Page:BM Bower - Her Prairie Knight.djvu/108

 Beatrice sat a bit straighter, and dexterously-whisked some pink ruffles down over two distracting ankles, and hoped Keith had not taken notice of them. He had, though; trust a man for that!

Keith dismounted, dropped the reins to the ground, and came and laid himself down in the grass beside his Heart's Desire, and Beatrice noticed how tall he was, and slim and strong.

"How did you know we were here?" she wanted to know, with lifted eyebrows.

Keith wondered if there was a welcome behind that sweet, indifferent face. He never could be sure of anything in Beatrice's face, because it never was alike twice, it seemed to him—and if it spoke welcome for a second, the next there was only raillery, or something equally unsatisfying.

"I saw you from the trail," he answered promptly, evidently not thinking it wise to mention the field-glass. And then: "Is Dick at home?" Not that he wanted Dick—but a fellow, even when he is in the last stages of love, feels need of an excuse sometimes.

"No—we women are alone to-day. There isn't a man on the place, except Looey Sam, and he doesn't count" 104