wildfire-第24节

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as　if　he　could　not　realize　that　this　young　woman　rider　had　given　him　a　free
rein。　Perhaps　one　reason　he　disliked　her　had　been　always　and　everlastingly
that　tight　rein。　Like　the　wary　horse　he　was　he　took　to　a　canter；　to　try　out
what　his　new　freedom　meant。

〃Say；　what's　the　matter　with　you？〃　called　Lucy；　disdainfully。　〃Are　you　lazy？
Or　don't　you　believe　I　can　ride　you？〃

Whereupon　she　dug　him　with　her　spurs。　Sage　King　snorted。　His　action　shifted
marvelously。　Thunder　rolled　from　under　his　hoofs。　And　he　broke　out　of　that
clattering　roar　into　his　fleet　stride；　where　his　hoof…beats　were　swift；
regular；　rhythmic。

Lucy　rode　him　with　teeth　and　fists　clenched；　bending　low。　After　all；　she
thought；　it　was　no　trick　to　ride　him。　In　that　gait　he　was　dangerous；　for　a
fall　meant　death；　but　he　ran　so　smoothly　that　riding　him　was　easy　and
certainly　glorious。　He　went　so　fast　that　the　wind　blinded　her。　The　trail　was
only　a　white　streak　in　blurred　gray。　She　could　not　get　her　breath；　the　wind
seemed　to　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
sage…bush　just　ahead。　Before　she　could　move　a　hand　at　the　bridle　Sage　King
leaped　with　a　frantic　snort。　It　was　a　swerving；　nimble；　tremendous　bound。　He
went　high。　Lucy　was　unseated；　but　somehow　clung　on；　and　came　down　with　him；
finding　the　saddle。　And　it　seemed；　while　in　the　air；　she　saw　a　long；　snaky；
whipping　loop　of　rope　shoot　out　and　close　just　where　Sage　King's　legs　had
been。

She　screamed。　The　horse　broke　and　ran。　Lucy；　righting　herself；　looked　back　to
see　Joel　Creech　holding　a　limp　lasso。　He　had　tried　to　rope　the　King。

The　blood　of　her　father　was　aroused　in　Lucy。　She　thought　of　the　horsenot
herself。　If　the　King　had　not　been　so　keen…sighted；　so　swift；　he　would　have
gone　down　with　a　broken　leg。　Lucy　never　in　her　life　had　been　so　furious。

Joel　shook　his　fist　at　her　and　yelled；　〃I'd　'a'　got　youon　any　other　hoss！〃

She　did　not　reply；　though　she　had　to　fight　herself　to　keep　from　pulling　her
gun　and　shooting　at　him。　She　guided　the　running　horse　back　into　the　trail；
rapidly　leaving　Creech　out　of　sight。

〃He's　gone　crazy；　that's　sure；〃　said　Lucy。　〃And　he　means　me　harm！〃

She　ran　the　King　clear　up　to　the　corrals；　and　he　was　still　going　hard　when　she
turned　down　the　lane　to　the　barns。　Then　she　pulled　him　in。

Farlane　was　there　to　meet　her。　She　saw　no　other　riders　and　was　glad。

〃Wal；　Miss　Lucy；　the　King　sure　looks　good；〃　said　Farlane；　as　she　jumped　off
and　flung　him　the　bridle。　〃He's　just　had　about　right；　judgin'。　。　。　。　Say；
girl；　you're　all　pale！　Oh；　say；　you　wasn't　scared　of　the　King；　now？〃

〃No；〃　replied　Lucy；　panting。

〃Wal；　what's　up；　then？〃　The　rider　spoke　in　an　entirely　different　voice；　and
into　his　clear；　hazel　eyes　a　little　dark　gleam　shot。

〃Joel　Creech　waylaid　me　out　in　the　sageandand　tried　to　catch　me。〃　Lucy
checked　herself。　It　might　not　do　to　tell　how　Joel　had　tried　to　catch　her。

〃He　did？　An'　you　on　the　King！〃　Farlane　laughed；　as　if　relieved。　〃Wal；　he's
tried　thet　before。　Miss　Lucy。　But　when　you　was　up　on　the　graythet　shows
Joel's　crazy；　sure。〃

〃He　sure　is。　Farlane；　II　am　mad！〃

〃Wal；　cool　off；　Miss　Lucy。　It　ain't　nothin'　to　git　set　up　about。　An'　don't
tell　the　old　man。〃

〃Why　not？〃　demanded　Lucy。

〃Wal；　because　he's　in　a　queer　sort　of　bad　mood　lately。　It　wouldn't　be　safe。　He
hates　them　Creeches。　So　don't　tell　him。〃

〃All　right；　Farlane；　I　won't。　Don't　you　tell；　either；〃　replied　Lucy；　soberly。

〃Sure　I'll　keep　mum。　But　if　Joel　doesn't　watch　out　I'll　put　a　crimp　in　him
myself。〃

Lucy　hurried　away　down　the　lane　and　entered　the　house　without　meeting　any　one。
In　her　room　she　changed　her　clothes　and　lay　down　to　rest　and　think。

