Dorothy on a Ranch , livre ebook

Pub One Info - Evelyn Raymond

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93 pages

English

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The Erminie, private car of Railway Boss, Dan Ford, stood side-tracked at Denver, and his guests within it were the happy people whom, some readers may remember, we left keeping a belated Christmas in the old adobe on the mesa, in southern California.

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Westerns

Western (genre)

Western

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Publié par	Pub One Info
Date de parution	23 octobre 2010
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9782819905400
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0100€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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CHAPTER I
THE TRIP IN THE ERMINIE
The "Erminie," private car of "Railway Boss, DanFord," stood side-tracked at Denver, and his guests within it werethe happy people whom, some readers may remember, we left keeping abelated Christmas in the old adobe on the mesa, in southernCalifornia.
To Dorothy, the trip thus far had been like awonderful dream. "Just think, Alfy Babcock, of owning a real car,going and stopping just as you please, same's riding in a carriagewith horses! Even darling Aunt Betty, who's been 'most everywhereand seen 'most everything, in her long life, never travelled'private coaching' this way before. I hate to think it's over, thatI'll have to say good-by to her so soon. Seems if I ought not.Seems if she'll be dreadful lonesome without me all summer. I'm herown folks and I – I believe I shall go home with her after all,'stead of into the mountains to that ranch with the Gray Lady."
Alfaretta gave a vigorous tug to the shawl-strap shewas fastening about a curious assortment of her personal belongingsand answered: "That's enough of your 'seems-if-ing,' Dolly Doodles!It's all settled, isn't it? And when a thing's fixed – it ought tostay fixed. Mrs. Calvert don't want either of us. She said so, more'n once, too. She's tickled to death to think there's such a goodtime comin' for us. She's got all that prop'ty that got itself intotrouble to look after, and she's got them ladies, her old friends,that's been in San Diego all winter, to go home to New York withher. You better stop frettin' and lookin' out o' winder, and pickup your things. You've lots more 'n I have and that's sayin'consid'able. The way that Mr. Ford moves makes other folks hustle,too! Hurry up, do! He said we was all to go to a big hotel for ourdinners and I'm real ready for mine. I am so! Car-cookin's wellenough, but for me – give me a table that won't go wobblety-wobbleall the time."
Dorothy roused from her idleness and began tocollect her own "treasures." They had accumulated to a surprisingdegree during this journey from San Diego to Denver; for theirgenial host had indulged his young guests in all their whims and,at the various stops along the way, they had purchased all sorts ofthings, from baskets to blankets, horned toads on cards, centipedesin vials of alcohol, Indian dolls and pottery, and other "trash,"as Aunt Betty considered it. In the roomy private car these hadgiven but little trouble; now Alfaretta expressed the thought ofboth girls as well as of the lad, Leslie, when after a vain effortto pack an especially ugly red-clay "image," she exclaimed: "A fooland his money! That's what I was. Felt as rich as a queen, startin'out with all them earnin's and presents in my pocket-book. Now Ihaven't got a cent, hardly, and I'd ha' been better off if I hadn'ta had them! There! that paper's busted again! Does beat the Dutchthe way things act! Just plain things ! If they was folks youcould box their ears, but you can't do a thing to things, not athing! Only – " "Throw them away! That's what I'm going to do withmy stuff!" cried Leslie, from a far corner, standing up and wipinghis face, after his own bit of packing. "This old musket that thatman in uniform assured me had belonged to General Custer – Dad saysnever saw a soldier's hands, let alone Custer's. Says he knew thatall the time, even when I was dickering for it. Says – "
Dorothy looked up from her own task to ask: "Whyshould he let you buy it then?" "For experience, likely. That's theway he likes to have us learn, he claims." "Humph! But Aunt Bettysays it's wicked to waste money. One ought only to use it for somegood purpose."
A shout of derision came from both Alfy and Leslie,at this remark, and they pointed in high glee at a basketful ofthings Dorothy was vainly trying to make look a tidy bundle. Shehad to join in the laughter against herself and Mr. Ford cameforward to lend a hand or offer advice, as need be. "So you're upagainst a tough proposition, are you, youngsters? How much of allthat stuff do you really want?" "Not a scrap!" said Alfaretta,frankly. "Good enough! Well, let me tell you. There's a poor oldfellow hangs out just beyond this station who makes his scantyliving selling just such 'trash.' I'll give you just five minutesto select whatever you really wish to keep, five minutes more tostow them compactly for our long buckboard-drive, and about as muchlonger to make the acquaintance of my lame peddler and give himyour leavings. Five seconds wasted already, taring at me! Begin,begin!"
