wildfire-第4节

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〃Sunburn？　Oh；　Dad！　I'm　sorry；〃　burst　out　Lucy；　contritely。　〃I　never　thought　of
that。　I'll　ride　back　with　his　clothes。〃

〃You　will　not；〃　said　Bostil。

〃Let　me　send　some　one；　then；〃　she　entreated。

〃Girl；　haven't　you　the　nerve　to　play　your　own　game？　Let　Creech　get　his　lesson。
He　deserves　it。　。　。　。　An'　now；　Lucy；　I've　two　more　questions　to　ask。〃

〃Only　two？〃　she　queried；　archly。　〃Dad；　don't　scold　me　with　questions。〃

〃What　shall　I　say　to　Wetherby　for　good　an'　all？〃

Lucy's　eyes　shaded　dreamily；　and　she　seemed　to　look　beyond　the　room；　out　over
the　ranges。

〃Tell　him　to　go　back　to　Durango　and　forget　the　foolish　girl　who　can　care　only
for　the　desert　and　a　horse。〃

〃All　right。　That　is　straight　talk；　like　an　Indian's。　An'　now　the　last
questionwhat　do　you　want　for　a　birthday　present？〃

〃Oh；　of　course；〃　she　cried；　gleefully　clapping　her　hands。　I'd　forgotten　that。
I'm　eighteen！〃

〃You　get　that　old　chest　of　your　mother's。　But　what　from　me？〃

〃Dad；　will　you　give　me　anything　I　ask　for？〃

〃Yes；　my　girl。〃

〃Anythingany　HORSE？〃

Lucy　knew　his　weakness；　for　she　had　inherited　it。

〃Sure；　any　horse　but　the　King。〃

〃How　about　Sarchedon？〃

〃Why；　Lucy；　what'd　you　do　with　that　big　black　devil？　He's　too　high。　Seventeen
hands　high！　You　couldn't　mount　him。〃

〃Pooh！　Sarch　KNEELS　for　me。〃

〃Child；　listen　to　reason。　Sarch　would　pull　your　arms　out　of　their　sockets。〃

〃He　has　got　an　iron　jaw；〃　agreed　Lucy。　〃Well；　thenhow　about　Dusty　Ben？〃　She
was　tormenting　her　father　and　she　did　it　with　glee。

〃Nonot　Ben。　He's　the　faithfulest　hoss　I　ever　owned。　It　wouldn't　be　fair　to
part　with　him；　even　to　you。　Old　associations　。　。　。　a　rider's　loyalty　。　。　。
now；　Lucy；　you　know〃

〃Dad；　you're　afraid　I'd　train　and　love　Ben　into　beating　the　King。　Some　day
I'll　ride　some　horse　out　in　front　of　the　gray。　Remember；　Dad！　。　。　。　Then　give
me　Two　Face。〃

〃Sure　not　her；　Lucy。　Thet　mare　can't　be　trusted。　Look　why　we　named　her　Two
Face。〃

〃Buckles；　then；　dear　generous　Daddy　who　longs　to　give　his　grown…up　girl
ANYTHING！〃

〃Lucy；　can't　you　be　satisfied　an'　happy　with　your　mustangs？　You've　got　a
dozen。　You　can　have　any　others　on　the　range。　Buckles　ain't　safe　for　you　to
ride。〃

Bostil　was　notably　the　most　generous　of　men；　the　kindest　of　fathers。　It　was　an
indication　of　his　strange　obsession；　in　regard　to　horses；　that　he　never　would
see　that　Lucy　was　teasing　him。　As　far　as　horses　were　concerned　he　lacked　a
sense　of　humor。　Anything　connected　with　his　horses　was　of　intense　interest。

〃I'd　dearly　love　to　own　Plume；〃　said　Lucy；　demurely。

Bostil　had　grown　red　in　the　face　and　now　he　was　on　the　rack。　The　monstrous
selfishness　of　a　rider　who　had　been　supreme　in　his　day　could　not　be　changed。

〃Girl；　II　thought　you　hadn't　no　use　for　Plume；〃　he　stammered。

〃I　haven'tthe　jade！　She　threw　me　once。　I've　never　forgiven　her　。　。　。　。　Dad；
I'm　only　teasing　you。　Don't　I　know　you　couldn't　give　one　of　those　racers　away？
You　couldn't！〃

