A little later, riding back toward the Flying W--when they had reached the timber-fringed level where, on another day, Masten had received his thrashing, Ruth halted her pony and faced her escort. "Randerson," she said, "today Uncle Jepson told me some things that I never knew--about Masten's plots against you. I don't blame you for killing those men. And I am sorry that I--I spoke to you as I did--that day." She held out a hand to him. He took it, smiling gravely. "Why, I reckoned you never meant it," he said. "And," she added, blushing deeply; "you are not going to make it necessary for me to find another range boss, are you?" "I'd feel mighty bad if you was to ask me to quit now," he grinned. And now he looked at her fairly, holding her gaze, his eyes glowing. "But as for bein' range boss--" He paused, and a subtle gleam joined the glow in his eyes. "There's a better job--that I'm goin' to ask you for--some day. Don't you think that I ought to be promoted, ma'am?" She wheeled her pony, blushing, and began to ride toward the ranchhouse. But he urged Patches beside her, and, reaching out, he captured the hand nearest him. And in this manner they rode on--he holding the hand, a thrilling exultation in his heart, she with averted head and downcast eyes, filled with a deep wonder over the new sensation that had come to her. Uncle Jepson, in the doorway of the house, eagerly watching for the girl's return, saw them coming. Stealthily he closed the door and slipped out into the kitchen, where Aunt Martha was at work. "Women is mighty uncertain critters, ain't they, Ma?" he said, shaking his head as though puzzled over a feminine trait that had, heretofore, escaped his notice. "I cal'late they never know what they're goin' to do next." Aunt Martha looked at him over the rims of her spectacles, wonderment in her gaze--perhaps a little belligerence. "Jep Coakley," she said severely, "you're always runnin' down the women! What on earth do you live with one for? What are the women doin' now, that you are botherin' so much about?" He gravely took her by the arm and pointed out of a window, from which Ruth and Randerson could be seen. Aunt Martha looked, long and intently. And when she finally turned to Uncle Jepson, her face was radiant, and she opened her arms to him. "Oh, Jep!" she exclaimed lowly, "ain't that wonderful!" "I cal'late I've been expectin' it," he observed. CHAPTER XXV A MAN IS BORN AGAIN