CHAPTER XVI
The Roundup
Connie spent a half hour searching the streets for the man, and finallyabandoned the hunt. It was early afternoon by the time she reachedRainbow Ranch. Lefty met her by the corral gate.
"Well, how did the guests like the cliff dwellings?" she inquiredcheerfully.
"Blakeman never took 'em there," the cowboy reported. "Instead they wentfor a ride down to the Rainbow River."
"But there's nothing to see on that trail!" Connie exclaimed. "It's justa tiresome, dusty ride! Why didn't he take the party to the cliffs as hewas supposed to do?"
"Guess he wanted to be contrary," Lefty replied. "He never has cottonedto this dude idea. Can you stand some more bad news, Connie?"
"I've had so much already, I'm getting hardened to it. What is it thistime? You didn't pitch Cecil in the lake again?"
"No, he's been real decent to me ever since that duckin'."
"What is the bad news, Lefty?"
"The two school marms left a few minutes ago. They took their luggageand went just as soon as they got back from the Rainbow River trip. MissParker told me to give this to you."
He offered a check which was made out for the exact amount owed by thewomen.
"But I thought they intended to stay at least two weeks more," Conniemurmured, staring at the check. "Maybe they didn't like the trip."
"That was part of it," Lefty agreed. "They came in lookin' pretty hotand bothered."
"Do you know where they went?"
"Yes, to the Bradshaw Ranch. Said they had heard it was a lot betterplace."
"Someone has been talking with them."
"Looks like it all right. Pop had the nerve to come for them himself."
"He's no friend of mine any more," Connie said indignantly. "I wish Ihad been here."
"It wouldn't have done any good."
"No, I suppose not," Connie sighed. "I talked with the banker today,Lefty."
"What did he say?"
"Oh, you might know he refused to extend my note. All the way home Itried to think what I could do. Unless I sell there's only one way out.I'll have a big roundup and dispose of every Longhorn I own. What do youthink of the idea?"
Lefty was silently chewing a blade of grass.
"We've been losin' money on cattle ever since Blakeman took over theranch," he said slowly. "I think it's a smart thing to do, Connie."
"Then I'll talk with Blakeman right now," the girl declared. "There's notime to be lost. We'll start the roundup tomorrow."
Before broaching the subject to the foreman Connie asked the man for anexplanation of why he had taken the party of dudes to the Rainbow Riverinstead of the cliff dwellings.
"I figured it would prove more entertainin' to them," he replied with ashrug.
"After this I wish you would carry out my orders, Mr. Blakeman. But I'llsay no more about it. I'd like your opinion now on another matter--I'mplanning a big roundup."
She went on to tell of her idea, and was surprised when the foremanoffered opposition.
"You couldn't sell your cattle at a worse time," he insisted. "And howdo you aim to round up the herd without more riders? You've kept Alkaliand Lefty pretty well tied up with the dudes."
"We'll let the guests help with the roundup," Connie declared gaily. "Itshould prove an exciting experience for them."
"A lot of help they'd be. Especially Cecil."
"Anyway, it will be a means of keeping them entertained. As for riders,we might get a few from the Slocer Ranch. Some of their cows will bemixed with ours and they'll probably want to do their own cutting-out."
"A roundup would take a couple of days," the foreman frowned. "Some ofthe cows have strayed into the canyons. It will be a hard job to roundthem all up. How will you feed the men?"
"We'll get out Dad's old chuck wagon," Connie said, her eyes dancing."It hasn't been used in years, but it will be fun to see it roll oncemore!"
"And will you have Marie do the cooking?" the foreman inquiredsarcastically.
Connie shook her head, refusing to take offense.
"We'll borrow Cookie from the Bar R Ranch and run everything in thegrand old style. It should be a real roundup."
"That's what I'd like to see," boomed a hearty voice behind them. "Aroundup!"
Connie turned to see Mr. Postil who had come up with his smallgranddaughter.
"You'll certainly have an opportunity, Mr. Postil, if you don't mindriding a horse," Connie laughed. "I'm going to start rounding up all mycattle tomorrow."
"And will you brand them?" asked the little girl.
"Only a few of the calves which I may keep," Connie answered. "Brandingisn't as necessary as it was at one time, now that most of the freerange is gone."
"I've not been in a saddle for twenty years," Mr. Postil declared, "butif you have a nice gentle horse I might try it."
"We have just the one for you," Connie promised.
