Anne laughed again at her mother's innocent expression, but Mrs. Stewart added: "I told you no good would come of transplanting hot-house flowers to an old-fashioned roundel." "I can picture Bob Maynard hiking from Oak Creek Station to Pebbly Pit--most likely she will wear French heeled shoes!" said Anne, and she laughed so merrily that waiting passengers in the dingy cars glanced from the tiny windows and felt better for the contagious laughter. "Oh, my dear! You won't think of making those city girls start training with such a hard lesson, will you?" cried Mrs. Stewart, who understood the reason Mr. Maynard had for this outing. "Bless your dear heart, no! I'll send the wagon for them, but I wondered what would happen in case they _had_ to walk!" "Well, I'm thankful I'm not in Mr. Maynard's shoes when those girls find out what they will have to do _without_ all summer." "Nolla will be in her glory--" began Anne, when the conductor hurried over to the two women. "Going by this train, ladies?" "Good-by, mother. I'll write all about the reception," laughed Anne, hurriedly kissing her mother and giving her a hug. "All aboard!" shouted the brakeman, as the tardy passenger mounted the steep steps and waved her hand at Mrs. Stewart. It was a ride of about seventy miles and Anne thoroughly enjoyed reviewing every landmark as she passed it by. Jeb stood waiting at the little station of Oak Creek, his mouth and eyes wide open as he watched the train pull in--always an exciting time for the farmhand. The cumbersome ranch-wagon, with its high spring-seat, was drawn up beside a telegraph pole to which the skittish young horses had been securely tied. Anne went over to meet Jeb, and said, with a smile: "Were you waiting for some ladies for the Brewsters? I am Anne Stewart, the teacher who used to be at Bear Forks school." "Ya-as'm! How-dee! Hain't you-all got unny more comin'?" "Not to-day. They missed their train and expect to be here on to-morrow's noon-train. What is your name, may I ask?" "Jeb," laconically replied the man, looking about as if he still missed a necessary item for the return trip. "Oh! I guess you want my baggage. It's that small trunk over by the box-car," explained Anne, and Jeb grinned with relief. As he carried the trunk lightly as if it were a stick, Anne remarked: "It's too bad to make you take this trip again to-morrow." "Not so-es you-all kin notice it! To-morrer is pay-day fer the miners, en Oak Crick is a lively town, them times," explained Jeb, winking an eye to show what fun he expected to have next day. "Then it's a lucky thing for you, Jeb, that my friends missed the train to-day." "Jes' so!" chuckled Jeb, as he gathered up the reins and snacked the whip over his horses' heads. Conversation lagged after the start, for the bumping and rumbling of the heavy wagon as it went over rocks and ruts in the rough trail, forced all the breath from the passenger's lungs.