“When you put it that way, yes.”
“We want them tamed, but not necessarily broken in spirit, so we use various ways to earn their trust—providing water, food, bedding down with them at night. Some of the feistier ones may have to be taken to the river and forced to swim until they accept a rider. Others we just let buck us off until they give up, which can sometimes take days. I used to enjoy going head to head with a strong-willed horse, but the older I get the less I like having sore limbs or broken bones.”
His eyes shot through with concern.
“I’ve had a broken collarbone, broken ribs. Had my right arm broken twice. Left only once though.”
His shock made her grin. “Pick up your jaw, McCray.”
“But—”
Still amused, she cut him off. “I invited you along to watch, not to fuss at me about getting hurt. Odell and my brother think that’s their job. More than likely they’ll be at Ed’s, too.”
“Glad someone will be on duty.”
She laughed. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”
“Too late for that,” he grumbled. “But I’ll keep it to myself.”
Turning her attention back to the road, she found his concern endearing. Only a handful of people cared about her well-being. Now she’d add her nosy newspaper fella to the list. That caring had been shown last night when she returned home and crawled into bed beside him. She’d never sought solace from anyone since going to work for the Ketchums, but in her heart, she knew she’d find it with Garrett. Having him silently pull her close, then place that tender kiss on her brow, put unshed tears in her eyes. And this morning, while she tried to explain the hurt she kept hidden inside, he’d listened without judging. He was a man who did many things well, but most of all he was kind, and again she wondered if this was love. She decided to believe it was.
When they reached Ed’s property, Spring wasn’t surprised by the wagons and buggies lining the road or the savory scent of roasting pork and beef.
Garrett was, however. “Why are all these people here?”
“It’s a small town, and when the main source of entertainment is seeing what’s new at Miller’s store, horse breaking is exciting.”
“Ah,” he responded.
Heading towards the outbuildings, she skirted Ed’s beautiful home, and past the people milling about, many of whom waved and called out greetings.
Eyeing the fairlike atmosphere, he asked, “How often do you bring horses in?”
“Two, sometimes three times over the course of the spring and summer. Depends on how many orders we receive. Some years it’s a few, others more. The army contracts for the most, or at least they did. Now that the tribes are on reservations, they aren’t replacing mounts as often.”
Finally reaching their destination, she parked and they both climbed down. She undid the lead on Cheyenne and led him to the large fenced-in pasture holding Ed’s main herd. Inside were horses of all ages and sizes. Cheyenne immediately let out a bellowing challenge, causing the ears of the others to perk up and people nearby to stop and take notice.
Spring sighed. “Everyone knows you’re here, Cheyenne. Behave yourself. No picking fights with the other boys and no mounting the ladies. You hear me? They’re Snow’s mares, not yours.”
Garrett laughed. Cheyenne ignored her and walked into the pen as if he owned each blade of grass.
She had other words for Paint. “Don’t eat Ed’s fence, and play nice.”
He raced into the pen like a child let out of school.
Smiling, she took a moment to scan the area for Ed and spotted his tall, lean presence over by one of the three corrals reserved for the breakings. Upon seeing her, Ed walked over.
“You made it,” he said and nodded to Garrett standing at her side.
“We did. How are things going?”
“Not too bad. None of the hands have been seriously hurt, and some of the ponies seem to be settling in.”
“How many did you bring in?”
“Eight. Three have already been claimed. You can go over the orders and the books later this evening if you want.”
“I do. Now, where’s the mare you wanted my help with?”
“Far pen.”
In addition to the large pasture where Cheyenne was lording over, there were three small corrals for unbroken newcomers.
“Anyone express an interest in her?”
“Yes, Randolph Nelson’s daughter, Cass.”
Spring showed her surprise. “Really?” Cassandra was sixteen.
“Yes, he came by earlier to look over the new stock and she was with him. Soon as she saw the mare, she asked him to buy her.”
