Connie Carl at Rainbow Ranch

"I'll take your luggage now, Miss," said the colored porter politely. "We'll be a-pullin' into Red Gulch in five minutes."

"Yes, I know," replied the girl softly, without shifting her gaze from the window.

For the past hour Connie Carl had been watching the horizon beyond the flashing telegraph poles. A faint cloud-like blue line which represented New Mexico's mountains--her mountains--had steadily moved closer. She was going home at last, home to Rainbow Ranch.

At first glance a stranger never would have taken Connie Carl for a Westerner. The girl was neatly dressed in a blue suit with gray suede slippers, and a wisp of auburn-red hair peeped from beneath her jaunty felt hat. She looked for all the world like a young lady who had just graduated from a stylish Eastern finishing school, which in truth, she had. But now, at sixteen, Connie Carl had returned to the prairie land she loved, to make her home once more at the place of her birth, Rainbow Ranch.

The train had slowed down for the station. Connie went quickly down the aisle, waiting in the vestibule until the train came to a full stop.

"Someone meetin' you, Miss?" asked the porter as she slipped a coin into his hand. "This heah Red Gulch ain't nothin' but a wide place in the road."

"Yes, I've wired ahead, so I'm sure someone will meet me," said Connie with a smile. "Anyway, I've been here before."

The porter set out the luggage on the platform. As the train pulled slowly away, Connie looked quickly about.

Two men in wide brimmed hats and blue overalls were loading freight on a motor truck, but she did not know either of them. Otherwise the platform was deserted.

"It's queer there's no one here to meet me," thought Connie. "Perhaps I didn't send my wire in time for it to reach the ranch."

After hesitating a moment, the girl picked up her heavy suitcases and carried them into the unswept little station. She walked over to the ticket window where the agent was busy with a report.

"Hello, Andy!" said Connie.

The agent looked up and stared. Then light broke over his face.

"Well, if it ain't Connie Carl! I'm sure glad to see you back."

"I'm glad to get back home too, Andy. It seems as if I've been gone half my life."

"Let's see, how long has it been?"

"Three years--three long years."

"So they educated you, did they, Connie?"

"Well, they tried it," laughed the girl, "but I've not forgotten how to ride a horse. I can hardly wait to get out to the ranch. I thought someone would meet me."

"Haven't seen Blakeman or any of the Rainbow outfit in town for a week. Roads have been pretty muddy. But you can get through now."

"I'll hire a rig," said Connie. "Does old Charlie Trench still rim his jitney?"

"Same as ever," the agent agreed with a grin. Then his face became sober. "But you may find other changes around here."

"What sort of changes?" inquired Connie quickly.

"Oh, one thing and another," answered the agent vaguely. "Say, I see Charlie across the street now. If you want to catch him you better hurry."

Connie hastened across the street, stopping the old man just as he was entering a cafe. He greeted her with a hearty handshake and declared that he would be glad to drive her out to Rainbow Ranch.

"Everything looks just the same," laughed Connie as Charlie loaded her bags into the decrepit old car.

"Maybe they look thet way," replied the old taxi driver shortly, "but they ain't! You'll find plenty of changes, Connie--'specially out at Rainbow."

"Why, is anything the matter, Charlie?" Connie stared at him in surprise. "I thought everything was running well. The foreman, Forest Blakeman, seemed to be very efficient."

"Sure, he's efficient. 'Specially where his own interests are concerned. You'll find most of the old outfit broken up."

"Isn't Red Farnham there?" asked Connie in amazement. "And Shorty and Sixshooter Pete?"

"Red left six months ago," Charlie answered with a shrug. "Sixshooter Pete drifted north this spring, and some of the other boys hired out to the Drowsy Water outfit. Shorty took himself to Mexico. I reckon Lefty Forbes is about the only one still there."

"Why didn't Blakeman write me about these changes?" asked Connie indignantly. "Why, those boys were my father's most loyal cowhands. Rainbow Ranch won't seem like home without them."

"There's been a lot of changes since your Dad died, Connie."

"Yes," agreed the girl soberly. "When he willed Rainbow Ranch to me, he provided that I must attend school in the East. I never wished to leave New Mexico because I feel that I belong here. Now that I'm through school, I'm aiming to take over the management of Rainbow Ranch myself."

Old Charlie glanced sideways at the girl as he steered the car along the narrow dirt road.

"Maybe that won't be so easy to do, Connie," he said quietly.

"Dad left Rainbow Ranch to me, didn't he?" the girl asked sharply. "What are you driving at anyway, Charlie? I wish you'd speak right out."

"I've already talked a-plenty, Connie. You'll get the lay of the land soon enough."

Old Charlie lapsed into moody silence, devoting all his attention to the road. For a time they drove through a winding canyon, following the bed of a swift-moving stream. On either side rose red rock walls which under the light of the fading sun took on many beautiful hues. By craning her neck Connie could see the tops of spruce trees, aspens and cottonwoods.

The girl watched the blue mountains moving closer and closer. She breathed deeply of the fresh, crisp air. It was good to be home, and yet the edge had been taken from her enjoyment.