〃Lucy；　I　reckon　you're　right；〃　Bostil　burst　out　in　immense　relief。

〃Dad；　I'll　bet　if　Cordts　gets　me　and　holds　me　as　ransom　for　the　King　as　he's
threatenedyou'll　let　him　have　me！〃

〃Lucy；　now　thet　ain't　funny！〃　complained　the　father。

〃Dear　Dad；　keep　your　old　racers！　But；　remember；　I'm　my　father's　daughter。　I
can　love　a　horse；　too。　Oh；　if　I　ever　get　the　one　I　want　to　love！　A　wild
horsea　desert　stallionpure　Arabian　broken　right　by　an　Indian！　If　I　ever
get　him；　Dad；　you　look　out！　For　I'll　run　away　from　Sarch　and　Benand　I'll
beat　the　King！〃

The　hamlet　of　Bostil's　Ford　had　a　singular　situation；　though；　considering　the
wonderful　nature　of　that　desert　country；　it　was　not　exceptional。　It　lay　under
the　protecting　red　bluff　that　only　Lucy　Bostil　cared　to　climb。　A　hard…trodden
road　wound　down　through　rough　breaks　in　the　canyon　wall　to　the　river。　Bostil's
house；　at　the　head　of　the　village；　looked　in　the　opposite　direction；　down　the
sage　slope　that　widened　like　a　colossal　fan。　There　was　one　wide　street
bordered　by　cottonwoods　and　cabins；　and　a　number　of　gardens　and　orchards；
beginning　to　burst　into　green　and　pink　and　white。　A　brook　ran　out　of　a　ravine
in　the　huge　bluff；　and　from　this　led　irrigation　ditches。　The　red　earth　seemed
to　blossom　at　the　touch　of　water。

The　place　resembled　an　Indian　encampmentquiet；　sleepy；　colorful；　with　the
tiny…streams　of　water　running　everywhere；　and　lazy　columns　of　blue　wood…smoke
rising。　Bostil's　Ford　was　the　opposite　of　a　busy　village；　yet　its　few
inhabitants；　as　a　whole；　were　prosperous。　The　wants　of　pioneers　were　few。
Perhaps　once　a　month　the　big；　clumsy　flatboat　was　rowed　across　the　river　with
horses　or　cattle　or　sheep。　And　the　season　was　now　close　at　hand　when　for
weeks；　sometimes　months；　the　river　was　unfordable。　There　were　a　score　of
permanent　families；　a　host　of　merry；　sturdy　children；　a　number　of　idle　young
men；　and　only　one　girlLucy　Bostil。　But　the　village　always　had　transient
inhabitantsfriendly　Utes　and　Navajos　in　to　trade；　and　sheep…herders　with　a
scraggy；　woolly　flock；　and　travelers　of　the　strange　religious　sect　identified
with　Utah　going　on　into　the　wilderness。　Then　there　were　always　riders　passing
to　and　fro；　and　sometimes　unknown　ones　regarded　with　caution。　Horse…thieves
sometimes　boldly　rode　in；　and　sometimes　were　able　to　sell　or　trade。　In　the
matter　of　horse…dealing　Bostil's　Ford　was　as　bold　as　the　thieves。

Old　Brackton；　a　man　of　varied　Western　experience；　kept　the　one　store；　which
was　tavern；　trading…post；　freighter's　headquarters；　blacksmith's　shop；　and　any
thing　else　needful。　Brackton　employed　riders；　teamsters；　sometimes　Indians；　to
freight　supplies　in　once　a　month　from　Durango。　And　that　was　over　two　hundred
miles　away。　Sometimes　the　supplies　did　not　arrive　on　timeoccasionally　not　at
all。　News　from　the　outside　world；　except　that　elicited　from　the　taciturn
travelers　marching　into　Utah；　drifted　in　at　intervals。　But　it　was　not　missed。
These　wilderness　spirits　were　the　forerunners　of　a　great；　movement；　and　as
such　were　big；　strong；　stern；　sufficient　unto　themselves。　Life　there　was　made
possible　by　horses。　The　distant　future；　that　looked　bright　to　far…seeing　men；
must　be　and　could　only　be　fulfilled　through　the　endurance　and　faithfulness　of
horses。　And　then；　from　these　men；　horses　received　the　meed　due　them；　and　the
love　they　were　truly　worth。　The　Navajo　was　a　nomad　horseman；　an　Arab　of　the
Painted　Desert；　and　the　Ute　Indian　was　close　to　him。　It　was　they　who　developed
the　white　riders　of　the　uplands　as　well　as　the　wild…horse　wrangler　or　hunter。