Spring had met her a few times in the past, but only to say hello. Cass was his only child, and Nelson set so much stock in her abilities he’d been training her since she was a little girl to take over the reins of the ranch one day. Spring found that admirable. Others did not. “Is she still here?”
He nodded. “Over by the fence. She hasn’t moved since they arrived.”
Spring and Garrett walked with Ed to the corral. Spring nodded at the small group of people watching the pacing, restless mustang inside. The mare was a beauty with a dark chestnut coat, a jet-black mane, and a white tail that matched the blaze between her eyes and the stockings on her legs. Spring was a tad jealous that Cass Nelson had already laid claim. Foals sired by Spring’s stallion Cheyenne would fetch a pretty penny. Setting that aside, she focused on the mare now racing and rearing in the pen.
“When was the last time someone tried to ride her?”
“About three hours ago. She took a plug out of Elwood’s leg and did her best to stomp him to death but he got the hell out of her way.”
“That angry, huh?” Spring said, taking in the animal’s deep chest and well-formed frame.
“Quite.”
“Let me go get Lady and see if she can calm her down.”
“Miss Spring?”
Spring turned at the sound of her name and met the shy brown eyes of Cass Nelson.
“I’m Cass Nelson. We met a couple of times when you did some work for my father.”
“I remember. I’m hearing you want your pa to buy you that mare.”
“I do.” Viewing the mare with adoring eyes, she added, “I’m naming her Princess.”
Something must have shown on Spring’s face because the young woman asked, “You don’t like the name?”
“I think she’s more a queen than a princess, but you can name her what you want.”
Cass studied the mare. “You’re right, Queen is better. She’s very regal, isn’t she?”
“Yes, she is. Is your father here?”
“He left a few hours ago to fetch my mother. He should be on his way back by now.”
“Okay. I want to talk to them when he returns. I’ll need their permission for you to help me with her.”
Her face brightened. “Me?”
“If you’re to be her rider, I’d like you to assist with her training. Does that scare you?”
“No!” she said, excitedly. “I’d love to help.”
Her eagerness made Spring smile inwardly. “Okay. I’ll be back in a moment.” Spring turned to Ed. “I’ll go get Lady.”
Garrett watched Spring hurry off and turned his attention to the surroundings. He was still caught off guard by the number of people in attendance. There were men throwing horseshoes, people lined up for the food being prepared. Children were playing tag and stickball, and the air was filled with the hoots and hollers of those near the corrals watching the ranch hands being tossed off the backs of angry horses. There was nothing like what he was seeing back home where people gathered for church socials, parades, and wedding celebrations. But as Spring explained, people took their entertainment where they found it.
Ed said, “These kinds of events probably don’t happen in the District.”
“No. We go to the breeder, pick out a mount, and take it home.”
Ed smiled.
<
br /> “Being here is giving me quite an education.” Garrett met the man’s amused eyes. “I’m a carpenter by trade, and if you wouldn’t mind, I’d be real interested in talking to you about the design and construction of your home when you have time. It’s one of the most unique places I’ve ever seen.”
“Thanks. I put a lot of work into it. I’m an engineer by trade. Did the design and most of the construction myself.”
“Amazing.”
“I thought Odell told me you were a lawyer.”
“I am, but not real interested in pursuing it as my life’s work.” Garrett smiled seeing Silas Taylor run past with his dog, Lucky.
“Where’d you train?” Ed asked.
“Howard Law School, and apprenticed with the Colored firm, Whipper, Elliot and Allen.” Garrett asked, “Where’d you train for engineering?”
“A college in Minnesota.”
Garrett found that surprising. “They allow your people to enroll?”
Ed shook his head. “I told them I was a Spaniard.”
His knowing smile made Garrett laugh loudly. “The bamboozling we have to do to live in this country.”
“Amen,” Ed replied.
They shared a look and Ed stuck out his hand. “Glad to finally talk with you.”
Garrett shook. “Same here.”
