Show Y FAI EN D M A tp NARY MARY OHARA aj THE STORY SO 50 FARI kenyear old ken mclaughlin ln given iven an AD opportunity toc it any yearling colt on W his s I 1 am uyi flys wyoming ranch picks the filly tt of a loco local mare named rocket his arts 0 choice hot ce merely adds addi to ids ahli rathers at heri anger which it Is altea already dy groused by the fact act that ken has hai failed his school work and has ba shown no sense seme ot of responsibility it was wa kens keni mother who finally persuaded captain tin ln that having the colt might be good for or ken and the chan change ge in hi him m hs proved she was right but flicki Is badly hurt trying to jump the corral fence even ms GUI the lie foreman says she abe ll Is loco uke like her mother out but ken refuses to be convinced now continue with the story CHAPTER XI nell found her gardening gloves and her trowel and shears and went about clearing the broken broke n flowers and leaves out ot of the boxes when she had bad done what she could to lo put the boxes and flower borders in order she went to the kitchen built up the fire and began to mix the he coo cookies kles N now the oven was ready and when she had nearly finished mix ing the dough ken came into the kitchen he leaned against the table his elbows elbow propped his chin in his hand A little red bandana was tied around his neck his sott soft brown hair was in wild disorder if Flick as really loco mother his appearance shocked nell the look in his eyes was direct almost staring nothing like ken ile he was looking at her now to drag facts acts from her well kennie Kenn le if 11 ashes loco its a bad lookout for or her then it there was a long silence he struggled nell neil looked at him rolling the dough thinner and thinner in his eyes she saw a question he was asking if it come true if he wanted athard it hard enough and his face ace was strained in anguish right now she thought narrowing her eyes against the tears that came so quickly stinging them right now to let him know once for or all that wanting and wishing cant buck a fact perhaps she loco dear we dont know yet for or sure but if she is ken her words came slowly wanting wont change it she went on rolling out the dough cutting the cookies putting them on tin sheets in the hot oven but she 1 had really gone away with ken up the hill into the woods wood s face down on the pine needles hands handi clawing at the ground salt tears burning the insistent clanging of the supper bell roused him and he sat up startled how could it ever be sup y per time already he turned in the opposite direction and looked to Flick as place near the three pine trees in the calf pasture she was lying down not very tar far from frim where he had put the tub of water and the feed box he ran down the hill across the green and into the kitchen and washed his face and hands ban ds and slicked clicked his bis hair all his agony was back blicka why she might be dead out there lying dead instead of just asleep after supper he hurried out to see her she was standing up again and this time barely moved away at a all 11 athis at his approach he sat down do before her on the grass clasped his arms around his knees and made his vows to her 1 I mean it folcka youre the one I 1 want I 1 wont leave you again never flick I 1 dont want those other colts nothing just simply nothing at all and youre my responsibility what dad said I 1 pulled you in from the range where you were tree free and wild and could take care of yourself and ive made you so you cant so youre my response responsibility to take care of blicka stood looking at him her large eyes were dull and not fully opened all her hair was very untidy her legs were not quite straight under her but a little splayed out but her ears were forward she seemed to be listening to be paying attention and she was not frightened nell N elf with a dark blue silk kimono belted around her slender waist was brushing her hair tor for the night it lay loose upon her shoulders in a soft so it wavy tan mass and as she brushed she walked around the room putting clothes away in the closet opening the bed bringing out robs pajamas and talked to him abut ken 1 I wish be nicer to ti him rob hob why hes gone against everything I 1 told him to do ili 1 I think hes suffering deeply eringi so am I 1 and wha is t all tor for rob seated in the low arm aim chair cha r reached out a booted toot foot and dragged the bootjack close lie he planted one foot upon it and set the other heel in ia the notch continuing it if he was going to have a horse to break and train as howard did highboy it would have taught him something made a man of him but what can he do with this poor little oily filly not a damned thing hell fit eit in that pasture and watch natch her 11 summer ind and neglect his work howard has been walking his colts for him for two days he pulled hard against the jack and drew one foot out of the long worn brown boot but rob you dont seel its already done much of 0 it ken Is changed already lies hes learning even though he cant train her learning what learning to sit on his