"That Sarko I do not like that he should keeck you!" flamed Anita, and
Sundown's cup of happiness was full to overflowing.

Quite unconsciously he was leading his horse toward the gate and quite
unconsciously Anita was walking beside him. Forgotten was the Loring
ranch, the Concho, his own homestead. He was with his inamorata, the
"Linda Rosa" of his dreams.

At the gateway he turned to her. "I'm comin' over to see your folks
soon as I git things to runnin' on me ranch. Keeps a fella busy, but
I'm sure comin'. I ain't got posies to growin' yet, but I'm goin' to
have some--like them," and he indicated the bud which she held.

"You like it?" she queried. And with bashful gesture she gave him the
rose, smiling as he immediately stuck it in the band of his sombrero.

Then he held out his hand. "Linda Rosa," he said gently, "I can't make
the big talk in the Spanish lingo or I'd say how I was lovin' you and
thinkin' of you reg'lar and deep. 'Course I got to put your pa and ma
wise first. But some day I'm comin'--me and Chance--and tell you that
I'm ready--that me ranch is doin' fine, and that I sure want you to
come over and boss the outfit. I used to reckon that I didn't want no
woman around bossin' things, but I changed me mind. Adios!
Senorita!--for I sure got to feed them hens."

Sundown extended his hand. Anita laid her own plump brown hand in
Sundown's hairy paw. For an instant he hesitated, moved by a most
natural impulse to kiss her. Her girlish face, innocently sweet and
trusting, her big brown eyes glowing with admiration and wonder, as she
gazed up at him, offered temptation and excuse enough. It was not
timidity nor lack of opportunity that caused Sundown to hesitate, but
rather that innate respect for women which distinguishes the gentle man
from the slovenly generalization "gentleman." "Adios! Linda Rosa!" he
murmured, and stooping, kissed her brown fingers. Then he gestured
with magnificence toward the flowers bordering the roadway. "And you
sure are the lindaest little Linda Rosa of the bunch!"

And Anita's heart was filled with happiness as she watched her brave
caballero ride away, so tall, so straight, and of such the gentle
manner and the royal air!

It was inevitable that he should turn and wave to her, but it was not
inevitable that she should have thrown him a pretty kiss with the grace
of her pent-up emotion--but she did.

CHAPTER XXIV

AN UNEXPECTED VISIT

It was