wildfire-第28节

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〃Yes；〃　sighed　Lucy。

〃What's　wrong？　Don't　you　want　Wildfire　to　win？〃

〃Yes　and　no。　But　I'm　going　to　beat　the　King；　anyway。　。　。　。　Bring　on　your
Wildfire！〃

Lucy　unsaddled　Sarchedon　and　turned　him　loose　to　graze　while　Slone　went　out
after　Wildfire。　And　presently　it　appeared　that　Lucy　might　have　some　little
time　to　wait。　Wildfire　had　lately　been　trusted　to　hobbles；　which　fact　made　it
likely　that　he　had　strayed。

Lucy　gazed　about　her　at　the　great　looming　red　walls　and　out　through　the
avenues　to　the　gray　desert　beyond。　This　adventure　of　hers　would　soon　have　an
end；　for　the　day　of　the　races　was　not　far　distant；　and　after　that　it　was
obvious　she　would　not　have　occasion　to　meet　Slone。　To　think　of　never　coming　to
the　pass　again　gave　Lucy　a　pang。　Unconsciously　she　meant　that　she　would　never
ride　up　here　again；　because　Slone　would　not　be　here。　A　wind　always　blew
through　the　pass；　and　that　was　why　the　sand　was　so　clean　and　hard。　To…day　it
was　a　pleasant　wind；　not　hot；　nor　laden　with　dust；　and　somehow　musical　in　the
cedars。　The　blue　smoke　from　Slone's　fire　curled　away　and　floated　out　of　sight。
It　was　lonely；　with　the　haunting　presence　of　the　broken　walls　ever　manifest。
But　the　loneliness　seemed　full　of　content。　She　no　longer　wondered　at　Slone's
desert　life。　That　might　be　well　for　a　young　man；　during　those　years　when
adventure　and　daring　called　him；　but　she　doubted　that　it　would　be　well　for　all
of　a　man's　life。　And　only　a　little　of　it　ought　to　be　known　by　a　woman。　She　saw
how　the　wildness　and　loneliness　and　brooding　of　such　a　life　would　prevent　a
woman's　development。　Yet　she　loved　it　all　and　wanted　to　live　near　it；　so　that
when　the　need　pressed　her　she　could　ride　out　into　the　great　open　stretches　and
see　the　dark　monuments　grow　nearer　and　nearer；　till　she　was　under　them；　in　the
silent　and　colored　shadows。

Slone　returned　presently　with　Wildfire。　The　stallion　shone　like　a　flame　in　the
sunlight。　His　fear　and　hatred　of　Slone　showed　in　the　way　he　obeyed。　Slone　had
mastered　him；　and　must　always　keep　the　upper　hand　of　him。　It　had　from　the
first　been　a　fight　between　man　and　beast；　and　Lucy　believed　it　would　always　be
so。

But　Wildfire　was　a　different　horse　when　he　saw　Lucy。　Day　by　day　evidently
Slone　loved　him　more　and　tried　harder　to　win　a　little　of　what　Wildfire　showed
at　sight　of　Lucy。　Still　Slone　was　proud　of　Lucy's　control　over　the　stallion。
He　was　just　as　much　heart　and　soul　bent　on　winning　the　great　race　as　Lucy　was。
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　couldto…day。　I　know　it；〃　replied　Lucy。　〃OhI　get　so…so　excited。
II　make　a　fool　of　myselfover　him。　But　to　ride　him　going　like　thatLin！
it's　just　glorious！〃

〃You　sure　can　ride　him；〃　replied　Slone。　〃I　can't　see　a　fault　anywhere　in
himor　in　your　handling　him。　He　never　breaks。　He　goes　hard；　but　he　saves
something。　He　gets　madfierceall　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　himwell？〃　she　asked；　softly。

〃I　could　never　ride　him　so　well。〃

〃Oh；　Linyou　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　morefive　days！〃

Her　words　made　Slone　thoughtful；　and　Lucy；　seeing　that；　straightway　grew
thoughtful；　too。

〃Sureonly　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；　I
coaxed　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　aa　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'llI'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　standwhen　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
toto　let　you　marry　me。〃

Lucy　stared　aghast。　Slone　appeared　in　dead　earnest。

〃Nonsense！〃　she　exclaimed；　shortly。

〃I　reckon　the　possibility　isthat；〃　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　isis　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　IIyou…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　beenother　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。
〃I　don't　forget　I'm　onlya　beggarly　rider。　I　couldn't　have　gone　into　the　Ford
at　allI　was　such　a　ragamuffin〃

〃Don't　talk　like　that！〃　interrupted　Lucy；　impatiently。

〃Listen；〃　he　replied。　〃My　askin'　Bostil　for　you　doesn't　mean　I've　any　hope。　。
。　。　It's　just　I　want　him　an'　everybody　to　know　that　I　asked。〃

〃But　Dadeverybody　will　think　that　YOU　think　there's　reasonwhy　Iwhy；
you　OUGHT　to　ask；〃　burst　out　Lucy；　with　scarlet　face。

〃Sure；　that's　it；〃　he　replied。

〃But　there's　no　reason。　None！　Not　a　reason　under　the　sun；〃　retorted　Lucy；
hotly。　〃I　found　you　out　here。　I　did　you　aa　little　service。　We　planned　to
race　Wildfire。　And