Julia climbed upon a tree stump in front of the cabin, where she got into her riding habit. I brought her horse around and she leaped to the saddle like an acrobat. The horses, homeward bound, needed no urging. We let them go as fast as they liked, and in the evening pulled up safely in front of the livery stable, where Julia insisted on paying the bill. The fat man reached for the money I proffered, but she snatched it out of my hand and made him take hers.

“This is on me,” she said, returning my money, “and so is the dinner. Come on, let’s find a good place to eat.”

The fat man looked at me slyly, started to say something, but changed his mind. He was afraid of Julia.