There was not going to be any lion-chasing or elk-hunting this day.

Something was in the wind.

And Fox, as a privileged dog, manifested his interest and wonder.
Before noon a buckboard with team of sweating horses halted in the yard of the ranch-house.

Besides the driver it contained two women whom Belllounds greeted as relatives, and a stranger, a pale man whose dark garb proclaimed him a minister.
"Come right in, folks," welcomed Belllounds, with hearty excitement.
It was Wade who showed the driver where to put the horses.

Strangely, not a cowboy was in sight, an omission of duty the rancher had noted.
Wade might have informed him where they were.
The door of the big living-room stood open, and from it came the sound of laughter and voices.