He’s probably the most influential man among these backwoodsmen. I rather incline to the opinion that he will like your proposition.”

“It’s very good of you. Thank you,” replied Lucy gratefully. “I am ready now to go with you.”

“I’ll call for you in an hour,” said Mr. Jenks, rising.

After he had gone out Lucy returned to Mrs. Lynn to ask: “I wonder—when he hinted about my problem and said he didn’t want to discourage me—did he mean this—this marrying propensity you spoke of?”

“I reckon you hit it plumb,” replied Mrs. Lynn gravely, yet with a smile. “It’s the only problem you have. You will be a blessin’ to them overworked mothers an’ a godsend to the children.”

“Then—I can stand anything,” rejoined Lucy happily, and she ran upstairs to repack the grip she had opened. While her hands were busy her mind was preoccupied, now humorously and then thoughtfully, and again dreamily. She was indeed curious about these backwoods people—earnestly and sympathetically curious. It was impossible not to conjecture about this Edd Denmeade. She made a mental picture of him, not particularly flattering. Poor fellow! So all he wanted was a wife, any girl he could get. The thought afforded Lucy amusement, yet she felt pity for the lonesome fellow. “I hope to goodness he doesn’t run after me!” soliloquised Lucy, suddenly aghast. “I certainly wouldn’t marry a backwoodsman—or a cowboy…Pooer little foolish sister! I wonder how soon she’ll find out her mistake. That Rex Wilcox was no good…I wish everybody wouldn’t make me think of marriage. It’ll be a long time until I want to—if ever.”

Lucy sighed, dispelled her dreams, and finished her packing, after which she gazed out of the window.

It was considerably longer than an hour before Lucy found herself seated in an old buckboard beside Mr. Jenks, rattling along a dusty road behind the heels of two big shaggy horses.

But the brisk trot soon ended at the base of the steep ridge, up which the road zigzagged through a low-branched thick-foliaged forest, remarkable for its fragrance.

“What smells so sweet?” was one of Lucy’s many questions.

“Cedar. Those gnarled trees with the grey sheafs of bark, hanging like ribbons, and the dense fine light-green foliage, are the cedars that give name to the ridge and village,” replied Mr. Jenks. “They are an upland tree, an evergreen. I like them, but not so well as this more graceful tree with the chequered bark. That’s a juniper. See the lilac-coloured berries. They grow ripe about every two years. And this huge round green bush with the smooth red-barked branches is manzanita. And that pale green plant with the spear-pointed leaves like a century plant—that’s mescal…But perhaps you would be more interested to hear about the people.”

“Yes. But I love the outdoors and all that grows,” replied Lucy enthusiastically.