20 - Ranch Girls at Home Again by Margaret Vandercook

In this closing volume of the Ranch Girls series, romance takes center stage as the four girls return to Rainbow Ranch. Familiar faces and new adventures lead to heartfelt conclusions.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Brivok's recordings in the public domain. A party at the
new house. The society people in that part of Wyoming
within the radius of the Rainbow Ranch were deeply interested,
and some of them a good deal excited over the
fact that an American Italian princess and an Italian prince
were being entertained in their midst. For some time previous

(00:23):
to the coming of their guests, Ruth and the girls
had planned giving a large evening party. Originally, the idea
had been to make it a kind of housewarming as
well as a formal announcement of Jack's engagement, But as
Jack begged not to be made specially conspicuous in regard
to the invitations, they were finally issued by mister and

(00:44):
Missus Colter, asking that their friends do them the honor
of meeting Miss Katherine Winthrop, the Princess Colonna, and her nephew,
the Prince Giovanni Cologna on a certain September evening. According
to the desires of the Ranch girls, the innersentertainment was
to be both a reception and dance, for the new
home was large enough for both. For while the older

(01:06):
guests were talking to one another in the music room
and library. The big living room could be used for dancing.
It was about six o'clock on the afternoon before the
ball when the four girls, in dressing gowns of various shades,
slipped through the wide colonial hall and entered the big parlor.
Frida dropped into a chair set close against the wall

(01:27):
and sighed deeply. Her yellow hair had been washed only
a few hours before and was now in a big,
loose knot on top of her head, though it kept
breaking forth into delicious curls about her white forehead and neck.
In answer to the sigh, Jack sat down on the
floor at her younger sister's feet. Isn't everything all right? Baby?

(01:49):
Isn't the room as lovely as you expected? She asked anxiously,
for although Jack had always been unusually tender and devoted
to Frieda, she was even more in these days with
the thought of leaving her so close at hand. Again,
Frida sighed, but this time she explained herself, it is
more than all right. It is more beautiful than I

(02:10):
ever expected any place belonging to us could be. Not
that I did not love the dear old lodge, but
this house is well different. Isn't it dreadful that you
are going away so soon, Jack dearest, After all our
work in planning, it will never seem just like home
without you. With a sudden movement, she encrossed the room,

(02:33):
placing her fingers slightly upon Frida's lips. We have promised
Jack not to say anything like that, Frida, dear, she protested,
at least not to night. We must all have the
happiest evening of our lives on that none of us
shall forget. The younger girl glanced up at her cousin wistfully,
with a question on her lips, but instead of asking it,

(02:56):
she clapped her hands softly together. See that lovely light
coming through our stained glass window. Isn't it like a rainbow? Oh?
I hope it means good luck, just as it always
has in the past, And somehow it makes this room
more beautiful. I did not dream anything could naturally. Frieda

(03:17):
was prejudiced and an enthusiast, and yet she had ample
reason for her point of view. For a moment, there
was an unusual silence as the four girls looked around them.
Consciously or unconsciously. They realized that these next few weeks
were to mark important changes in their lives, for after
they had slept by, things could never be exactly the same.

(03:41):
Jack would be married, and that would represent the first
important break. And after that, well, they were not little
girls any longer, for even Frida had lately shown unmistakable
signs of being grown up. The walls of the long
room were hung with Western smilax, and since the part
was to be a typical American one, the girls had

(04:02):
been wildly extravagant and used American beauty roses for the decoration.
Now the air was fragrant with their rich and penetrating perfume.
The old colonial mantle was bank with them, and garlands
of green swinging from one white column to another, had
big baskets filled with roses suspended between the posts. The

(04:23):
room itself was fifty feet long and three fourts as broad.
All the woodwork and the walls were warm gray. The
greater part of the furniture had of course been removed,
and a white tarpaulin covered the hardwood floor, But in
the bay window there were palms and vases of roses
and an old fashioned colonial sofa, besides several chairs. Also

(04:46):
there were occasional chairs along the walls for the older
persons who might care to watch the dancing. The music
was to be concealed in the hall, behind a bank
of evergreens, just beneath the wide mahogany stairs. Well, if
there is anything more that can be done to make
this place more attractive, I am sure I don't know
what it is, Jean insisted at last. And I am

(05:09):
especially glad that we asked mister Parker to come to night,
because of course he may have built more expensive houses
than ours, yet I am quite sure he has never
made one more attractive. Besides, he is awfully nice, gracious girls,
Who is that knocking? Ruth thinks we are being nice
and obedient and lying down until seven? But Olive had

(05:33):
walked over to the closed door and opened it half way.
Don't be alarmed, she laughed back. It is only the
flowers Frank is sending us for to night. Let's open
them now and see what choice he has made. Ruth
told him about our dresses so that he could not
make any serious mistake. Almost concealed by four great boxes

