During the rest of the meal Carolyn June’s eyes looked frequently and curiously at the unused plate at her right.  She felt, some way, that an affront had been shown her by the absence of the one for whom it was laid.  The other cowboys, it was quite evident to her intuitive woman’s mind, had looked forward with considerable eagerness to the arrival of herself and Ophelia.  The Ramblin’ Kid, at the very moment almost of their reaching the Quarter Circle KT, had deliberately mounted Captain Jack and ridden away.  It seemed like little less than an intentional snub!  In addition to the half-resentment she felt, there remained in her mind an insistent and tormenting picture of the slender, subtle, young rider swaying easily to the swing of Captain Jack as he galloped down the valley earlier in the day.

Bert, Charley, Chuck, before the meal was finished cast frankly admiring glances at Carolyn June and Skinny plainly was gaining confidence at a rapid rate, while Pedro, silent throughout it all, kept, almost constantly, his half-closed eyes fixed in a sidelong look at the girl at the end of the table.

Attention and admiration, Carolyn June expected from men.  They had always been hers.  She was beautiful and was conscious of it.  Had the cowboys of the Quarter Circle KT not registered appreciation of her charms by their looks Carolyn June would have believed something was wrong with her dress or the arrangement of her hair.  Her eyes—­she was sure of them—­without effort lured men to her feet.

“It’s hotter than blue blazes in here,” Old Heck said when all had finished; “we’d better go out into the big room.  Maybe Carolyn June will play some on the piano.”

“The boys and me will go on out on the porch,” Parker said as they reached the front room, speaking significantly to Old Heck, but in a tone both Ophelia and Carolyn June heard.  “We’ll leave you and Skinny with the ladies and not intrude—­”

“You won’t be intruding if you remain,” Ophelia said brightly.  “Carolyn June and I are not partial at all and want you to feel that we enjoy meeting you all.”

“Yes, stay,” Carolyn June added, somewhat reluctant that of the entire group only one should be left to the wiles of her unconsciously intentional coquetry; “there is plenty of room in here and it’s cool—­”

“We’re much obliged,” Bert said, “but we’d better do the way Parker mentioned.  Anyhow that was the agreement.”

“Agreement?” Ophelia spoke with a questioning lift of her brows.

“Yes,” Chuck said, evidently trying to relieve the embarrassment of Old Heck, Parker and Skinny who looked daggers at Bert when he spoke of an agreement, “Parker and Old Heck was to take turn about—­”

“Bert meant,” Parker interrupted hastily, “—­he meant they—­they had to agree not to loaf in this room before Old Heck would give them jobs on the Quarter Circle KT!”

“Yes,” Old Heck added quickly, “that was the bargain on account of—­of—­getting it mussed up and everything and making too much work for Sing Pete to clean it up!”