“Wal, as Nels says, I wouldn’t be in that there ottomobile right now for a million pesos,” remarked Stillwell.

“Why?  Is Stevens driving fast?”

“Good Lord!  Fast?  Miss Majesty, there hain’t ever been anythin’ except a streak of lightnin’ run so fast in this country.  I’ll bet Link for once is in heaven.  I can jest see him now, the grim, crooked-legged little devil, hunchin’ down over that wheel as if it was a hoss’s neck.”

“I told him not to let the ride be hot or dusty,” remarked Madeline.

“Haw, haw!” roared Stillwell.  “Wal, I’ll be goin’.  I reckon I’d like to be hyar when Link drives up, but I want to be with the boys down by the bunks.  It’ll be some fun to see Nels an’ Monty when Link comes flyin’ along.”

“I wish Al had stayed to meet them,” said Madeline.

Her brother had rather hurried a shipment of cattle to California:  and it was Madeline’s supposition that he had welcomed the opportunity to absent himself from the ranch.

“I am sorry he wouldn’t stay,” replied Florence.  “But Al’s all business now.  And he’s doing finely.  It’s just as well, perhaps.”

“Surely.  That was my pride speaking.  I would like to have all my family and all my old friends see what a man Al has become.  Well, Link Stevens is running like the wind.  The car will be here before we know it.  Florence, we’ve only a few moments to dress.  But first I want to order many and various and exceedingly cold refreshments for that approaching party.”

Less than a half-hour later Madeline went again to the porch and found Florence there.

“Oh, you look just lovely!” exclaimed Florence, impulsively, as she gazed wide-eyed up at Madeline.  “And somehow so different!”

Madeline smiled a little sadly.  Perhaps when she had put on that exquisite white gown something had come to her of the manner which befitted the wearing of it.  She could not resist the desire to look fair once more in the eyes of these hypercritical friends.  The sad smile had been for the days that were gone.  For she knew that what society had once been pleased to call her beauty had trebled since it had last been seen in a drawing-room.  Madeline wore no jewels, but at her waist she had pinned two great crimson roses.  Against the dead white they had the life and fire and redness of the desert.

“Link’s hit the old round-up trail,” said Florence, “and oh, isn’t he riding that car!”

With Florence, as with most of the cowboys, the car was never driven, but ridden.

A white spot with a long trail of dust showed low down in the valley.  It was now headed almost straight for the ranch.  Madeline watched it growing larger moment by moment, and her pleasurable emotion grew accordingly.  Then the rapid beat of a horse’s hoofs caused her to turn.