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Ja
"Zebra is a mustang," Ja
iy s head turned toward the mare with renewed interest. He studied her carefully, especially her hooves. They had been trimmed by stony ground rather than by a pair of steel nippers. She was sleek without being fat, strong without being big. Nowhere did she show the marks of man-no brand, no ear notch, no shoes, no nibbed places on her hide where bridle or saddle had rested.
"Do you ride her?" he asked.
"Sometimes, when it's safe."
"When is that?"
"When Cascabel isn't around," Ja
"Or Black Hawk is tired of being blamed for Cascabel's raids and is clamping down," Ty said. "Black Hawk is a war chief and a leader. Cascabel is a butcher and a raider. Hell, I'm surprised that renegade hasn't tracked you down and cooked you over a slow fire just for the sport of it."
Ja
The renewed realization of Ty's nudity brought heightened color to Ja
Ty noticed the fine tremor in the slender fingers and swore under his breath.
"Sorry, boy. I didn't mean to scare you," he said gruffly. "Once we get free of Cascabel, I'll take you to the Army post at Sweetwater. You'll be safe there."
Ja
"Don't be silly," Ty said. "You might have survived out here in the past, but it's different now. The Army has been fighting Black Hawk for nearly three years, since the end of the Civil War. They've had a bellyful of fighting Utes. There will be a big campaign before winter. The Army figures to have it all wrapped up by Thanksgiving and to have Cascabel's ears in the bargain. Between Black Hawk and the soldiers fighting each other, and Cascabel killing everything that moves, it won't be safe for man nor beast here, much less a boy who's as ski
"If it's so dangerous, why are you here?"
"Lucifer," Ty said simply. "I figured this was my best chance. Once the Utes are quiet, every man with an eye for prime horseflesh will be trying for that stallion. Even if no one gets him, sure as hell some money-hungry mustanger will put a bullet through his black head just to get at his colts." Ty looked at Zebra again. "He sired her, didn't he?"
"Yes."
"It shows in her long legs and well-shaped head. The barb blood in Lucifer comes through no matter what he breeds with. Does she run with his bunch?"
"Yes."
"How did you get close to her?"
Ja
"Does Lucifer let you pet him?" Ty asked intently.
"He's as wild as a storm wind," Ja
"So is that one," Ty said, looking at Zebra, "but she followed your trail like a tame old hound dog. Will the next horse through that gap be Lucifer?"
"No. I've survived by being inconspicuous. Anyone standing next to Lucifer would be as conspicuous as lightning."
Thunder belled suddenly, but Ty didn't look away from Ja
"Have you ever tried to get close to Lucifer?"
"No."
"Why not? Is he a killer?"
Ja
"Horses have been bred by men for thousands and thousands of years. It's a partnership, like men and dogs."
"Not to a lot of men."
"Those same men are cruel to other men. I'm not. I don't fight for the pleasure of it, but to get the job done."
Ja
The realization should have frightened her, for despite Ty's injuries he was far stronger than she was. Yet she was no more frightened of him than she was of Lucifer. In the past her instincts had proven to be very good at picking up the presence of senseless viciousness or cruelty; she sensed none in either Ty or the big black stallion so many men longed to own.
But what if I'm wrong this time? What if Ty is just another man greedy for whatever he can get from those weaker than he is?
There was no answer to Ja
And probably the last, as well.
Chapter Five
The sudden downpour of cold rain was like a blow. In spite of that, the rain was welcome, for it would wash away Ty and J a
"Ready?" Ja
Ty nodded grimly. He was still angry at having lost the battle of the shrinking blanket. Over his objections Ja
Yet here he was, wearing the blanket; and there the kid was, wearing only a shirt and pants.
"Stubborn as a Missouri mule," Ty snarled, but his words were drowned out by thunder.
Zebra took the lightning, thunder and pelting rain with the indifference of a horse born and raised out in the open. She watched with interest as Ty and Ja
It was a good thing. Ty made some very sudden movements as he clawed over the rockfall, hobbled by his injuries and the increasing slickness of the rocks. Though he said nothing, he was grateful that his ribs were bound, despite the fact that it made breathing deeply impossible. He was also grateful for the small, surprisingly strong hands that helped to lever him over the tricky places-although he had nearly yelped with surprise the first time he had received a firm boost from behind.
Ja