
The story opens on a bright May morning at Rainbow Ranch, where three spirited girls—Jean, Jacqueline, and Olive—are enjoying a whimsical tea party beneath blossoming fruit trees. Their carefree chatter turns serious when a letter arrives offering a hundred‑dollar monthly rent for the ranch as a summer lodge, sparking dreams of travel and adventure. Their wise chaperone, Ruth, cautions them about the practicalities of such a venture, reminding them that railroad fares and lodging are no small expense.
In the gentle rustle of prairie grass and the scent of fresh blossoms, the girls weigh the lure of distant horizons against the comfort of home. Their lively debates reveal a deep bond and a shared yearning for the unknown, while the ranch itself seems to whisper possibilities. Listeners are invited to join this charming slice of early‑twentieth‑century life, feeling the excitement of youthful optimism and the gentle tug of responsibility.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (315K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2010-09-06
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1876–1958
Best known for lively girls’ adventure series, this American children’s writer filled her books with travel, friendship, and wartime service. Her stories helped shape early 20th-century popular fiction for young readers, especially the Camp Fire Girls, Ranch Girls, Red Cross Girls, and Girl Scouts books.
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