"Oh, she loves good horses, but the Colonel always bets, and, as I have
said, it keeps him poor. It's the gambling that she hates, and not the
horses. Every year he plans to keep away from all horse-racing for her
sake; every year he tries to do it, but quite fails."

She laughed heartily. "An' she thinks he loves th' races more than he
does her?" she asked. Then, more soberly: "I don't know's I blame her,
none. When's she comin'? I'll be powerful glad to see her."

"I don't know just when she's coming, but she's promised me to have the
Colonel bring her up here. I want to have her see the beauty of the
mountains."

"I'll like him, sure, whether I like her or not."

He was astonished. "But you said you would be sure to love her!"

"Uh-huh; but I'd be surer to like anyone who is as fond of hawsses as
you say he is. Why, when I ride--"

"I didn't know you ever rode a horse. I've only seen you on your ox."

"Poor old Buck! It's true, I have been ridin' him, when I felt lazy,
lately, but my pony--ah, that's _fun_!"

"Where is he?"

They had started strolling down the trail and were near the pasture
bars, where she had left Joe Lorey on the morning of her bath, after
having ridden down to them upon her ox.