The foreman, Candy Baker, got the tow most suitable horses from the stables and lead them to the wagon. With care he hitched the animals to the wagon.
When that was done he went to his boss.
“Mr Holmes, the carriage is ready”, Candy announced.
Rancher John Holmes got up and walked with him outside.
“I going to get my daughter. You keep an eye on this lot”, John answered.
He climbed on the box and drove with the horses to the station.
The wagon got used for many things but usually to transport the female company. For instance for a ride to town and on Sunday to church. Or in this case to get someone from the station.
The ranch of John Holmes was situated near a desert in the south of New Mexico. The nearest town was Touch Stone. It was a quiet little town where crime hardly took place. That’s why John had taken his daughter from boarding school to let her study further in town.
Arrived at the station the rancher saw that the train of two o ’clock hadn’t arrived yet. He jumped from the wagon and let the horses stand by. Hereafter he walked upon the platform. Waiting for the train John thought about his ten year old daughter who had been at boarding school since her eighth birthday and came now home for good. The previous housekeeper of John, Claire Willis, had made sure at the time that Vicky went to that school. Now there was a new housekeeper and she was willing to help raising John’s daughter she returned back home.
Finally the train came riding into the station. True, a quarter of an hour too late but that was normal. First John didn’t see his daughter at first because all grown-ups came out of the train and wee in a hurry to leave the station. Only when the platform was empty the rancher saw his daughter standing. A conductor had put her luggage on the platform and then the girl herself.
“Victoria”, the rancher called her.
Vicky recognized her father and ran to him. John picked her up laughing and kissed her on both cheeks.
“Come gal. We go home” , the rancher said.
He put her on the ground and grabbed her luggage. Together they walked to the wagon. Vicky climbed on it herself. John put the luggage in it and climbed next to his
daughter on the box.
Candy walked into the kitchen and asked the Mexican housekeeper Rosa:“Is the Welcome cake for Miss Vicky ready?”
“Si. What do you think of it?”, she asked on her turn.
The foreman smiled and said while he looked at the cake, “It is a waste to cut and eat it.”
Rosa had baked the cake in the shape of a bear and decorated very nicely.
On the cake was there to be read: WELCOME HOME VICKY.
John and Vicky had rode upon the yard.
“We are home sweetheart”, the rancher said when he had parked the wagon in front of the door.
He climbed from it and put his daughter on the ground. Candy and Rosa came outside.
The foreman called out with an exciting voice, “Miss Vicky! ”
“Candy!”, the girl called out and she ran to him.
The foreman and Rosa each got a friendly greeting.
With help of Candy and Rosa John made sure that Vicky grew up to a happy and lovely young lady at home.