Douglas gave her a curious glance. Was she, he wondered, experiencing
that feeling of loneliness and longing which had been haunting him for
months? He wanted to ask her about it but he could not. She laughed at
him too easily.

They rode on in silence for a while, Judith's thin young body sagging
dejectedly in the saddle. The lavendar twilight was gathering. White
stars hung within hand touch. Prince returned to the trail and a coyote
barked derisively from beyond an alfalfa stack.

"Douglas," exclaimed Judith suddenly, "if I thought when I got married,
my husband would treat me like Dad does Mother, I'd never get married.
Getting married in real life isn't a bit like the books show it."

Douglas grunted. "I wouldn't worry about getting married for a few years
yet."

"I'm fourteen," returned Judith. "I've got a right to think about it.
Don't you ever?"

"No."

"You think about girls, though," insisted Judith.

"That isn't thinking about marrying, is it?"

"What do you think about mostly, Doug?"

Douglas sighed. "It's hard to say. I've been awful sad lately. I don't