The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's Desire

by Margaret Vandercook

  CHAPTER XVI

  THE ELECTION

  "When do you think we will hear, Jack?"

  "Toward late evening, Jim. At least I was told that at about eighto'clock a fairly good guess could be made. But suppose we don't talk ofit. Let me read to you."

  Jim Colter, who was lying on a couch in a large sunny, empty room moveda little impatiently.

  "If you lose the election, Jack, it will be because of the demands wehave all made upon you in these last weeks. You had nothing much to goupon but your personality, your chance of pleasing people and convincingthem of your sincerity, and here you have been shut up at the Rainbowranch for weeks. It has not been in the least necessary for you to takecare of me, any one of the girls could have looked after me equallywell. You are not a born nurse, Jack, as the saying goes. So when yourecovered and I was safe at home you should have gone on with yourelection campaign."

  "Really, Jim, 'ingratitude, more fierce than traitors' arms, quitevanquished him,' or her, in this case. If I'm not a 'born nurse' youdon't dare say that of late I have not become a cultivated one.Moreover, if the other girls could have taken equally good care of you,please remember that they have been doing their share, they and everymember of this household! Do you suppose a man can continue in perfecthealth for as many years as you have and then in case of illness notrequire a regiment of nurses to look after him? But confess, if I am nota good nurse, you can growl more successfully at me than at any oneelse."

  "Am I growling, Jack? Perhaps I do pretty often, but at present it isbecause I regret so deeply that you have to devote yourself first toFrieda and Peace and afterwards to me, when you have needed all yourtime and energy for your political work. If you are defeated I shallalways feel responsible."

  "Vain of you, don't you think?" Jack answered. "Besides, Jim Colter, youare well enough now for us to talk of something that I have beenthinking of for a long time. Never have you confessed to me or to anyone else, so far as I know, how in the world you happened to be soseriously hurt. In the first place, what brought you to town on thatespecial afternoon when you were supposed to be miles away attending tosome business connected with the ranch? Then arriving there, how did youmanage to get into the midst of a rough-and-tumble fight? Billy Prestondid tell me this much. But I presume you must have ordered him to keepquiet, else he would not have been so non-committal."

  Jim Colter stared at the opposite wall rather than toward the figure ofthe girl sitting near him, or through either of the two large windowswith wide outlooks over the Rainbow ranch. It was mid-afternoon of anearly autumn day with a faint haze in the air, unusual in the prairiecountry.

  "I don't believe I feel equal to talking, Jack, not just at present, orfor any length of time," he answered a trifle uneasily. "Perhaps I'dbetter try to sleep."

  "Very well," Jacqueline Kent agreed, smiling and at the same time with aserious expression in her eyes. "But, Jim, when you wake you might aswell decide to tell me the truth. Don't you suppose I have guessed thegreater part of it?"

  There was a silence for some time in the big room, Jim Colter closinghis eyes, Jack staring out the window at the familiar scenes she loved.

  By and by, when he did not believe she was aware of what he was doing,Jim opened his eyes and stared at his companion's profile.

  Jack looked more fatigued than he often remembered to have seen her; shehad less color, less her old suggestion of vitality. There were circlesunder her eyes, little hollows in her cheeks. Yet she did not look illand one could scarcely marvel at the change in her after the past tryingmonths, first the strain of her effort at electioneering on her ownbehalf, and more recently the tax which he and Frieda's little girl hadput upon her.

  If she were elected to Congress would she ever be the old-time Jackagain? Jim Colter had to suppress a sigh of dissatisfaction over thethought, which may have sounded more like a groan. To think of Jack withher youth and charm shut up within the Legislative halls in Washingtonwas not only an absurdity, but something far worse! Well, of course ifcaught by a wave of enthusiasm and desire for change, Jack should beelected to the United States Congress he must arrange to spend part ofthe year with her. The two older of the new little Ranch girls must goto school and Jean Merritt would look after the others. The Rainbowranch and his own adjoining ranch would have to be turned over to one ofhis assistants, since Jack would need him more than any other person orany other thing.

  Then Jim Colter closed his eyes. Would she actually need him more, orwas it because he cared more for her need than for any possible humandemand that could be made upon him? Always he had been tremendously fondof Jack, unhesitatingly more fond of her than of the other three Ranchgirls in her gallant but wilful girlhood. Now, since his own loss andhers, and since Jack's return to the Rainbow ranch, surely there was nopoint in denying to himself that the affection which held him to her wasstronger than ever, stronger than any other emotion in his life.

  "Jim, you are not asleep, you are only pretending," Jack said suddenly."Now tell me, didn't you go over to the village on the day you werehurt because you heard I was to make a speech and there might betrouble? And didn't you arrive so late you felt it best not to tell meto go home, because I had already started to speak? And after the rumpusbegan and Jimmie and I were safely on the way home didn't you try tofind out who was responsible for the discourtesy to me? Afterwards whathappened, Jim?

  "Jack, I suppose I forgot a good many things I should have remembered,first and foremost that I did not wish you made conspicuous and that Iwas older than I used to be, and that I ought by this time to havelearned to control my temper."

  "Yes, but Billy Preston declares that when he arrived you seemed to havehalf a dozen persons against you and that you were managing pretty well.It was disgraceful of you, Jim; you who have been preaching for as manyyears as I can remember that there was to be no fighting on the Rainbowranch for any cause whatsoever and that no excuse would be accepted byyou as a justifiable one. What influence do you suppose your sermonswill now have among the cowboys? As for making me conspicuous, it seemsrather a funny thing that neither you nor I recognized that running fora public office is apt to make one conspicuous. One can hardly vote fora person one has never heard of."