The gentleman's face was aglow with happiness andmischief, but there was a tone in his voice which compelled instantobedience; and long before the first five minutes had passed allthree young folks had heaped the most of their "things" in a pilein the center of the car. The rest was quickly strapped in thebeautiful Navajo blankets which Mrs. Ford, or the "Gray Lady" – asthey best loved to call her, had purchased and given them assouvenirs of this wonderful trip. Blankets that were almostpriceless, as only Dorothy knew from Aunt Betty's explanation, butthat Alfaretta considered far less attractive than a plain whitewool one.
A porter, laden with baskets, appeared at thatmoment, as if by previous instruction; and into the baskets weretossed or tumbled the odd collection, everybody working swiftly yetalready half-regretfully that they hadn't kept more. "That hornedtoad'll get a rush of blood to his head!" cried Leslie, asAlfaretta threw her recent "treasure" into the mess. "Take care,boy! Don't break that alcohol bottle. That centipede mayn't be asdead as he looks! The horrid leg-gy thing! How in the world did Iever fancy it? Take care!" warned Dorothy, as Leslie dropped anuncouth Indian "image" upon the vial. "Hi, dere! Massa Leslie!Jed'll do de res'!" cried Mr. Ford's own especial servant, coollypushing the lad aside and rapidly making a better arrangement ofthe articles. Then he shouldered his baskets and left the car, Mr.Ford following, with the three young people trailing after him. Atthe door Alfaretta turned and rapidly surveyed the luxurious coachin which she had spent the past few days. To her it had been averitable fairyland, and quick tears sprang to her eyes as sheexclaimed: "I never had such a good time in all my life as I've hadin this 'Erminie,' and I never expect to again! It 'most breaks myheart to say good-by to it!" "Don't say it then! I shan't, though Ifeel as bad as you do. But our worst good-by is to come when AuntBetty starts east and we west. I can't – how can I? – let her goalone?"
This was sufficient to arouse all Alfy's sympathy.She promptly forgot her own regret in soothing her friend, forDorothy's grief was most sincere. Ever since that day when she hadlearned that Mrs. Calvert was her own kin she had loved the ladywith all her heart and had, during the past winter of Aunt Betty'slameness, felt that she must now take care of her. She did notrealize that the one-time invalid was now quite well and asindependent of aid as ever. Indeed, the Gray Lady had laughinglydeclared: "Dear Mrs. Betty is the youngest-hearted of us all!"
After that happy day when Dorothy had helped tobring about the reunion of the long parted Fords, the "RailroadBoss" had taken his wife and son away for a little time; but theyhad soon returned to El Paraiso , that charming home in thesouthwestern city and had remained as members of Mrs. Calvert'shousehold till the spring days came. Then Mr. Ford had announcedhis summer plans: "I'm going to give myself a long vacation. I owna ranch in the Colorado mountains and I'm going to take you all,each and everyone, to enjoy it with me. My wife, Erminie, claims ither turn to play hostess, so we'll all become cowboys and cowgirls,and have a wild-west show of our own, with a continuous performancefor three jolly months. All in favor, say Aye!" "Aye! Aye! Aye!"the youngsters had it, so heartily that, for a moment, nobodynoticed that Aunt Betty was silent. Then, when Dorothy observedthis, with a down-sinking of her own spirits, the lady made hasteto explain: "Nothing could please me better for Dorothy, and formyself if I were able to accept. But I can't. As you know, mybusiness affairs have become tangled in some way and I must go hometo really understand what is amiss. Indeed, I don't know yet whereI may have to be during the warm weather and I'm delighted for mylittle girl, and for Alfaretta, to have such a fine chance. I fancyyou'll all come east in the autumn, as brown as the Indians who'llbe your neighbors, and in fine health. How soon do you leave, Mr.Ford? That I may make some arrangement about this dear old house,for I shan't want to stay in it after you're gone."
Then it was his turn to explain: "I have felt allalong, ever since I found Erminie here with our boy, that the placeshould never become again just 'a house to rent.' So I've boughtit. I've found Padre Nicolas, the old priest whom the Indians loveand trust, and deeded it to him in trust for them as a Home. HereLazaro Gomez and the other ancients of his race shall dwell incomfort for the rest of their days. The only proviso is that FatherNicholas shall admit none who hasn't reached the age of discretion– say, eighty-odd years, or so! Nor shall any of his charges becompelled to tame wild beasts and sell them for a livelihood. Thegood old priest is ready to take possession as soon as we vacateand will put everything into what Alfy calls 'apple-pie order,'according to a red man's fancy. So, when everybody is ready – Don'thurry, please! – we'll board my car, the 'Erminie,' and take ourleisurely way northward. It isn't as if we had to say good-by, yousee, for we'll be all together still. As for Mrs. Calvert's plan –maybe we can persuade her to postpone business awhile for a tasteof real ranch life. Eh?"
But Mistress Elisabeth Cecil-Somerset-Calvert was amatron who never said "No" when she meant "Yes;" and she smilinglykept to her own purpose, yet took good care that no s