第48章

She had ridden Wildfire bareback at first, and then they had broken him to the saddle.

It was serious business, that training of Wildfire, and Slone had peculiar ideas regarding it.Lucy rode him up and down the pass until he was warm.Then Slone got on Sarchedon.Wildfire always snorted and showed fight at sight of Sage King or Nagger, and the stallion Sarchedon infuriated him because Sarchedon showed fight, too.Slone started out ahead of Lucy, and then they raced down the long pass.The course was hard-packed sand.Fast as Sarchedon was, and matchless as a horseman as was Slone, the race was over almost as soon as it began.Wildfire ran indeed like fire before the wind.He wanted to run, and the other horse made him fierce.Like a burr Lucy stuck low over his neck, a part of the horse, and so light he would not have known he was carrying her but for the repeated calls in his ears.Lucy never spurred him.

She absolutely refused to use spurs on him.This day she ran away from Slone, and, turning at the end of the two-mile course they had marked out, she loped Wildfire back.Slone turned with her, and they were soon in camp.Lucy did not jump off.She was in a transport.Every race kindled a mounting fire in her.

She was scarlet of face, out of breath, her hair flying.And she lay on Wildfire's neck and hugged him and caressed him and talked to him in low tones of love.

Slone dismounted and got Sarchedon out of the way, then crossed to where Lucy still fondled Wildfire.He paused a moment to look at her, but when she saw him he started again, and came close up to her as she sat the saddle.

"You went past me like a bullet," he said.

"Oh, can't he run!" murmured Lucy.

"Could he beat the King to-day?"

Slone had asked that question every day, more than once.

"Yes, he could--to-day.I know it," replied Lucy."Oh--I get so-so excited.

I--I make a fool of myself--over him.But to ride him-- going like that--Lin!

it's just glorious!"

"You sure can ride him," replied Slone."I can't see a fault anywhere --in him--or in your handling him.He never breaks.He goes hard, but he saves something.He gets mad--fierce--all the time, yet he WANTS to go your way.

Lucy, I never saw the like of it.Somehow you an' Wildfire make a combination.

You can't be beat."

"Do I ride him--well?" she asked, softly.

"I could never ride him so well."

"Oh, Lin--you just want to please me.Why, Van couldn't ride with you.""I don't care, Lucy," replied Slone, stoutly."You rode this horse perfect.

I've found fault with you on the King, on your mustangs, an' on this black horse Sarch.But on Wildfire! You grow there.""What will Dad say, and Farlane, and Holley, and Van? Oh, I'll crow over Van,"said Lucy."I'm crazy to ride Wildfire out before all the Indians and ranchers and riders, before the races, just to show him off, to make them stare.""No, Lucy.The best plan is to surprise them all.Enter your horse for the race, but don't show up till all the riders are at the start.""Yes, that'll be best....And, Lin, only five days more--five days!"Her words made Slone thoughtful, and Lucy, seeing that, straightway grew thoughtful, too.

"Sure--only five days more," repeated Slone, slowly.

His tone convinced Lucy that he meant to speak again as he had spoken once before, precipitating the only quarrel they had ever had.

"Does ANY ONE at Bostil's Ford know you meet me out here?" he asked, suddenly.

"Only Auntie.I told her the other day.She had been watching me.She thought things.So I told her.""What did she say?" went on Slone, curiously.

"She was mad," replied Lucy."She scolded me.She said....But, anyway, Icoaxed her not to tell on me."

"I want to know what she said," spoke up the rider, deliberately.

Lucy blushed, and it was a consciousness of confusion as well as Slone's tone that made her half-angry.

"She said when I was found out there'd be a--a great fuss at the Ford.There would be talk.Auntie said I'm now a grown-up girl....Oh, she carried on!

...Bostil would likely shoot you.And if he didn't some of the riders would....Oh, Lin, it was perfectly ridiculous the way Auntie talked.""I reckon not," replied Slone."I'm afraid I've done wrong to let you come out here....But I never thought.I'm not used to girls.I'll--I'll deserve what I get for lettin' you came.""It's my own business," declared Lucy, spiritedly."And I guess they'd better let you alone."Slone shook his head mournfully.He was getting one of those gloomy spells that Lucy hated.Nevertheless, she felt a stir of her pulses.

"Lucy, there won't be any doubt about my stand--when I meet Bostil," said Slone.Some thought had animated him.

"What do you mean?" Lucy trembled a little.

There was a sternness about Slone, a dignity that seemed new."I'll ask him to--to let you marry me."Lucy stared aghast.Slone appeared in dead earnest.

"Nonsense!" she exclaimed, shortly.

"I reckon the possibility is--that," replied Slone, bitterly, "but my motive isn't.""It is.Why, you've known me only a few days....Dad would be mad.Like as not he'd knock you down....I tell you, Lin, my dad is--is pretty rough.

And just at this time of the races....And if Wildfire beats the King!..

.Whew!"

"WHEN Wildfire beats the King, not IF," corrected Slone.

"Dad will be dangerous," warned Lucy."Please don't---don't ask him that.Then everybody would know I--I--you---you--""That's it.I want everybody at your home to know.""But it's a little place," flashed Lucy."Every one knows me.I'm the only girl.There have been--other fellows who....And oh! I don't want you made fun of!""Why?" he asked.

Lucy turned away her head without answering.Something deep within her was softening her anger.She must fight to keep angry; and that was easy enough, she thought, if she could only keep in mind Slone's opposition to her.

Strangely, she discovered that it had been sweet to find him always governed by her desire or will.

"Maybe you misunderstand," he began, presently.And his voice was not steady.