Once astride the horse again, Helen had to congratulate herself upon not being so crippled as she had imagined.

Indeed, Bo made all the audible complaints.
Both girls had long water-proof coats, brand-new, and of which they were considerably proud.

New clothes had not been a common event in their lives.
"Reckon I'll have to slit these," Dale had said, whipping out a huge knife.
"What for ?" had been Bo's feeble protest.
"They wasn't made for ridin'.

An' you'll get wet enough even if I do cut them.

An' if I don't, you'll get soaked." "Go ahead," had been Helen's reluctant permission.
So their long new coats were slit half-way up the back.