Her mind was as busy as her hands.

As she cleaned and swept and dusted she heard from time to time the voices of men, the clip-clop of shod horses, the bellow of cattle.

And a considerable time elapsed before she was disturbed.
A tall shadow darkened the doorway.
"Howdy, little one!" said a lazy, drawling voice.

"So y'u-all got home ?" Ellen looked up.

A superbly built man leaned against the doorpost.
Like most Texans, he was light haired and light eyed.