the arm as they walked across the court toward therear wall. Billy Patten was dancing ahead of him eager to show offTommy's house. The boy, although a few years younger than Tommy, hadbecome great friends and Billy was often to be found in Tommy's home.
As they reached the door, the boy took off his sombrero and made asweeping bow.
"The Merriweather Girls are welcome in the castle of Tommy Sharpe!" hesaid.
"The Merriweather Girls are proud to enter," she answered with a laugh."We are honored!"