  Jim sighed.

  "Yes, you are right, Jack, but it is too late now to discuss this sideof the situation. If you are elected it won't be any better; sure to beworse, in fact. I suppose you realize that if you live in Washington thegreater part of the year, you'll have to bear with my society most ofthe time."

  Jacqueline Kent bit her lip for an instant and then shook her head.

  "Good of you to suggest it, Jim, but out of the question of course.Jimmie and I'll have to manage somehow, trusting members of the familywill visit us now and then to see how we are getting on. But as for you,you are too much needed here at the ranch, besides having to look afterthe new little ranch girls. I could never accept the sacrifice."

  "Yes? But I don't see how you are going to prevent it, Jack," Jimanswered abruptly and in a tone Jack had never contradicted in her life.Always Jim Colter had been the one person whose will was stronger thanher own, even in the important matters in which she always felt she hadthe better right to judge.

  "Oh, well, we won't quarrel on the subject yet, Jim, because of coursethere are ninety-nine chances to one that I won't be elected. I must gonow and dress for dinner. Here comes Professor Russell to sit with you.I'll come back later if I hear the returns to-night."

  A little after eight o'clock on this same evening, a group of JacquelineKent's friends, her own family, and Jacqueline herself, were standingtalking together in the drawing-room of the big house; occasionally oneor two of them disappeared to come back with the latest news of theelection returns.

  Earlier in the afternoon the reports from the neighborhood districts hadgiven a majority to the feminine candidate. Later, when the countingbegan to take place in the cities, there appeared a change in theresults, with Peter Stevens leading. Then Jacqueline K
ent's victoryseemed assured by a sudden spurt in the figures giving her an importantlead throughout the western portion of the state.

  "Do you think we will know to-night without doubt?" Frieda Russellinquired of John Marshall, who had driven over and had dinner with hisfriends at the Rainbow ranch.

  "One cannot be positive in any election until the next day, Mrs.Russell," he assured Frieda, "but I think between ten o'clock andmidnight we can be pretty positive, at least that is the view my fathertakes, and he has been in politics nearly as long as I can remember. Hetold me to tell 'Jack' as he calls her, that he congratulates herwhatever occurs, whether she is defeated or elected."

  "Well, I don't know what to hope," Frieda murmured. "For months I havebeen praying Jack would _not_ win, and now to-night I feel I may hate itif she is not elected. You know I shall also feel responsible in a waysince so many of Jack's friends insist that her taking no part in thecampaign during the last weeks has made such a difference."

  "Oh, that could not be helped! And sometimes I think, though I have donemy best to help Mrs. Kent win, that she is too young and that an olderand perhaps a different kind of woman might be more suitable. See, evenafter all she has been through, she looks like a young girl to-night. Idon't believe she cares very much."

  Frieda glanced toward her sister, who was standing before thedrawing-room fire laughing and talking to several friends and appearingless perturbed than she herself felt.

  Jack was paler than usual and there were circles under her eyes whichFrieda knew were uncommon, notwithstanding her eyes and lips were bothsmiling. She wore a white serge dress trimmed with silver braid, herhair was slightly parted on one side and coiled low on her neck.

  "One cannot always tell how Jack feels, she is braver than most persons.Frankly, I don't know any more than you do how much she is interested inwinning. I do think she scarcely realized what it meant when she wasoriginally nominated. It isn't like Jack to turn back once she hasstarted, although I believe she did find the publicity harder to bearthan she anticipated. You see, an older person, or one who had had moreexperience in political life, would have understood, but Jack has livedin England for the past years. On her return home it appeared awonderful experience to play some part in American politics, as thewomen are beginning to do in England. I don't think Jack realized shemight not be fitted for a political career when other people beganurging her forward."

  John Marshall laughed.

  "No, I don't feel she is unsuited to a great career, but it was of herpersonally I was thinking. If you'll excuse me for a few moments I willgo to the telephone again. It is growing late and my father has promisedto telephone me from headquarters at a little before ten o'clock. Evenif he has been working for Peter Stevens because he wants a man to beelected rather than a woman, we can count on his figures beingaccurate."

  John Marshall disappeared. A quarter of an hour passed and he did notreturn. In the meantime three or four other persons went away to joinhim.

  The clock on the mantel was striking half-past ten when Jack herselfheard the noise of a horse galloping toward the house. It was she whowalked quietly to an already open window and stretched forth her hand toreceive the telegram.

  "This telegram comes from Cheyenne, I suppose it will be official and weshall know the best or the worst," she announced. Then opening it sheread aloud:

  "Victory conceded to Peter Stevens. Better luck next time."

  Afterwards, in the brief silence which followed, Frieda Russell burstinto tears.

  "But, Frieda," Jack expostulated, slipping an arm about her sister andsmiling as she faced the group of people gazing directly at her, "Ithought you wanted me to be defeated. You have never wished for anythingelse." She turned to the others. "I can only say that I am deeplygrateful for everybody's kindness, yet the voters of Wyoming probablyhave acted wisely. All women may not need longer preparation beforeholding public office, but I am afraid I do. Now if you will pardon me,I confess I am tired and would like to say good-night."

  Running swiftly upstairs, Jacqueline Kent paused for an instant outsideher former guardian's door. She had been staying in the big house duringhis illness.

  "Is that you, Jack?" a voice asked instantly. "Well, what is the news?"

  "I was defeated, Jim. Peter Stevens is the next Congressman fromWyoming."

  "Well, Jack, I'd hate to tell you how glad I am. Are you very deeplydisappointed?"

  "No, Jim, I am not. I believe I feel relieved. But please don't tellother people. Good-night."