"I deserve it all," she thought. "I have not been lovable, and so why should I expect to be loved?" "Jean Sawyer seems to be a mighty fine chap," her companion was saying. "Is he overseer of this cattle ranch?" "Yes, I understand that is the position he fills," Jane said, feeling suddenly very weary, and wishing that she could ride back to the ranch house. A fortnight before she would have done so, but now a thought for the happiness of others came to prevent such a selfish decision, for, of course, if Jane turned back, some of the others would also, for the lads were too chivalrous to permit her to ride alone. Bob, glancing at her, decided that she was not interested in his companionship, but for Merry's sake he made one more effort at friendly conversation. "I do not suppose, though, that so fine a chap and one so capable will remain forever in the position of an employee," he ventured. "Do you know where he hails from?" "No, I do not," Jane replied. Then wishing to change the subject, she pointed toward a hill over which one lone vulture was swinging in wide circles. "There is the washout!" Merry and Jean were galloping back toward them. The girl rode up to Jane as she said with a shudder: "Oh, I don't want to go any closer! When I saw that wicked looking vulture and heard why he is circling there I could picture all too plainly what _would_ have happened if we had been killed and----" It was seldom that Merry was so overcome. "Jane, do you mind riding back with me?" she pleaded. "I want to go to my mother." And so the two girls turned back toward the ranch house. They assured the others that they did not mind going alone. Jane noticed that Merry said nothing of the conversation that she had had with Jean Sawyer; in fact, she did not mention his name and neither did Jane. When they reached the ranch house Merry ran up the steps, and kneeling, she held her mother close. That sweet-faced woman smoothed the sunny hair of the girl she so loved, marveling at the unusual emotion, but when her daughter told her how much more vividly she could picture their escape, after she had seen the washout, and the vulture, the older woman understood. Jane, watching her friend, felt that something more than a view of the road where there might have been a tragedy was affecting her dearest friend, nor was she wrong. Mr. Packard prevailed upon Mrs. and Mr. Starr to remain as his guests for at least another day, that the mother of Merry and Bob might become thoroughly rested before the return journey to the East, which was to be made by train, the automobile to be shipped back. "O, Mrs. Starr, how I do wish you would permit Merry and Bob to visit us in our cabin on Redfords Peak," Jane said when this decision had been reached. "Couldn't they stay until we return East next month?"