Evening shadows were long when he saw someone else he knew. It was the bearded man with the race horse. Alec rode straight toward him. The bearded man was always unfriendly. But if he had news of Cindy, Alec must have it. However, now that he had his land and no longer had to worry about getting some, the man was not unfriendly any more. "Hello," he said. "Hello," Alec replied. "Have you seen my sister?" "Sure have!" the bearded man said cheerfully. "She caught up with your dad an' the man from the wagon next to yours right here on my claim. She was ridin' a roan pony, an' so was t'other man. Your dad had his palomino mare. They said they was goin' on." "You're sure?" Alec inquired. "Dead sure. Saw 'em with my own eyes," the bearded man said. "Thanks," said Alec. Even as he spoke, he was turning Carrots and galloping full speed back to the Simpson wagon. When he reached it, not taking time to dismount, he shouted his happy news from the pony's back. "It's all right, Mother! Cindy's with Dad!" CHAPTER NINE _The Claims_ The sun was still high when Cindy, her father, and Pete Brent reached the claims Pete had in mind. True to the promise of early morning, the day had become hot. Walking their horses, they stopped on a grassy knoll. "There they are!" Pete said proudly, "and we're first!" Cindy gasped with pleasure, for the land to which Pete had led them was surely the most beautiful in the world. It was level, surrounded by knolls and hillocks much like the one upon which they stood, and grass that would be shoulder-high to a horse was already almost knee-high. A wide stream curled through it, and there was a fine grove of oak trees in new leaf. "It looks great!" Mr. Simpson exclaimed. Her father's voice had a spirit and glow that Cindy had never noticed before, but she knew why it was there. A true farmer, Jed Simpson knew fine land when he saw it. "It's the greatest!" Pete said. "And the market will be ready when our crops are." He pointed. "Two miles over there, half a section, or three hundred and twenty acres, have been reserved for a town site. They're going to call it Plains City. Two miles over there," he pointed in a different direction, "is the railroad. The oak grove will be half on your claim and half on mine." [Illustration] "Well," Mr. Simpson grinned, "let's go down and stake." They rode down the knoll, and the men took their coats off. Cindy removed her jacket, for she was perspiring, and dropped it in the grass. "Don't forget where it is," her father warned. "I won't, Dad," Cindy promised. They rode until Pete halted them. "Stick your flag in right here, Jed," he told Cindy's father. "Here?" Mr. Simpson questioned. "This is it." Mr. Simpson dismounted, and holding the tired Sunshine's reins, he took the flag from his saddle and rammed the pointed end of the stick into the ground. "I christen thee Simpsonia," he said solemnly. "Good enough." Pete couldn't lose his grin. "Now I'll stake."