Wildfire

ored, but she could put her mind on the riding of Sage King. She did not realize

of the fact that she would be lost till she ran across her trail. That might be easy to miss

entirely. But that did not mitigate her excitement. She eased the King into a long, swinging lope. And as he warmed to the work she was aroused also. It was hard to hold him in, once he got out of a trot, and after miles and miles of this, when she thought best to slow down he nearly pulled her arms off. Still she finally got him in hand. T

is gait, he was so surprised. Lucy saw him trying to look back at her, as if he could not realize that this young woman rider had given him a free rein. Perhaps o

led Lucy, disdainfully. "Are you lazy?

elously. Thunder rolled from under his hoofs. And he broke out of that clatterin

whip the air away from her. And then she felt the lessening of the tremendous pace. Sage King had run himself out and the miles were behind her. Gradually her sight became clear, and as the hot and wet horse slowed down, satisfied with his wild run, Lucy realized that she was up on the slope only a few miles from home. Suddenly she thought she saw something dark stir behind a sa

hting herself, looked back to see Joel Creech ho

herself. If the King had not been so keen-sighted, so swift, he would ha

r and yelled, "I'd 'a' go

m pulling her gun and shooting at him. She guided the running

's sure," said Lucy. "

he was still going hard when she turned down

eet her. She saw no ot

off and flung him the bridle. "He's just had about right, judgin'....

lied Lucy

an entirely different voice, and into his

tried to catch me." Lucy checked herself. It mig

lieved. "Wal, he's tried thet before. Miss Lucy. But whe

. Farlane,

in't nothin' to git set up abou

?" deman

ad mood lately. It wouldn't be safe. He

n't. Don't you tell, eith

Joel doesn't watch out I'l

house without meeting any one. In her room she c

when he held her in a kind of frenzied gratitude. A wild upland rider, living only for a wild horse! How like Indians some of these riders! Yet this fellow had seemed different from most of the uncouth riders she had known. He spoke better. He appeared to have had some little schooling. Lucy did not realize that she wa

k pleased her. She recalled the lean face of the rider. And that recalled his ragged appearance. Why not pack up an outfit of clothes? Bostil had a stock-room full of such accessories for his men. Then Lucy, glowing with the thought, hurried to Bostil's stock-room, and

waiting awhile, were rather late in clearing away the table. After this Lucy had her chance in the

lity, however, did not worry her as much as getting those

embarrassing situation if she had met her father, even had he been in a good humor. And she reached the sitting-

Lucy!"

n he never offered to kiss her. The strange, somber shade was still on his f

at-better 'n Van has worked him lately," s

t could hardly be true," expostulated Lucy. "Bo

e," replied Bo

e know how I handled Sa

he King out every day for a while. Ride him now an' watch out! Joel Creech was i

ently Bostil bade her good night. Lucy endeavored to read, but

stil was not in evidence, and Farlane, for once, could spare no more time than it took

e packs. The light one was not hard to tie back of the saddle, but the large one was a very different matter. She decided to carry it in front. There was a good-sized

y to the task before her. The trouble was that Sage King had no slow gait, even his walk was fast. And Lucy was compelled to hold him into that.

him alive and better. The pack was hard to hold, and Sage King fretted at the monotonous walk. The hours dragged. The sun grew hot. And it was noon, almost, when she reached t

hen she saw the huge mittens-her landmarks. At last she espied the green-bordered wash and the few cedar-trees. Then a horse blazed red ag

hade. His back was bent. Lucy recognized the rider, and in her gladness to see him on his fee

was a job!

ner, less staring than she remembered. "You c

ter-not badly hurt?" she sa

imp in my back

How like a rider! She watched him, knowing that presently he would realize what a horse she was ridin

, strong, brown hand on him, and touched him as if he wished to feel if he were real.

