Part 9 (2/2)

As they rounded the far turn, the boy swayed in the saddle. Instinctively he clutched the Black's long mane and hung on for dear life. The stallion thundered into the homestretch. His legs were pounding the turf. They flashed past Henry and Jake, and then around the first turn they went again and once more into the backstretch.

Alec was weak from exhaustion. He tried to think. He had to stop the Black. He pulled desperately on the reins, but the stallion was once again on his own, running as he had been born to run.

It wasn't until they were halfway down the backstretch again that Alec felt the Black slow up just a little. Alec spoke into his ear; he loosened one hand from the mane and rubbed the stallion's neck. From then on his speed lessened gradually and, when they whipped by Henry again, Alec had him almost under control. He managed to slow him down after the first turn, and in the backstretch, Alec at last brought him to a stop.

He turned him around. The Black whistled and shook his head. He was breathing heavily, and a white lather covered his black body. He stepped lightly down the track toward Henry. A few minutes later Henry and Jake ran up to them, and Alec weakly climbed down from the saddle. Henry took the reins-they were sticky and wet with blood. He looked at Alec's bleeding hands, then gave the reins to Jake and put an arm around the boy to steady him. ”Take it easy, son,” he said.

”I'm all right, Henry,” Alec said. ”Just beat.”

”After that ride you should be,” Henry said.

”No one will ever be able to control this horse,” Jake said. ”Once he gets his head-only thing to do is what y'did, hang on and wait until he tires.”

”I'll control him-one of these days,” Alec said determinedly. He felt better now; strength was returning to his body and the earth was beginning to stand still. The stallion turned his head toward him, his ears p.r.i.c.ked forward and he neighed softly. He shoved his nose against the boy.

Alec put a hand wrapped in a handkerchief against the soft muzzle. ”You can't blame him, Henry,” he said. ”It's the first real fun he's had in a long, long time. I've just got to learn to stay on his back and enjoy the ride with him, that's all!”

”Yeah,” said Jake, ”that's all.”

They walked off the track, Alec leading the Black. No one spoke again until they reached the truck. Napoleon stood there tied to the side. He raised his old, gray head curiously. Alec led the Black up to him and they put their heads together, the stallion obligingly lowering his.

Henry turned to Jake. ”Guess you'll have to admit there isn't a horse in the country that can come close to him,” he said.

Jake glanced down at the watch in his hand. ”No,” he answered. ”No, I've never heard of any horse doing the time he did tonight. Sun Raider and Cyclone would give him a race, but he'd beat them-if he ran.”

”What do you mean-if he ran?” asked Henry.

Jake nodded toward the Black. ”If he ever got on the same track with those horses, there'd never be any race. That horse would want to fight-not run. He's as wild as they come. Where'd you get him, son?” he asked.

Alec looked at Henry, who nodded. Alec told Jake briefly how he had acquired the Black.

When he had finished, Jake said, ”Quite a story, son.” Then he turned to Henry. ”How do you know he's registered anywhere?” he asked. ”You know as well as I do he can't run in any of the race meetings without bein' registered.”

”Yeah, I know,” Henry answered. ”We're hoping he's listed in the Arabian Stud Book. I've been writing to them but they haven't answered-guess they can't find anything!”

Jake looked at the Black. ”That horse was born wild, Henry. If I'm any judge-you'll never find him registered.”

”I'm afraid you're right, Jake,” Henry said, ”but you never can tell, something might come up. We can race him against time and have him break a few records-then they'll have to notice him!”

Jake nodded. ”Not a bad idea. Lots of people would give their right arm to see what I saw tonight!”

Alec walked the Black up and down for a while and then led him into the truck beside Napoleon. After tying the two horses securely, he jumped off the truck and went around to where Henry and Jake were talking. Henry was saying, ”We won't be around tomorrow night-give the boy a rest, but we'll make it the following night. Be at the gate by two o'clock.”

”Okay,” Jake answered.

Alec and Henry climbed into the front seat. Jake stood on the running board. Alec glanced at his watch. ”Three-thirty,” he said, as the truck started to roll. ”Hope my folks haven't missed me.”

”Yeah,” murmured Henry, ”and I hope the Missus hasn't missed me or there'll be plenty of explaining to do when I get home!”

Jake laughed and stuck his white head in through the window. ”So she's still wearing the pants in the household, heh, Henry?”

”No, 'tain't that bad.” Henry turned a corner sharply. ”It's just that she's had enough of horses, and she expects me to be through with 'em, too!”

”Then she still don't know you, does she?” Jake grinned. ”You're like me, Henry,” he continued, ”as long as there's a breath left in your body, you'll want to be around horses and nothing in this world will keep you from 'em.”

There was silence until the truck rolled up to the gate. Jake jumped off the running board and opened the gate. As it closed behind them, they waved good-bye to the old man.

”Well, son, you had a tougher time than either of us expected, didn't you?” Henry asked.

”Guess so, Henry,” Alec answered, ”but I'll be ready for him next time!” He relaxed in the seat and let his head fall back on the cus.h.i.+on behind him.

”Tired?” Henry asked.

”Kinda”-Alec tried to hide the weariness in his voice-”even in spite of that nap I took this afternoon. Mother couldn't understand it-said it was the first time she'd seen me in bed during the afternoon since I was four!”

”Guess you'll have to keep doing that for a while, Alec. I've fixed it up with Jake to go over there about three nights a week. You see, we have to take advantage of the time that we have now, before the track opens up for the season. There'll be too many horses and people around then to risk going in. I don't want to let anyone know about the Black until he races-that is, except Jake; we can trust him.”

”If he does race,” Alec said soberly. ”We should've had a letter by this time if he's registered at all!”

”Aw, you never can tell,” Henry answered. ”They're pretty slow over there, y'know, and then there's probably a lot of things they have to look up.”

”Yeah,” Alec agreed sleepily. He curled his legs underneath him. ”Anyway,” he continued, ”it's pretty exciting just riding the Black like I did tonight on a track.”

”Yeah, and I must say you and the Black did a pretty good job. Made the track record look like it was made by a hobbyhorse!”

Fifteen minutes later they pulled up in front of the barn. Alec led the Black into his stall. Henry stabled Napoleon and then followed Alec into the Black's stall. Together the boy and the man rubbed him down.

A few minutes later they left the darkened barn.

”Good night, Henry,” Alec said. ”See you tomorrow.”

” 'Night, Alec.”

The Ramsay house was still dark. Alec opened the door carefully and climbed the stairs to his bedroom. All was quiet except for an occasional snore from his father.

Wearily he undressed and climbed into bed-his body aching.

A few hours later the alarm clamored in his ear. Half-consciously he reached for it and turned it off. A sharp pain in his hand drove all the sleepiness from him. He sat up and looked at the blood-stained handkerchief still wrapped around his hand. He let his head fall back against the pillow. Then it hadn't been a dream! He had ridden the Black last night! His eyes rested on the chair beside his bed where he had thrown his clothes. Hanging on the arm was his s.h.i.+rt-ripped by the wind.

His body still ached all over as he threw the blankets off and climbed out of bed. Quickly he dressed and tucked the torn s.h.i.+rt underneath his arm-he would throw it away before his mother saw it. He went into the bathroom, washed and took care of his cut hands. He clenched his teeth as he poured iodine on his hands-but his head was feverish with excitement.

CYCLONE.

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