Arizona -- Juvenile fiction; Girls -- Juvenile fiction; Guardian and ward -- Juvenile fiction; Ranch life -- Juvenile fiction
It was mid-afternoon when the girls gathered with their sewing in
the big cool living-room.
“Barbara, will you go to the kitchen porch and look toward the Seven
Peak Trail and see what you can see.”
Babs complied with Virginia’s wish but returned shaking her head.
“I looked through the glass, Virg, in all directions,” she said,
“but I saw nothing at all that was moving.”
“Hark!” Virginia exclaimed, sitting up and listening intently,
“Megsy, dear, didn’t you hear a hallooing just then, or is it
something my own ears hear that isn’t real?”
Babs and Margaret hurried to the window and opened it wide. Again
they heard the hallooing, close at hand.
“Two horses are coming,” Megsy exclaimed excitedly, “and yes, surely
the rider in the lead is Malcolm and on the horse following there
are two, so it must be Tom, though his hat is drawn down so far I
cannot see his face.”
Virginia joined the others. “It is! It surely must be Tom,” she
cried, her cheeks flushed with excitement, her eyes aglow with hope.
The girls turned as the door burst open and Malcolm entered,
followed truly enough by the lost Tom, looking pale and worn. Before
anyone could speak, a glad cry rang out, and everyone turned to look
at Babs whose face was radiant with sudden joy.
“Peyton! My brother!”
“Little sister! God is good!” The lad held the girl close and there
were tears in his eyes. Then he reached a hand out to Virginia, and
Margaret, watching, knew by the way that he looked at the western
girl, that he too cared.
Half an hour later, when Tom had recounted his recent thrilling
adventures, Virg rose, saying that since they must be about starved,
she would prepare the evening meal.
“I wish the others would return in time for supper,” Babs said.
“Speak of angels and you hear the rustle of their wings,” Margaret
sang out, holding up a finger as she spoke. Without could be heard
the galloping of horses’ feet.
“Rather say, ‘bad pennies are sure to turn up,’ Malcolm exclaimed
laughingly, adding with sudden seriousness, “but that is hardly
fair, for a finer chap than Harry Wilson it would be hard to find.”
Then, as he glanced out of the window he informed the others. “It is
Hal, and his younger brother, I judge, is with him. They are
dismounting down by the corral. Mendoza Quintano is racing to meet
them. He just adores Harry. When Hal sees the Mexican lad, he will,
of course, know that Tom has been found. Sure enough, here he comes
sprinting at top speed.”
A second later, Harry Wilson sprang through the door which Malcolm
had opened for him, and going to Tom, he embraced him as tenderly as
he would a brother.
Later that afternoon Babs and her brother were alone; Virginia
having thoughtfully arranged it, for she felt sure that the reunited
brother and sister would have much to say to each other just by
themselves.
“Peyton,” Babs said, slipping her hand in his, “you haven’t asked me
about father.”
“Dad doesn’t care about me,” the boy said sorrowfully, “I wish he
did.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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