before. Fancy that?... Well, I've told you. I don't quite know what to do about it."
"I shall congratulate Phil on punishing you properly."
"I don't take punishment easily," said Janey, with menacing hauteur.
"Lord. Be easy on the poor chap, Janey."
Bennet interrupted them at this point and asked if they would require any or all of the cowboys for any especial trip the next few days.
"I want to drive some cattle out, an' reckon this is about the best time," he added. "I've got some tourist parties comin' soon, an' the boys will take them to Nonnezoshe. After that the rains will be here."
"Thanks, Bennet. We can do very well without the cowboys," returned Endicott, brightly. Janey guessed why her father felt so chipper about that news.
"Do you have a rainy season here on this desert?" inquired Janey, aghast.
"Nothin' to concern you, Miss," replied the trader. "Reckon you'll like the thunderstorms, the clouds an' rainbows. But for us the rains are sometimes bad, because the washes get full of water an' quicksand, so we can't move the stock."
"Thunderstorms? I love them. It will be great to be out in one here," said Janey.
Janey was lying in bed reading when she heard Randolph come in and go to his room. The hour was rather late for him. She wondered if he had gone supperless.
Next morning when she went in to breakfast her father and Randolph were there. If Janey had expected him to be downcast or embarrassed she had reckoned without her host. He was neither. He greeted her as if nothing unusual had occurred and he gave her a cool steady stare. Janey's quick intuition grasped that Randolph had burned his bridges behind him. It did not seem likely that her father could have had much to do with this late decision in Randolph. Janey had bidden him good night at his door, and he was not an early riser. So she concluded Randolph had fought out something with himself and the die was cast. It stirred Janey as had nothing she could recall. She was ready, even eager for the adventure.
"When is Bennet sending out the cowboys?" inquired Randolph.
"Today," replied Endicott, with a meaning glance at his young friend. "It'll be terrible for Janey to be left without anybody to pick on. Phil, suppose you knock off work and stay home to amuse her."
"Very happy to," returned the archaeologist. "I'm sure I can think up something that will amuse even the blasT Miss Endicott."
"You needn't concern yourself about me," said Janey, spiritedly. "And I'll have you know I'm not blasT. Did you ever see me look old or bored?"
"Certainly not old, but bored--yes indeed, and with your humble servant, myself."
"You don't bore me any more, Phillip," replied Janey. "You have become a mystery. Your possibilities are unlimited."
"Much obliged," rejoined Randolph, with nonchalance. "I hope I can live up to your idea of my development."
"When will you start amusing me?" asked Janey, with a provoking little smile.
"There's no time like the present."
"Very well, begin. You have only to be perfectly natural."
"That is what I thought. So I need not exert myself. After breakfast come with me for a walk. I know where to find some horned toads."
"How far is it?"
"Quite near. In the big wash over the ridge. But I advise you to change that child's dress for something comfortable and protecting."
"Goodness! This is a tennis skirt and blouse."
Lost Pueblo (1992)
"Who'd guess it," returned Randolph, dryly. "Be ready in about an hour."
Janey went to her room. Phillip had been quite businesslike. She had fancied he would take her for a long ride someday, which would give him better opportunity to make off with her. Surely he would not attempt the abduction while on a short stroll near the post. But she felt uncertain about him. She had best be prepared. To this end she considered what it would be best to wear. If she donned riding clothes and boots, which she heartily wanted to do, it would rouse Randolph's suspicions. Outside of that all her clothes
"I shall congratulate Phil on punishing you properly."
"I don't take punishment easily," said Janey, with menacing hauteur.
"Lord. Be easy on the poor chap, Janey."
Bennet interrupted them at this point and asked if they would require any or all of the cowboys for any especial trip the next few days.
"I want to drive some cattle out, an' reckon this is about the best time," he added. "I've got some tourist parties comin' soon, an' the boys will take them to Nonnezoshe. After that the rains will be here."
"Thanks, Bennet. We can do very well without the cowboys," returned Endicott, brightly. Janey guessed why her father felt so chipper about that news.
"Do you have a rainy season here on this desert?" inquired Janey, aghast.
"Nothin' to concern you, Miss," replied the trader. "Reckon you'll like the thunderstorms, the clouds an' rainbows. But for us the rains are sometimes bad, because the washes get full of water an' quicksand, so we can't move the stock."
"Thunderstorms? I love them. It will be great to be out in one here," said Janey.
Janey was lying in bed reading when she heard Randolph come in and go to his room. The hour was rather late for him. She wondered if he had gone supperless.
Next morning when she went in to breakfast her father and Randolph were there. If Janey had expected him to be downcast or embarrassed she had reckoned without her host. He was neither. He greeted her as if nothing unusual had occurred and he gave her a cool steady stare. Janey's quick intuition grasped that Randolph had burned his bridges behind him. It did not seem likely that her father could have had much to do with this late decision in Randolph. Janey had bidden him good night at his door, and he was not an early riser. So she concluded Randolph had fought out something with himself and the die was cast. It stirred Janey as had nothing she could recall. She was ready, even eager for the adventure.
"When is Bennet sending out the cowboys?" inquired Randolph.
"Today," replied Endicott, with a meaning glance at his young friend. "It'll be terrible for Janey to be left without anybody to pick on. Phil, suppose you knock off work and stay home to amuse her."
"Very happy to," returned the archaeologist. "I'm sure I can think up something that will amuse even the blasT Miss Endicott."
"You needn't concern yourself about me," said Janey, spiritedly. "And I'll have you know I'm not blasT. Did you ever see me look old or bored?"
"Certainly not old, but bored--yes indeed, and with your humble servant, myself."
"You don't bore me any more, Phillip," replied Janey. "You have become a mystery. Your possibilities are unlimited."
"Much obliged," rejoined Randolph, with nonchalance. "I hope I can live up to your idea of my development."
"When will you start amusing me?" asked Janey, with a provoking little smile.
"There's no time like the present."
"Very well, begin. You have only to be perfectly natural."
"That is what I thought. So I need not exert myself. After breakfast come with me for a walk. I know where to find some horned toads."
"How far is it?"
"Quite near. In the big wash over the ridge. But I advise you to change that child's dress for something comfortable and protecting."
"Goodness! This is a tennis skirt and blouse."
Lost Pueblo (1992)
"Who'd guess it," returned Randolph, dryly. "Be ready in about an hour."
Janey went to her room. Phillip had been quite businesslike. She had fancied he would take her for a long ride someday, which would give him better opportunity to make off with her. Surely he would not attempt the abduction while on a short stroll near the post. But she felt uncertain about him. She had best be prepared. To this end she considered what it would be best to wear. If she donned riding clothes and boots, which she heartily wanted to do, it would rouse Randolph's suspicions. Outside of that all her clothes
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