Part 8 (1/2)

After an hour of riding, he saw Henry wave him in. He turned the Black toward the barn. ”He liked the snow,” he said when he came up to Henry.

”Sure looked that way,” Henry said, grinning. ”Wasn't as bad as I thought he'd be!”

Alec dismounted. ”He's acting more like a gentleman every day,” he said.

”Yep,” said Henry, ”and when spring rolls around he should be all ready for us to go to work on him.”

”Spring,” repeated Alec. ”It isn't far away, Henry-just a few short months.”

The man and boy looked at each other-both thinking the same thing. Henry's gaze s.h.i.+fted to the Black. ”Maybe around the first of April, if all goes well,” he said.

TRAINING BEGINS.

12.

Alec's feet sc.r.a.ped beneath his desk. He fidgeted with the pencil in his hand. The paper in front of him was blank. He couldn't think about geometry at a time like this. His eyes again went to the clock on the side of the wall-12:15. Another fifteen minutes and he'd be on his way! His gaze s.h.i.+fted to the huge calendar hanging over the blackboard-April first! He had waited so long for that date, and now it was here. Today, after months of preparation, they were to break the Black to bridle and saddle, start the real training of the Black, even though no word had yet reached them from the Middle East concerning the stallion's pedigree. Henry had written two more letters in the last few months.

Alec saw the teacher looking at him, so his gaze dropped to the paper in front of him. The minutes crept by as slowly as all the months of waiting. He couldn't stand this much longer-he'd just have to go!

Suddenly the bell rang, and like a sprinter off on his marks, Alec leaped for the door. He had it opened and was out in the corridor before the rest of the cla.s.s had started to move. He ran down the hall, heard an authoritative voice tell him to stop, but kept running. Nor did he stop when he reached the street. He ran until he was too tired to go farther, then slowed down to a fast walk.

He rushed into the house and threw his books on the couch. His mother had lunch ready. He sat down to eat, but he was too excited. He looked up at his mother. ”I'm sorry, Mom, but I'm not hungry today,” he said. His mother looked at him. She saw the high flush of excitement on his face.

”Something important going on?” she asked.

”Kinda, Mom,” Alec answered as he finished a gla.s.s of milk. ”I won't be home until dinner. I'll make up for my lunch then!” He ran out of the house. His mother stood in the doorway and watched him as he tore down the street.

Alec found Henry nervously pacing up and down in front of the barn. ”h.e.l.lo, Henry!” he called.

”h.e.l.lo, son,” Henry replied, taking the pipe from his mouth. ”Nice warm day for it.” He looked up at the sun high overhead.

Alec saw the stallion out in the field. ”How does he feel today?”

”He's been pretty frisky all morning. Guess the warm weather is making him feel pretty good, too,” answered Henry.

They watched the Black for a few minutes. Then Henry said, ”Well, son, we might as well get started. Feel okay?”

”Sure. What's the difference riding the Black with a saddle or without one?”

Henry knocked the ashes from his pipe. ”All depends on the horse, but let's get going. I picked up an old saddle in New York yesterday. It isn't so good, but it'll do the trick until we get him on a track and can use mine.” Henry walked toward the barn.

Alec whistled. The Black raised his head and came trotting up to him. ”h.e.l.lo, fella.” Alec put his hand on the stallion's neck.

The Black shoved his nose into Alec's side pocket. Alec playfully shoved him away and pulled a couple of lumps of sugar out of his pocket.

”Want some sugar, heh, Boy?”

The stallion swept his long, pink tongue over Alec's hand and the sugar disappeared.

Henry came toward them carrying the bridle and saddle. ”Let's get over in the middle of the field where you'll have plenty of room.”

”Okay,” answered Alec. The Black trotted beside Alec. When they came to the center, Henry placed the bridle and saddle on the ground. ”We'll try the saddle first,” he said. ”No telling what's going to happen.”

Alec stood at the Black's head, a firm grip on the halter. Henry took the saddle in his arms and went around to the left side of the stallion. Alec saw the Black's eyes turn toward Henry. He sensed something was up and moved uneasily. Alec stroked him and spoke in his ear.

Henry said, ”Hold him now, son.”

Alec gripped the halter tighter. Henry raised the saddle over the Black's back and gently placed it on the stallion. He never got the chance to grasp the cinch. The stallion's hindquarters rose in the air and the saddle went flying. He turned nervously in a circle, and Alec had his hands full trying to hang on to him. Henry picked up the saddle and once again approached the Black. ”This isn't going to be easy,” he said, between clenched teeth. ”Hold him again, Alec!”

Once again Henry placed the saddle on the stallion and once again it went flying in the air. ”Doesn't give me a chance to tighten the cinch,” he said as he picked it up.

Fifteen minutes pa.s.sed and they still hadn't succeeded in getting the saddle on the Black. Henry and Alec were both tired. Yet the stallion wasn't as excited as Alec had expected him to be. ”He's just being contrary,” he told Henry.

The Black wouldn't leave the saddle on his back long enough for Henry to get the girth straps through the buckles. ”If I could only some way get 'em through and tighten that saddle on him!” he said.

Alec thought a minute. ”It's the cinch that bothers him. Let's lengthen it all the way on my side, then I'll hold the saddle just above his back while you get the ends of the straps through the buckles. Once I drop the saddle, you tighten. You'll have to work fast....”

”Might work,” said Henry.

The Black moved nervously around. ”Whoa, Boy,” Alec said. He lowered the saddle as close to the stallion's back as possible, so Henry could get the straps into the buckles.

”All set, Henry?” Alec asked.

”Just a second,” came the answer.

The Black was looking toward the far end of the field. Henry said in a low voice, ”Okay, now.”

Quickly Alec placed the saddle on the Black's back. The stallion reared. Alec jumped to one side. Henry was dangerously close to the Black, his hands feverishly pulling the straps through the buckles. Alec saw him give a final tug, then he flung himself out of the way of the Black's pawing hoofs. ”Got it,” he shouted. ”Get out of his way!”

The stallion reared again and then raced down the field, swerving and throwing his hind legs in the air. He tried desperately to get rid of the saddle. Alec and Henry watched him as he plunged around the field. Suddenly the Black reared high on his legs and then fell over backward. They heard the saddle break.

”There it goes,” said Alec.

”If he doesn't get it off, it'll be worth it!” answered Henry.

The Black finally climbed to his feet. The saddle was torn and broken, but still on his back. Again the stallion raced up the field, his excited eyes s.h.i.+fting from one side to the other. As he neared them, Alec whistled. The stallion swept past them. Alec whistled again. Suddenly the Black stopped, half-reared and turned. His ears p.r.i.c.ked forward and he stood still for a few seconds. Then he was off again down the field, swerving and kicking.

”It's a good thing you were able to get that cinch tight, Henry!”