to smile.

Jim grabbed her suit case, carried her umbrella like a shot gun, and
marched her toward the girl who was holding the three horses, the same
girl who had shocked and entertained her from the car window.

Jacqueline slid off her pony and passed the three bridles to Jim. She
did not know whether she ought to kiss her cousin or only to shake hands
with her, for there was something in Ruth's expression that froze Jack's
first affectionate intention. Ruth was truly horrified at Jack's
behavior. She didn't see how a girl could be so reckless of
appearances.

Jack held out a slim, cool hand. "I am awfully glad to see you, Cousin
Ruth. It was very good of you to come out to us. I hope you are not
tired," Jack remarked, as though she had learned her greeting out of an
etiquette book. She was as stiff as a wooden Indian, because she felt so
abominably shy.

Ruth's feelings were hurt. She did not think of her own manners, merely
of Jack's. "Yes, I am tired," she replied coldly. "Is the carriage
waiting for us in the town?"

Jack's face reddened. Jim gave a hasty glance of embarrassment toward
the two women. There was an awkward silence.

Jack found her voice first. "We didn't bring a wagon over for you,
Cousin Ruth. We don't own a carriage," Jack explained. "It is so late
that we didn't think we would get to the ranch before night, if we
drove. We brought a horse for you to ride."

Ruth Drew sank limply on the ground. "A horse to ride!" she exclaimed
faintly. "I have never been on a horse in my life. How far is it to the
ranch?"

"Ten miles," Jack acknowledged shame-facedly. Ten miles did sound like
a great distance to a stranger, although the ranch girls had always
thought that they lived very close to town; but the idea of a
full-grown, able-bodied woman not knowing how to ride horseback had
never entered Jacqueline Ralston's head. What on the face of the green
earth were they to do? "You had better go over into the town and see if
you can get a carriage, Jim," Jack advised. "I never thought of Cousin
Ruth's not liking to ride. I can lead the two horses home, if you will
drive her over."

Jack was really miserably embarrassed at her own failure as a hostess.
She knew that they were making a dreadful first impression on Cousin
Ruth, and Jean had warned her that first impressions were most
important. But Ruth Drew thought she caught something in Jack's tone
that sounded supercilious. There was nothing so ext