Strangely　enough；　Lucy　might　never　have　encountered　Joel　Creech　out　in　the
sage；　for　all　the　thought　she　gave　him。　Her　mind　was　busy　with　the　crippled
rider。　Who　was　he？　Where　was　he　from？　What　strange　passion　he　had　shown　over
the　recovery　of　that　wonderful　red　horse！　Lucy　could　not　forget　the　feeling　of
his　iron　arm　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　was　interested　in　him。　She　thought　she　was　sorry　for
him　and　interested　in　the　stallion。　She　began　to　compare　Wildfire　with　Sage
King；　and　if　she　remembered　rightly　Wildfire；　even　in　his　disheveled　state；
had　appeared　a　worthy　rival　of　the　King。　What　would　Bostil　say　at　sight　of
that　flame…colored　stallion？　Lucy　thrilled。

Later　she　left　her　room　to　see　if　the　hour　was　opportune　for　her　plan　to　make
up　a　pack　of　supplies　for　the　rider。　Her　aunt　was　busy　in　the　kitchen；　and
Bostil　had　not　come　in。　Lucy　took　advantage　of　the　moment　to　tie　up　a　pack　and
carry　it　to　her　room。　Somehow　the　task　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
with　deft　hands　and　swift　judgment　selected　an　outfit　for　the　rider；　even　down
to　a　comb　and　razor。　All　this　she　carried　quickly　to　her　room；　where　in　her
thoughtfulness　she　added　a　bit　of　glass　from　a　broken　mirror；　and　soap　and　a
towel。　Then　she　tied　up　a　second　pack。

Bostil　did　not　come　home　to　supper；　a　circumstance　that　made　Lucy's　aunt
cross。　They　ate　alone；　and；　waiting　awhile；　were　rather　late　in　clearing　away
the　table。　After　this　Lucy　had　her　chance　in　the　dusk　of　early　evening；　and
she　carried　both　packs　way　out　into　the　sage　and　left　them　near　the　trail。

〃Hope　a　coyote　doesn't　come　along；〃　she　said。　That　possibility；　however；　did
not　worry　her　as　much　as　getting　those　packs　up　on　the　King。　How　in　the　world
would　she　ever　do　it？

She　hurried　back　to　the　house；　stealthily　keeping　to　the　shadow　of　the
cottonwoods；　for　she　would　have　faced　an　embarrassing　situation　if　she　had　met
her　father；　even　had　he　been　in　a　good　humor。　And　she　reached　the　sitting…room
unobserved。　The　lamps　had　been　lighted　and　a　log　blazed　on　the　hearth。　She　was
reading　when　Bostil　entered。

〃Hello；　Lucy！〃　he　said。

He　looked　tired；　and　Lucy　knew　he　had　been　drinking；　because　when　he　had　been
he　never　offered　to　kiss　her。　The　strange；　somber　shade　was　still　on　his　face；
but　it　brightened　somewhat　at　sight　of　her。　Lucy　greeted　him　as　always。

〃Farlane　tells　me　you　handled　the　King　greatbetter　'n　Van　has　worked　him
lately；〃　said　Bostil。　〃But　don't　tell　him　I　told　you。〃

That　was　sweet　praise　from　Farlane。　〃Oh；　Dad；　it　could　hardly　be　true；〃
expostulated　Lucy。　〃Both　you　and　Farlane　are　a　little　sore　at　Van　now。〃

〃I'm　a　lot　sore；〃　replied　Bostil；　gruffly。

〃Anyway；　how　did　Farlane　know　how　I　handled　Sage　King？〃　queried　Lucy。

〃Wal；　every　hair　on　a　hoss　talks　to　Farlane；　so　Holley　says。　。　。　。　Lucy；　you
take　the　King　out　every　day　for　a　while。　Ride　him　now　an'　watch　out！　Joel
Creech　was　in　the　village　to…day。　He　sure　sneaked　when　he　seen　me。　He's　up　to
some　mischief。〃

Lucy　did　not　want　to　lie　and　she　did　not　know　what　to　say。　Presently　Bostil
bade　her　good　night。　Lucy　endeavored　to　read；　but　her　mind　continually
wandered　back　to　the　adventure　of　the　day。

Next　morning　she　had　difficulty　in　concealing　her　impatience；　but　luck　favored
her。　Bostil　was　not　in　evidence；　and　Farlane；　for　once；　could　spare　no　more
time　than　it　took　to　saddle　Sage　King。　Lucy　rode　out　into　the　sage；　pretty
sure　that　no　one　watched　her。

She　had　hidden　the　packs　near　the　tallest　bunch　of　greasewood　along　the　trail；
and　when　she　halted　behind　it　she　had　no　fear　of　being　seen　from　the　corrals。
She　got　the　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　rock　near；　upon　which　she　stepped；　leading　Sage　King
alongside；　and　after　an　exceedingly　trying　moment　she　got　up；　holding　the
pack。　For　a　wonder　Sage　King　behaved　well。

Then　she　started　off；　holding　the　pack　across　her　lap；　and　she　tried　the
King's　several　gaits　to　see　which　one　would　lend　itself　more　comfortably　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。　She　wanted　to
hurry；　but　that　seemed　out　of　the　question。　She　tried　to　keep　from　gazing　out
toward　the　monuments；　because　they　were　so　far　away。

How　would　she　find　the　crippled　rider？　It　flashed　into　her　mind　that　she　might
find　him　dead；　and　this　seemed　horrible。　But　her　common　sense　persuaded　her
that　she　would　find　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