CHAPTER XXIII
ALARM ABOUT MALCOLM
A few days after the departure of Trujillo, Virginia remarked one morning at breakfast, “Barbara, I feel much as you did when you were with us at V. M., a great anxiety, which I cannot understand, to return home and see if all is well with Malcolm. The truth is I have been away from him and from dear old Uncle Tex for so many, many months, that I feel sure they were sorry to have me desert them, and, so, if Margaret and Betsy are willing, I think we would better return to V. M. today.”
The pretty face of Babs plainly showed her disappointment, and Virginia hastened to add, “Won’t you come with us, Barbara, or, if not that, perhaps, Betsy would like to make you a longer visit here at Three Cross.”
A sudden hopeful brightening in the blue eyes of Barbara brought from her dear friend Betsy an immediate acceptance of the plan, and, so, an hour later, that they might start before the sun was high, the two who were departing bade goodbye to the three who were to remain and rode away, looking back often to wave and smile.
When at last they had crossed the ridge which hid the Three Cross Ranch from their view and were riding along the level desert, Margaret looked anxiously, inquiringly at her friend.
“Dear, you seem very thoughtful. Are you troubled about anything in particular?”
The questioner was more than ever puzzled when she saw the morning glow in the truly beautiful face that was turned toward her.
“No, sister of mine, I was thinking of something very wonderful, but just for a time it must be my secret.”
Virginia was recalling an hour that she and Peyton had spent alone the evening before, sitting on a huge boulder that was near the ranch house. It had been a gloriously moonlighted night, and, for a long time, they had remained silent, just content, it would seem, to be together in that truest and rarest of all forms of comradeship. Then quietly Virg had led Peyton to talk of his ranch, his interest, and of what he had done while she had been away.
Somehow, in the magic of the loveliness all about them, it had seemed but natural that the lad should tell her of his love.
“May I hope, Virginia, that some day, you will be here with me,—with us?” And Virginia’s reply had been seriously given. “Ask me that again when I am eighteen, will you Peyton?”
And with that answer the lad had to be content, but in it he found much to cause him to rejoice; much that gave him hope.
It was a strange coincidence, that, at that moment, as Virginia was thinking over the conversation of the night before, Megsy should ask, “Virg, who do you suppose will be the first girl of our acquaintance to marry?”
Her companion smiled, “Why dear, I don’t know,” she replied. “Babs and Betsy are far too young, some way, to even think of such things. Betsy declares that she is to be wedded to her career and Barbara, though she likes Benjy Wilson has not as yet even thought of romance.”
“Well, I am sure it will not be me.” Virg thought she heard Margaret sigh and this puzzled her. Quick was her response. “I’m not so sure of that, Megsy. You are so sweet and lovable, I know you will be stolen away from me long before I am ready to lose you.” Then, as they reached the top of the mesa, she continued happily, “Oh, how good it is to see V. M. Ranch again. This time I do hope that brother of mine will be at home to greet us. I have had so much change and recreation this past year that I actually feel guilty. It has been all work and responsibility for Malcolm.”
“I have a plan to suggest,” Megsy said. “Let’s insist that Malcolm take a two weeks’ vacation and go away somewhere so isolated that he could not possibly receive there a message about the ranch.”
Virg shook her head. “I don’t believe that we could persuade my brother to go,” she replied.
“I’m going to try,” was Margaret’s quiet response.