Part 5 (2/2)

”h.e.l.lo, Tony!”

Tony turned, his dark, wrinkled face creasing into a broad smile. ”h.e.l.lo,” he said. ”You see, I'm not afraid of heem any more!”

”Yes,” Alec laughed, ”I can see that. You'll get along swell with him as time goes on!”

”Ah, he's one great fella-make-a me think when Napoleon was-a young! So frisky, so full of pep, and when he saw me feed Napoleon, he let me feed heem, too!”

”That's pretty good, Tony. Usually he won't let anyone get near him but me.”

”Look at them,” Tony said.

Napoleon had shoved his nose through the bars and was trying to get at the Black's feed box. The stallion playfully nipped him. Napoleon withdrew his head and looked over the stall door.

”Time to go to work, young fella,” laughed Tony. He let him out of the stall, and rubbed his hand over the gray, ragged coat. ”Tomorrow I give heem a good bath so he'll be white as snow!” he said.

Alec watched Tony harness Napoleon. He saw him tenderly arrange a thick pad over the cut on Napoleon's shoulder. He noticed that the Black was also an interested spectator.

”Give me a hand, will you, Alec? We're kinda late this morning,” Tony said.

Alec helped to harness old Napoleon to the little huckster's wagon. It seemed child's play to handle the gentle old gray horse after the spirited stallion.

They heard the Black scream inside. Alec ran into the barn. ”What's the matter, Black?” he said.

The long black neck was stretched questioningly into the next stall. He missed Napoleon.

”Napoleon has to go to work, Boy, but he'll be back tonight.” Alec opened the door and took the Black by the halter. He grabbed the lead rope from a nail outside the stall and fastened it to the halter. Then he led the Black out.

Tony was climbing into the seat of the wagon. ”Well, Alec, we gotta go,” he said. ”See you tonight. Come on, Napoleon.”

Napoleon raised his head and neighed as he saw the Black. He refused to move. Tony shook the reins. ”Come on, now, Nappy. We gotta go!” he repeated. Napoleon shook his head, looked at the Black, then resignedly started off.

The Black pulled at the rope. He wanted to follow. Alec held him back. He reared high into the air; his ears pitched forward and he snorted angrily.

Alec smiled. ”Hate to see your roommate leave, don't you?”

They watched Tony and Napoleon go slowly down the gravel road to the gate. Napoleon broke into a slow trot down the street.

When they were out of sight, the Black moved in a circle around Alec.

”Feeling pretty good, aren't you, Boy?” Alec let the rope out to give the Black more room. He led him toward the open field, encircled by a stone wall. ”You're going to like this to graze in,” he said. ”Just look at all that gra.s.s!”

The Black cropped the green gra.s.s hungrily. When he seemed to have had enough, Alec ran down the field with him. ”Not too fast now, Black!” Alec called as the stallion cantered ahead of him. Halfway down the field he found himself tiring and pulled the Black to a halt.

”How about giving me a ride now, Black?” he asked. He looked for a place to mount him. He drew the stallion alongside the stone wall, climbed up on it and slid onto the Black, grasping the halter with both hands.

He hadn't had a chance to ride him since the island. The Black stood still a moment, then broke into a trot. Alec was able to guide him fairly well with the halter and he found that the stallion still remembered his lessons on the island.

Down the field they went, the wind whipping in Alec's face, the early morning stillness echoing with the stallion's hoofbeats. His long powerful strides made the field seem much too small. Alec turned him around the edge and started him back up the field. They went faster and faster. Alec dug his knees into the stallion's sides and his own body moved rhythmically with the Black's. They swept past the barn and Alec turned him back down the field again. Around and around the field they went.

After a while Alec managed to slow him down a bit. The Black continued around the field at a gallop. Then he slackened into a trot. Alec had never been happier. Home at last-and with a horse like this! All his very own! He buried his head in the Black's mane and wiped his hand across his eyes, drying the tears the wind had brought to them.

They approached the barn. Alec saw Henry Dailey leaning against the door watching them. He rode up to him and dismounted, catching hold of the stallion's halter. ”Morning, Henry,” he said. He felt the Black's coat. ”Not even wet.... What a horse, Henry! We've been going around that field like the wind! Did you see us?”

Henry didn't move from the door but Alec saw his small gray eyes going over the Black inch by inch. ”Sure, I saw you,” he said. ”Son, I've seen a lot of horses in my day and rode my share of 'em, but I never saw one give any better exhibition than that!”

Alec beamed with pride. ”He is swell, Henry, isn't he? I still can't believe he's mine!” The stallion's long neck reached down to the ground and he buried his nose in the green gra.s.s.

”Let him loose, Alec. See how he likes it,” said Henry.

”Do you think it's safe?”

”He's all right now. You gave him a good run. Besides he has to get used to being left alone, anyway.”

”Guess you're right, Henry.” Alec unsnapped the lead rope from the halter. The stallion raised his head and his nostrils quivered. Suddenly he wheeled and trotted swiftly down the field.

Alec and Henry watched him. ”It's the first freedom he's had in a long time,” said Alec.

”And he's sure enjoying it.” Henry looked after the Black admiringly.

The stallion stopped and turned his great head toward them. He whistled softly.

”Boy, I'd love to see him on a track!” Henry said thoughtfully.

”You mean race, Henry?” Alec asked.

”Yep.”

Alec turned to the Black, who was now loping down the field again in an easy, graceful canter, his head turning from side to side. ”It'd take a long time before he'd be safe on any track though, Henry.”

”Well, we have plenty of time, haven't we, Alec?”

”We?” Alec stared at the small husky man beside him. ”You mean, Henry, that you and I could do it?”

Henry hadn't moved-his eyes still followed the Black around the field. ”Sure, we can,” he said quietly, and then his voice lowered so that Alec could hardly hear him. ”Never liked this business of retiring, anyway,” he said. ”Not too old-still have plenty of good years left in me! This life's all right for the Missus-she's got enough to do to keep her busy, but I need action. And here I have it shoved right into my lap!” His voice grew louder. ”Alec,” he continued, ”I know we can make a champion out of the Black.” His face was wrinkled with excitement, his eyelids narrowed until they were only slits in his lined face.

”You really mean it, Henry? But how-”

The old man interrupted him and he moved for the first time. ”Sure, I'm confident, Alec, and I know my horses.” He took the boy by the arm. ”Come with me and I'll show you something.”

Henry led him to the far end of the barn. He knelt down beside an old trunk. He took a key from his pocket, inserted it into the lock and opened it. The trunk was crammed to the top with trophies and silver cups. Henry dug down and pulled out a large sc.r.a.p-book. ”The Missus always kept this for me, even before we were married.”

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