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spell. But then Livy interrupted and with that dangerous, too-innocent look on her face she said, “Well, I guess farm-outs are leased then, because you get to keep them till they’re eighteen.”
    So Gib thought he knew why he was back at the Rocking M, at least as far as Livy was concerned, but the next day she was extra nice to him, like always after she’d had a spell of being real ornery.
    Gib had been back at the Rocking M for almost a week, and he was still wondering about why he was there when, on a cold, clear November day, something happened that definitely gave him something else to ponder on.

Chapter 6
    B Y SATURDAY MORNING THE blizzard finally blew itself out. The heavy clouds disappeared and a weak, wintry sun shone down on a gleaming white ocean of snow. A smooth and level ocean out on the open prairie, but one that piled up in deep white waves around fences and buildings.
    On the windward side of the house and barn the snow was as high as Gib’s head but in the open barnyard it was spread smooth and thin as a white carpet. And it was on that sleek white carpet that Gib rode Silky for the first time since his return to the Rocking M.
    He’d asked permission at breakfast that morning and Missus Julia had asked Hy if he thought it would be all right. Hy was planning to take advantage of the settled weather to drive the team into Longford for supplies, but when Gib asked he said, “Don’t see why not. You’ll not be needin’ my help. She’ll, be feeling her oats, that’s for certain, but you’ll know how to keep the lid on her till she settles down. Won’t you, Gibby?”
    So then Missus Julia said to be sure to bundle up, and Miss Hooper found him an old train engineer’s cap with woolly ear flaps. Livy hadn’t said anything at all at the table; in fact she didn’t even seem to be listening. But when Gib, bundled up like a North Pole Eskimo, was going out the door, there she was dressed up in her coat and boots and wearing a new fur-trimmed bonnet.
    “I’m coming too,” she said, and when Gib stared at her in consternation, wondering what to say, she went on, “Don’t worry. I won’t ask to ride. I just want to watch.” And then when Gib went on staring she added angrily, “I have permission. Don’t you believe me? Want to come back inside and ask my mother?”
    Gib shook his head. “No, I believe you. I just thought ...
    “Yes, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking that the last time I rode Silky you got sent away. Well, don’t worry. Nobody’s going to send you away again.” Then her blue eyes widened and in an innocent, little-girl voice she said, “At least not till you’re eighteen.”
    Gib had never gotten angry easily but when someone, like old Elmer back in the orphanage, went out of their way to do or say something ornery, Gib always felt it deep down in the bottom of his stomach. Once or twice he’d even punched somebody for that kind of meanness, but that somebody had never been a lot smaller than he was, and a girl at that. Gib unclenched his fists and took a deep breath. Then he took hold of Livy by both shoulders and said very slowly, “Look here, Livy Thornton. Don’t you go making any more remarks about farm-outs, ’cause if you do—if you do ...
    He stopped then, noticing that Livy’s eyes and mouth were wide open and her breath was coming in little shaky gasps. She looked downright terrified. Suddenly Gib felt a grin coming on. “’Cause if you do,” he repeated, “I’m going to dump you in a snowdrift—headfirst.”
    He turned her loose then and headed for the barn, wondering what she’d do to get even. Wondering, but not regretting what he’d done, nor even looking back, so he didn’t notice she was right behind him until he was inside the barn. He was on his way to the tack room when something made him turn and there she stood, right across from Silky’s stall. When he stopped to stare, she smiled and nodded as if he’d just paid her