Brackton's　ramshackle　establishment　stood　down　at　the　end　of　the　village
street。　There　was　not　a　sawed　board　in　all　that　structure；　and　some　of　the
pine　logs　showed　how　they　had　been　dropped　from　the　bluff。　Brackton；　a　little
old　gray　man；　with　scant　beard；　and　eyes　like　those　of　a　bird；　came　briskly
out　to　meet　an　incoming　freighter。　The　wagon　was　minus　a　hind　wheel；　but　the
teamster　had　come　in　on　three　wheels　and　a　pole。　The　sweaty；　dust…caked；
weary；　thin…ribbed　mustangs；　and　the　gray…and…red…stained　wagon；　and　the　huge
jumble　of　dusty　packs；　showed　something　of　what　the　journey　had　been。

〃Hi　thar；　Red　Wilson；　you　air　some　late　gettin'　in；〃　greeted　old　Brackton。

Red　Wilson　had　red　eyes　from　fighting　the　flying　sand；　and　red　dust　pasted　in
his　scraggy　beard；　and　as　he　gave　his　belt　an　upward　hitch　little　red　clouds
flew　from　his　gun…sheath。

〃Yep。　An'　I　left　a　wheel　an'　part　of　the　load　on　the　trail；〃　he　said。

With　him　were　Indians　who　began　to　unhitch　the　teams。　Riders　lounging　in　the
shade　greeted　Wilson　and　inquired　for　news。　The　teamster　replied　that　travel
was　dry；　the　water…holes　were　dry；　and　he　was　dry。　And　his　reply　gave　both
concern　and　amusement。

〃One　more　trip　out　an'　backthet's　all；　till　it　rains；〃　concluded　Wilson。

Brackton　led　him　inside；　evidently　to　alleviate　part　of　that　dryness。

Water　and　grass；　next　to　horses；　were　the　stock　subject　of　all　riders。

〃It's　got　oncommon　hot　early；〃　said　one。

〃Yes；　an'　them　northeast　windshard　this　spring；〃　said　another。

〃No　snow　on　the　uplands。〃

〃Holley　seen　a　dry　spell　comin'。　Wal；　we　can　drift　along　without　freighters。
There's　grass　an'　water　enough　here；　even　if　it　doesn't　rain。〃

〃Sure；　but　there　ain't　none　across　the　river。〃

〃Never　was；　in　early　season。　An'　if　there　was　it'd　be　sheeped　off。〃

〃Creech'll　be　fetchin'　his　hosses　across　soon；　I　reckon。〃

〃You　bet　he　will。　He's　trainin'　for　the　races　next　month。〃

〃An'　when　air　they　comin'　off？〃

〃You　got　me。　Mebbe　Van　knows。〃

Some　one　prodded　a　sleepy　rider　who　lay　all　his　splendid　lithe　length；　hat
over　his　eyes。　Then　he　sat　up　and　blinked；　a　lean…faced；　gray…eyed　fellow；
half　good…natured　and　half　resentful。

〃Did　somebody　punch　me？〃

〃Naw；　you　got　nightmare！　Say；　Van；　when　will　the　races　come　off？〃

〃Huh！　An；　you　woke　me　for　thet？　。　。　。　Bostil　says　in　a　few　weeks；　soon　as　he
hears　from　the　Indians。　Plans　to　have　eight　hundred　Indians　here；　an'　the
biggest　purses　an'　best　races　ever　had　at　the　Ford。〃

〃You'll　ride　the　King　again？〃

〃Reckon　so。　But　Bostil　is　kickin'　because　I'm　heavier　than　I　was；〃　replied　the
rider。

〃You're　skin　an'　bones　at　thet。〃

〃Mebbe　you'll　need　to　work　a　little　off；　V