"I'm going too," said the little girl.
"We'll let you ride in the chuck wagon with Cookie," Connie laughed."Then you'll be perfectly safe."
News of the coming roundup spread swiftly. Somewhat to the surprise ofeveryone, Cecil and Helena both showed interest, and Mr. Grimes said hewould not miss it for anything.
Immensely cheered, Connie got out the car and drove to the Slocer Ranchto ask the owners if she might borrow a few of their punchers for thebig drive.
"I can let you have two of the boys," George Slocer promised. "We'reshort handed ourselves or I could give you more help."
"I'll get along all right with that number," Connie said. "That willgive me five dependable men."
Her next call was at the Bar R Ranch. In passing Pop Bradshaw's place,Connie saw the two teachers and Enid sitting on the front veranda. Shepretended not to see them. Putting on a burst of speed she drove past,her eyes glued on the ribbon of road.
Connie was cordially received at the Bar R. Cookie, the old colored man,who had flipped flapjacks in many a chuck wagon, grinned from ear to earwhen he learned that his culinary services were needed for a roundup.
Connie took him with her to Red Gulch, there to select his own suppliesfor the trip. It was long after supper before they returned to RainbowRanch with the car loaded. However, the girl could not think of sleep,for many things remained to be done.
"I'll have to get the chuck wagon up from the field," she told Cookie."I'll see about it now while you start unloading the car."
Connie looked about for one of the men, but Lefty and Alkali were bothbusy pitching hay to the horses.
"Have you seen Blakeman?" she asked.
"He was around here a minute or two ago," said Alkali.
Connie went to the bunk house but she could not find the foreman.
"Oh, well, I'll get the chuck wagon myself," she decided. "It will beeasier than waiting for someone else to do it."
She went back to the barn for one of the work horses and harness. Thechuck wagon had been left in the south field and she was relieved tofind that standing in the weather had not damaged it. Hitching up, shetowed it back to the ranch house.
As Connie closed the gate behind her, she was surprised to observe Ceciland Helena mounting horses.
"Are you going for a ride?" she asked as they came up. "It is a prettynight."
"We're on our way to see those famous cliff dwellings by moonlight,"Helena declared. "Ever since we arrived you've been promising us a closeglimpse of them. We've decided to do our own exploring."
"Oh, but it's so late to start out for the cliffs," Connie protested."And it isn't safe for you to go alone."
"Nonsense," replied Helena impatiently. "We're not children."
"It's very easy to become lost on the trail. Besides, if you're takingpart in the roundup you really should get some sleep. We'll have a hardday tomorrow."
"You sound just like a Granny," Helena laughed. "Cecil and I know how totake care of ourselves."
"Come on, Helena," urged the boy impatiently.
"If you're really determined to go, I'm going too," Connie said quietly.
"Then you'll have to catch up with us," Helena replied, digging herheels into her steed's ribs.
Connie hurriedly turned the chuck wagon over to Cookie, and saddlingSilvertail, set off in pursuit of the boy and girl. She felt irritatedbeyond measure. It did not seem to matter to them at all how muchtrouble they caused. If left to themselves they would be sure to take awrong turn in the trail.
Connie soon overtook the reckless pair. She had very little to say asthe horses clattered over the stony road.
It was truly a beautiful night and soon Connie, falling under the spellof the big moon, could bear no resentment. Often when she was a childshe and her father had visited the cliffs upon just such an evening. Therecollection of the remarkable sight had lingered long in her memory.
Connie selected the South trail because it would give the best view ofthe cliff dwellings as they descended into the valley and climbed againto the other side. Emerging from a screen of pines, she reined in herhorse and waited for Helena and Cecil who had fallen behind.
With a sweep of her arm she pointed across the canyon. In the moonlightthe white rocks shone weirdly, and the dark squares, each one markingthe prehistoric dwelling place of an ancient tribe, looked like sombereyes peering across the valley.
"Why, it's beautiful," Helena murmured.
Even Cecil was deeply impressed by the sight. For a long moment no onespoke.
Then Connie sat up very straight as she saw something move along theface of the cliff opposite them. For just an instant she thought that itmight be a wild animal but the next moment she clearly distinguished theform of a man. He crept along the cliff trail, making his way toward anopening in the rocks.
"Who's there?" Connie shouted across the chasm.
There was no answer. With head bent low, the man fled into the densebushes which lined the narrow trail.