"Some of them may be," she differed. "If you want to know I'm
just twenty-one."

He sawed industriously at his steak. "Y'u don't say! Just old
enough to vote--like this steer was before they massacreed him."

She gave him one look, and thereafter punished him with silence.

They left Gimlet Butte early next morning and reached the Lazy D
shortly after noon on the succeeding day. McWilliams understood
perfectly that strenuous competition would inevitably ensue as
soon as the Lazy D beheld the attraction he had brought into
their midst. Nor did he need a phrenologist to tell him that Nora
was a born flirt and that her shy slant glances were meant to
penetrate tough hides to tender hearts. But this did not
discourage him, and he set about making his individual impression
while he had her all to himself. He wasn't at all sure how deep
this went, but he had the satisfaction of hearing his first name,
the one she had told him she had no need of, fall tentatively
from her pretty lips before the other boys caught a glimpse of
her.

Shortly after his arrival at the ranch Mac went to make his
report to his mistress of some business matters connected with
the trip.

"I see you got back safely with the old lady," she laughed when
she caught sight of him.

His look reproached her. "Y'u said a spinster."