“I will, Mister Zoroaster,” she said.

The Mormon cowboy’s face turned redder than his hair. He was dumbfounded, and plainly fought to keep from running. But Cherry’s smile chained him. If she saw in the boxing bout an opportunity to get acquainted with Zoroaster, he evidently saw one to outdo the other zealous suitors for her favor. Awkwardly he thrust a pair of gloves at her.

“All right, miss. You’re shore showin’ these hombres up. But I’ll be careful not to hurt you.”

Cherry was athletic and, as it happened, was the best boxer in her club. Pretending unfamiliarity with boxing gloves, she begged someone to help her put them on.

All save Wess rushed to her assistance. He stared, open-mouthed, and finally ejaculated: “Wal, for gawd’s sake!”

“There. Now, Mister Zoroaster, give me a few pointers, please,” Cherry suggested winningly.

“It’s easy, miss,” he said, extending his gloved hands. “Keep one foot forward, an’ lead with your left hand. Keep yore eyes on my gloves an’ duck.”

Cherry affected practice while Zoroaster circled her. Plainly he was not a scientific boxer, and Cherry, who had had many a bout with the club instructor, saw some fun ahead. Suddenly she ceased her pretense and went for Zoroaster, swift and light as a cat, and grasped at once that she could hit him when and where she pleased.

“Ride ’em, cowgirl. Oh, my!” cried Mojave.

“Thet’s placin’ one, miss!” shouted Wess in great glee.

“S-s-s-soak him fer me,” stuttered Tay-Tay in delight.

“Señorita, you ees one grand boxer,” Lorenzo declared dramatically.

Zoroaster’s fear and amazement helped to put him at Cherry’s mercy. She danced around the transfixed Mormon, raining taps upon his handsome nose. Finally she struck him smartly with her left, and followed that up with as hard a right swing as she could muster. It landed square on Zoroaster’s nose and all but upset him.

The cowboys, instead of roaring, seemed suddenly paralyzed. Cherry, glowing and panting, turned to see what was wrong. Her father stood in the doorway, horrified, completely robbed of the power of speech. Zoroaster bolted out of the front door, followed by his cowboy comrades.

Cherry’s mirth was not one whit lessened by the sight of her father’s face. Gaily she ran to him, extending the gloves to be untied.

“Weren’t they something? I love ’em all, and that handsome red-headed devil best. Oh, bless you, Dad. I’ll stay here forever!”

Two

From that moment events multiplied. Cherry could not keep track of them. She was having the time of her life. And every now and then it burst upon her what really innocent fun it was, compared to the high pressure of life in the East.

She had disrupted the even tenor of the trading post. Linn averred that something must be done about it. His cowboys had gone crazy. If they remembered their work, it was to desert it or do it wrong.