"Come inside, Rocky, and eat!" shouted Jim Topp. "We have a long ride ahead of us. You don't want to go all day without eating! Jim Topp knew the ride up to the Henley farm would take a while, and by the time they would make it back home Rocky would be starved.

"Okay…I'm on my way in," Rocky hesitantly replied, then stepped down from the saddle to the ground. "I won't be long, Comanche." After tying his horse to the hitching post and giving his trusty steed a pat on the side of his neck Rocky ran up the steps. He suddenly flung the heavy wooden door open with a bang, then scampered to the table and began devouring his food.

"Slow down, Rocky!" warned Mary. "You don't want to choke by eating too fast…"

"Yes, son," interrupted Jim Topp. "We have plenty of time to get up to the Petersens' cabin!" Rocky slowed his eating, but not by much. He couldn't wait to get going, and he could hear Comanche outside also getting restless. After finishing with breakfast Rocky ran out through the cabin's front door, and in no time was sitting on Comanche's saddle all ready to go.

"Time's a-wasting, Pa!" shouted Rocky, as he backed Comanche away from the hitching post.

"Hold your horses," replied Jim Topp, as he gathered up his boots and hat.

"I'm already holding them," laughed Rocky, grabbing on to the buggy horse's reins.

"I got the message," laughingly said Jim Topp." Here I come. We'll be back later this afternoon, Mary." After giving his wife a look he lifted his hat from the rack. "That boy must have ants in his pants," Jim smiled.

"Have a good trip, you two," said Mary after walking her husband to the door. "And give the Petersens my regards."

"We will, Ma," Rocky replied after turning Comanche in the direction of the trail.

Rocky couldn't wait to get started, and neither could Comanche who was straining at the bit--as if to hurry everyone up. Finally Jim Topp climbed up into his buggy, and then was also ready to go.

"Let's take a ride out behind the barn to the wood line first, Rocky." spoke Jim Topp as he turned his horse.

"Why do you want to go down there?" asked a bewildered Rocky. "Don't you think we should hurry to the Petersens, Pa? Before he sells his farm to someone else?"