“So what kind of carpentry do you do?”
“Furniture is my specialty.”
Ed’s surprise was plain. “Really?”
“I put as much heart into my builds as you did your home.”
“There’s a big demand here. Many of the wives of these rich ranchers would love to contract locally as opposed to dealing with places like Boston or San Francisco. You could make a lot of money if you’re good.”
“I am.”
“After Spring and I get these ponies taken care of, you and I need to talk.”
“I’ll be all ears.”
Spring returned riding Lady bareback. “Ed, can you open the gate, please?”
He complied and Garrett and the other spectators watched as she slowly entered the pen. As Ed closed the gate, the mare reared and let out a vocal challenge but didn’t advance from her position on the far side of the enclosure. Spring let the mare get a good long look at her atop Lady before dismounting and climbing the fence to exit.
When she rejoined Garrett, he asked her, “Why’d you leave your horse inside?”
“Lady has a very calm nature. I’m hoping she’ll help Cass’s Queen not feel so alone, and eventually get her to relax.”
Garrett knew nothing about breaking horses, but the strategy made sense.
Spring said to Cass, “Let’s leave them together for a little while. Mr. McCray and I are going to see some of the other horses. Hopefully, your parents will have returned by the time we come back.”
“Anything you want me to do?”
“Yes. Talk to her, sing to her, call her by her name. Gently though. It’s pretty loud out here but horses hear real well, as you probably know. Let’s try and get her accustomed to the sound of your voice for now.”
“Okay. Thank you, Miss Lee.”
“You’re welcome.”
Garrett and Spring spent the next hour taking in the other pens and the attempts by the ranch hands to tame the wild horses. Garrett winced each time a man was sent flying and hit the ground with a thud, and held his breath as they scrambled to escape the angry hooves. As Spring predicted, her brother was there treating injuries inside a small tent set up on the grounds. Even though Garrett had been advised not to worry about her, he wasn’t looking forward to seeing her thrown, and hoped she’d be able to get through the rest of the day without paying Colt a visit.
On the way back to check on Lady and Queen they were stopped by the sheriff.
“Wanted to let you know that Perry Hammond turned himself in this morning and will testify against Matt in exchange for the reward.”
Garrett was glad to hear it.
“So what about Matt?” Spring asked.
“He’s pulled up stakes. No idea where he is. Landlady says she hasn’t seen him in days. Could be he’s with Jarvis and his people. Haven’t heard anything on them so far either but the Cheyenne marshal has sent warrants as far west as San Francisco. Got my fingers crossed they’ll be apprehended soon. In the meantime, I’ll keep searching for Matt around here. I also alerted the railroad. The conductors are keeping an eye out in case he tries to buy a ticket.”
More positive news, Garrett thought. “So do you think the judge will need my testimony?”
“I spoke with the marshal and he couldn’t give me a yes or no. He said the statement you gave me on the shooting may suffice.”
Garrett supposed he could live with that as long as Matt was convicted, which was in no way guaranteed considering the uneven justice the nation’s courts tended to dispense in cases involving members of the race. The 1857 Supreme Court decision of Dred Scott vs Sanford continued to influence judiciary thinking, and he doubted its ramifications would be banished in his lifetime, if ever.
As the sheriff and Spring discussed where Matt might be, Garrett looked toward the road. Seeing Odell driving up on his wagon made his heart stop. Riding with the old trapper were his parents and sister!
Spring must have sensed the change in him. “What’s the matter?”
“My folks!” he exclaimed and hurried to greet them as fast as his injured back allowed.
Spring smiled and stayed where she was, not wanting to butt in on their reunion. Pleased by the surprise and knowing how much seeing them meant to him, she watched for a moment as he embraced his family. Then she gave Whit her thanks for the news on Perry and headed back to the corral. She had a queen to tame.
Randolph and Audrey Nelson were standing by the fence, observing the pacing mare when Spring arrived. Randolph was tall and broad; his wife was short and thin-boned. Cass had inherited his stature and her mother’s pretty face and brown eyes, eyes that were focused on the mare.
