They left Gimlet Butte early next morning and reached the Lazy D shortly after noon on the succeeding day. McWilliams understood perfectly that strenuous competition would inevitably ensue as soon as the Lazy D beheld the attraction he had brought into their midst. Nor did he need a phrenologist to tell him that Nora was a born flirt and that her shy slant glances were meant to penetrate tough hides to tender hearts. But this did not discourage him, and he set about making his individual impression while he had her all to himself. He wasn’t at all sure how deep this went, but he had the satisfaction of hearing his first name, the one she had told him she had no need of, fall tentatively from her pretty lips before the other boys caught a glimpse of her. Shortly after his arrival at the ranch Mac went to make his report to his mistress of some business matters connected with the trip. “I see you got back safely with the old lady,” she laughed when she caught sight of him. His look reproached her. “Y’u said a spinster.” “But it was you that insisted on the rheumatism. By the way, did you ask her about it?” “We didn’t get that far,” he parried. “Oh! How far did you get?” She perched herself on the porch railing and mocked him with her friendly eyes. Her heart was light within her and she was ready for anything in the way of fun, for the doctor had just pronounced her patient out of danger if he took proper care of himself. “About as fur as I got with y’u, ma’am,” he audaciously retorted. “We might disagree as to how far that is,” she flung back gayly with heightened color. “No, ma’am, I don’t think we would.” “But, gracious! You’re not a Mormon. You don’t want us both, do you?” she demanded, her eyes sparkling with the exhilaration of the tilt. “Could I get either one of y’u, do y’u reckon? That’s what’s worrying me.” “I see, and so you intend to keep us both on the string.” His joyous laughter echoed hers. “I expaict y’u would call that presumption or some other dictionary word, wouldn’t y’u?” “In anybody else perhaps, but surely not in Mr. McWilliams.” “I’m awful glad to be trotting in a class by myself.” “And you’ll let us know when you have made your mind up which of us it is to be?” “Well, mine ain’t the only mind that has to be made up,” he drawled. She took this up gleefully. “I can’t answer for Nora, but I’ll jump at the chance—if you decide to give it to me.” He laughed delightedly into the hat he was momentarily expecting to put on. “I’ll mill it over a spell and let y’u know, ma’am.” “Yes, think it over from all points of view. Of course she is prettier, but then I’m not afflicted with rheumatism and probably wouldn’t flirt as much afterward. I have a good temper, too, as a rule, but then so has Nora.” “Oh, she’s prettier, is she?” With boyish audacity he grinned at her. “What do you think?” He shook his head. “I’ll have to go to the foot of the class on that, ma’am. Give me an easier one.”