noon
See you there , '' Cal agreed . A rearrangement of relationships , and Cal walked out from behind a bush to approach Jed and Tom . `` You must not have gone all the way to the top , '' Jed said when he looked up and caught sight of Cal . `` It 's just barely past noon , I reckon . Did n't expect to see you back until nightfall . '' `` I took a short cut , '' Cal said with a grin . `` Little past noon , '' he continued , as if musing with a thought .