Nelson greeted Spring with a smile. “Cass said you wanted our permission for her to work with the mare.”
“I do. I didn’t want to involve her without speaking to you first.” She looked to Audrey, one of the few women who’d never crossed the street when encountering Spring in town during her wild days.
“Makes sense to me,” Audrey said. “Cass is pretty fearless when it comes to things. In many ways she reminds me of you, Spring.”
Surprised by the compliment, Spring was rendered speechless. Cass, standing next to her mother, beamed shyly, as if pleased by the comparison.
“Thank you.” Spring finally replied genuinely. Uneasy with the praise, she turned to Cass. “How’s your queen doing?”
“Okay, I guess. Putting Lady in with her seems to be helping. She’s been standing beside her and Queen hasn’t been rearing or charging. Her ears are starting to perk up when I call her name and she looks over at me. I think she may be tired though. I asked Mr. Prescott if we could give her some water. He said to ask you when you returned.”
Spring eyed the mare. She was moving slower and having spent the day charging and rearing, water was needed. “Let’s get a bucket and see what happens.”
After filling a bucket with water from the nearby pump, Spring climbed into the enclosure. Cass handed the bucket to her, and Spring set it on the ground by the fence. Lady immediately came over and Spring spent a few minutes quietly telling her what a good girl she’d been for watching over the mare and gave her a big hug. “Come, let’s get you a drink.”
Spring had been watching the mare the entire time, who in turn had been watching Spring and Lady.
“Cass, climb in and sit behind the bucket for me, please.”
With everyone watching, Cass complied and took a seat.
“Put it as close to you as you can get it.”
Once Lady drank her fill and moved off, Spring said to the observers, “I need everyone to be quiet now.”
No one made a sound.
>
“Call your mare, Cass. Let her know you understand how thirsty she is, that you care about her, and whatever else you can think of to entice her. We need her to associate you with her well-being.” Willing this to work, she waited.
Cass played her role well. Enticing the mare with words, she also placed her hand in the bucket and held it so the mare could smell the water. Spring was impressed. The mare remained skeptical, however, and kept her distance.
Thirty minutes passed, and as word spread, more people gathered to watch Cass and Queen, including Garrett and his family. Spring acknowledged him but stayed focused on her task. To tempt the mare even more, Ed brought Cass a bucket of feed. He’d purposefully withheld food for this moment, and Cass let the mare see the contents in her outstretched hand. Lady walked to the feed and helped herself then whinnied to the mare as if to say, “Get over here and eat, little girl.”
Everyone noticed the mare’s rising interest by the way she kept eyeing what Cass had in her hand, so Spring warned the crowd, “When she does eat, anybody who cheers will have to deal with me. We don’t want her spooked after all this.” She punctuated the edict with a hard glance.
Finally, an hour after Cass took her seat, the mare walked over and drank from the bucket. Cass cried, and told her how proud she was. She reached out to touch her, but the horse shied and took off, but a moment later, returned for the feed. Spring saw Ed’s grin. Audrey Nelson’s tears matched her daughter’s. Spring was pleased, and by the look on Cass’s father’s face and the shine of water in his eyes, he was, as well.
After her drink, Queen raced back to her spot on the far side of the pen, but Spring wasn’t bothered by that. The mare was beginning to trust Cass. It was the big first step in the many to follow to help the horse and rider become one.
Most of the onlookers drifted away. Ed left to oversee other doings, and the Nelsons followed their daughter to where the mare stood, so she could continue familiarizing Queen to her presence and the sound of her voice. Spring watched for a moment then finally turned to Garrett and his family.
Garrett said, “Spring. I want you to meet my parents, Hiram and Fannie. My sister Melody and family friend Vernon Babcock. This is Spring Lee. Dr. Lee’s sister.”
Wild Rain Page 18