(05:54):
reaching up as high as her head, Olive came back
to where Jack was sitting and placed them in a
great pile before her. You give them to ask Jack dear,
since they are from Frank, she urged. The first was
marked with Freda's name, But as she took the top
off the box and lifted out a card, her cheeks
turned suddenly Crimson, these are not from Frank after all,

(06:17):
Frieda remarked, with a pretense of unconcern. Mister Russell says
that I was so kind about reading to him when
his leg was broken, that he asked Frank as a
special favor to let him send me my bouquet for
to night. Her fingers fumbled nervously at the tissue paper,
and her eyes were downcast, since she did not specially

(06:38):
care to have any one staring at her. At this moment,
she could imagine Jack's puzzled and slightly word expression and
Jeanne's and Olive's teasing looks. For The absurd friendship that
had developed between the solemn young professor and Frida was
one of the ill concealed jokes in the family. What
do you suppose that a man who dabbles in Egyptology

(07:00):
for an amusement would send as a bouquet to a baby,
jean inquired mockingly. Possibly a lotus flower for there are
learned persons who declare that Cleopatra was a bewildering blond lady.
And Jean pulled at Frida's yellow curls. The next moment,
along with the other girls, she gave a cry of admiration.

(07:22):
Who would ever have suspected the professor of such exquisite taste,
for in some way he had managed to make his
bouquet suggest the girl to whom it was offered, For
it was formed of hundreds of timey forget me nots,
sat close together and encircled with small, white, starlight flowers.
Jean's roses were the deep pink color that she always loved,

(07:43):
and Olives were wonderful gold and yellow. But Jack hesitated
a moment before opening her box, which was the largest
of the floor and curiously heavy. Half guessing how she felt,
Olive laid her hand lovingly on her friends, take your
flowers up to your own room and look at them
first by yourself, if you would rather, she suggested. However,

(08:07):
Jean and Frieda both raised a storm of protest, and
Jack laughed, it isn't that I am such a bashful
person that I don't want you to see even the
flowers Frank has given me I would not be so absurd,
she confessed. But I have an idea that perhaps Frank
has put something more than flowers in my box, And
I don't think I shall ever ever be able to

(08:29):
wear them? Oh? Children? What made me fall in love
with an Englishman? And one who may inherit a title?
Certainly I shall never be able to live up to it.
Doing her best to hide her nervousness, Jack buried her
hot cheeks in a great bunch of white jasmine flowers.
But Frida's fingers were pointing inexorably to a white velvet

(08:50):
jewel case, which still remained in the flower box, half
buried in evergreens. With a smile, Jack picked it up,
touching the spring on the satin shone a miniature crown
of diamonds and pearls, and an exquisite necklace of the
same jewels. Gracious Frieda gasped, I didn't know Frank Kent

(09:10):
was a millionaire. Why he always has declared that he
was a great deal poorer than lots of American fellows.
I wonder if he has been deceiving you all this time, Jack,
to keep you from marrying him. For his money goose,
Jack laughed, but Frida's absurdity relieved the situation. Don't you
know that these jewels are heirlooms in the Kent family,

(09:32):
that they always belonged to the wife of the eldest son.
I told Frank to wait until our wedding day, but
he seemed to wish me to wear them to night.
I don't believe I possibly can. They are too lovely,
and somehow they don't seem to suit me. Olive placed
the tiara on Jack's gold brown head. The girl's gray

(09:53):
eyes were shining softly, Her head was tilted back the
least bit, and a rich color flooded her cheeks and lips.
I don't think Frank need be exactly ashamed of you,
Lady Kent, she murmured with teasing affection. And then you,
funny Jack, Is there any other girl in America who
would not care more than you do for Frank's splendid

(10:14):
position and all the rest of it? Not for a
single instant do I believe that you gave it a thought?
Dear me, I wish your own sweet cousin were so
high minded girls, said a reproachful voice. Suddenly, is this
the way you keep your sacred promise to me to
rest until dinner time. Go back to your rooms. Instantly,

(10:35):
Ruth Colder scolded. Yet she was hardly an impressive figure,
with her hair rolled up in a tight knot and
a light shawl thrown over her kimono. I heard such
a terrible chattering in here that I was afraid a
collection of magpies had gotten in an open window, and
thought they had come upon an enchanted garden here. Ruth

(10:55):
ceased talking, suddenly, having caught sight of the beautiful ornament
on she gracious, dear, what a wonderful possession. Do let
me see it more closely, she asked, But take it
off first, and then come here and kiss me. A
diamoniara is hardly appropriate with a dressing gown, and I
can't bear to see you looking so regal and so

(11:17):
far away from the rest of us. And with a
break in her voice, Ruth put her arm around Jack
and then led the small possession forth from the room.
End of Chapter twenty read by Nancy Cochran Gergen Gilbert Arizona,
April A, two thousand, twenty three.