, Bostil's favo

looks it.... But

N

"Of course he can run?" This last

s Bostil's favorite. He can run aw

n beat him," replied the

cried Luc

y at each other. He smiled in a way that cha

d, ruefully. "But maybe I can ride in

after to-day. Even if he went to the Ford, which event was unlikely, he would not remain

things," she said, poin

, you

N

you for, miss," he s

e this strange rider would be offended. "Your clothes were-so torn...

as bad as grub," he said, bi

involuntarily she touched his arm. "Oh, yo

e into his face. "Take th

ck, but as it was obviously painful f

," she protested. "Why not e

up." He started to walk away, then turned. "Miss Bostil, have you

eyes before his. "Nonsense. ... Anyway, you're

hen he walked away with slow, stiff steps and di

n the best grass near at hand. Then she opened the pack of su

can run back like t

gathered wood, and arranged it for a fire, so that the rider could start as soon as he came back. He seemed long in coming. Lucy waited, yet still he did not return. Finally she thought of the red stallion, and started off down the wash to take a look at him. He was grazing. He had

ly she drew his head down. Standing before him, she carefully and slowly changed the set of the hackamore, which had made a welt on his nose. It seemed to have been her good fortune that every significant move she had made around this stallion had been to mitigate his pain. Lucy believed he knew this as well as she knew it. Her theory, an often disputed one, was that horses were as intelligent as human beings and had just the same fears,

ing the fire. His clean-shaved face and new apparel made him vastly different. He wa

t out. "He wasn't a bit scary. Let

y. "I've heard of the like, but not so quick. Wa

plained

ll never get it. I wish I could have done so much

s. He could not bend his back, and evident

o that,"

h to get into this new outfit," he sa

tting in the shade of the cedar, watching her. He had

gettin' away, without te

a job with those p

a wonder wi

ed Lucy had only one weaknes

e argue much about me. Still, I

lane are riders

's right-

es many rider

turning any rider down, a

he would gi

sed her. "In a minute," she replied. "And he'd be gr

head as if he underst

ever sell nor trade Wi

e was sad, but i

y away from Bostil," r

fire, did not speak again till the simple fare wa

she said. "But I don't sup

of hunger," he replied. "I reckon it'll

moment. The shade of the cedars was cool. And out on the desert she could see the dark smoky veils of heat lifting. The breeze carried a dry odor of sand and grass. She heard b

ng," she said, sud

me back-agai

don't know.... Won't you ride in to t

ckon

people in hundreds of miles. Surely you

that country I lef

one you care for?" she a

wagon-train crossin' Wyomin'. A few escaped, an' I was one of the youngsters. I h

that's not very different from my dad's story

back straightens out....

ing at him; and she wondered if i

orses. Lucy told him everything she knew and could think of, and, lastly, after waxing eloquent on the

a grimness as well as fear in his tone. "I've heard of

ried to track them far. It would be useless. Holley says there are plateaus of rich grass and

any hunters at

e hunters,

an' deer

on't go in for that. They love the open ranges. No one I know, except a half-witted boy, ever rode down among these monuments. And how wonderful a pla

aces? Tell me," he repl

that had been run in the past; about the Creeches and their swift horses; about the rivalry and speculation and betting; and lastly abou

h's roan," shouted the rider, with re

lley and Farlane say at sight of Wildfire? Suppose Wildfire was to enter the races! It was probable that he could run away from the whole field-even beat the King. Lucy thrilled and thrilled. What a surprise it would be! She had the rider's true love of seeing the u

ire in the great race?"

een and sweet and strong, and a proffered hand. I

f my wild dreams! ... And I'm growing up-they say.... But- Oh, if I c

She was unconscious of her effect upon the rider,

as much as Bostil or Cordts or any man.... An' see here,

crie

step on this earth that can run with Wildfire. He's a stallion. He has been a kille

er hands from his. "It must be a surprise-a complete surprise. If you came to th

p on Wildfire. You'll run him, train him, get him in shape. Then the day of the races or

's a spring and good grass. I could ride out to you just before the big race, and we'd come back, with me on Wildfire. The crowd always s

led?" queried the

into self-consciou

t have felt. And his

dfire?" she replied, shyl

be p

And do you think Wildf

now

do

en both

ll be a gr

ildfire will win because he's run wild all his life-an' run t

. Farlane says not. Only two horses have thrown me, the King and Sarchedon. But that

ere. I'll be well in a few days. Then I'll take Wildfire in hand. You will ride out whenever you

n-it's s

? But then he had been injured-weakened. This compact between them h

ur name?"

," replied

ow. If this isn't a dream I'll come back soon.

that splendid horse! ... He knows what he is. It

but it'll do him g

ruthless spirit speaking

e pommel, he looked up at Lucy. "Maybe-it is-a dream-a

" she flashed. "Be careful

lope near a monument Lucy looked back. Slone was watching he