"O, your mother couldn't boss a day-old calf!" said Jimmy impatiently.

"Don't you knock my mother!" shrilled Judith.

"Your mother--" began Maud.

"Dry up, Maud, or I'll smack your mouth!" ordered Douglas.

"No you won't!" cried Jimmy.

"I will, anybody that says anything against Jude's mother," returned
Douglas promptly.

"Aw, if you folks are going to start fighting, as usual I'm going home,"
growled Scott Parsons. "Every time the crowd gets together, Jude has to
start a scrap. It's getting god-awful cold, anyhow, and I've got chores
to do." He spurred Ginger and was off.

"Same here!" chimed half a dozen voices, and more horses were spurred
away.

Douglas glared at Judith. "Always making trouble! I should think you'd
get sick of it."

"Let 'em not knock my mother, or my horse, or my dog, then," replied
Judith, tossing her head.

"Your dog! Prince is my dog, miss, and don't you forget it for a minute,"
cried Douglas.