fanny under a pine tree rob hob leaned back in his chair and out ot of his dark face his vivid burning blue eyes looked at her without softening learning that it pays to be bullheaded bull headed not hes learning to fa face ce facts and the whole thing it face I 1 dont see any sign 0 of fit it he said harshly and the kid looks like heck it if this goes on all summer hell be in fine s shape hope to go back to school in september nell felt rebutted rebuffed and got up and went about in silence rob stood up picked up his boots kicked the bootjack boot jack back into the corner went over to nell neil and with e do you think ashes loco the boots hanging in one hand put pu the other arm around her love me he asked 1 I knew you were going to say tharl she exclaimed angrily when youve just made me mad that any time to say things like that his one arm squeezed and shook her a little love me he repeated 1 I dont feel eel the least bit loving love me the one deep dimple in nells right cheek appeared in spite of herself and she turned her face away oh yes then have it your own she made her voice insulting but it was an irritating habit of robs to be satisfied with outward 0 obedience as if once that was gra granted anted by his own persistence and violence he could drive people the rest oj of the way all right then he said and with his hard bullet head pressed her face around until h he could kiss her mouth but rob ken dont talk about him he roared dropping his arm ive had all I 1 can stand ol of him ile he went out the room slammed the door and stamped down the hall to uie the bathroom nell neil climbed into bed turned up the kerosene lamp that stood on the bedside table took her book irom from beside it and began to read her dimple had disappeared and her lips were very set and prim next day rob planned to drive to sargents Sar gents ranch to make final arrangements range ments about shipping the four polo ponies nell was to go with him and they would be away all day when at breakfast howard and ken heard about it ken said would you have time dad to com come e out before you go and look at blicka and see how you think she is she looks better and ashes eating some oats no I 1 roared ln 1 I dont want to see her or to think about her there was a heavy silence everyone ate rapidly eyes down presently mclaughlins ins gaze swung over again toward his younger son and noted the circles under the childs eyes did you go swimming with howard yesterday he asked no sir air why not 1 I want to leave flicks now ive had enough of thi sl howard does your work and youre all set to spend the summer under the pine trees watching blicka do you suppose good for or you what sort ort of shape will you b be e in when its lt timo time to go back to sch school 1 this Is the hottest weather well have all summer eummer your swim I 1 Is good tor for you you take a dip with howard today and do your own work too yes yei sir presently howard said Ite remember mem what you said dad that folcka would stay alone and not go near the other horses you were right she stays stay alone in the corner comer by the fence benci or under the pines why does she I 1 thought horses liked company mclaughlin made no reply and kennie came bravely out with the answer because ashes a lone wolf waif mclaughlin turned to ken surprised and the boy looked ba back c k at his father rarely barely had he been able to face those hard eyes for so long a minute he did it now tor for blicka if she was a lone wolf then he was a lone wolf too he had to fight her battles he was with her the same as tier her and it gave him courage matching his stare with kens rob so eadd id to himself well ill be darned the little son of a gun nell was right facing facts hes bas taking it on the tha chin mclaughlin tn turned his head away and asked for another piece of toast ne nell U jumped up and turned the piece of homemade bread which was lying on the edge of the coal stove it was toasted a delicate brown she brought it hot and crusty on the tin turner and slid it on to the edge of robs plate rob was thoughtful as he took a slab of 0 the fresh unsalted butter and spread it on his toast ken he said presently that what I 1 meant when I 1 said blicka would keep to herself it its lecause because ashes sick A wounded or sick animal always stays alone kens dark blue eyes confiding and full of hope clung to hi his a fathers father a face and mclaughlin felt an emotion within his breast oh said the boy he would have liked to ask it if blicka was not a lone wolf after all but it seemed wiser not to press his fathers sudden kindness after a moment mclaughlin said has she salt ken kens face showed such consternation that it was comical both rob and nell turned away their heads no said ken guiltily staring at his father ive got a piece ot of iodized ionized salt up in the stable said mclaughlin frowning 1 I wont be ready to leave right away rob put in nell it you want to go out to blicka ive a few things to do all right ken said his father ill bring the salt out to her and give her the once over joy colored kens face and nell emitted a faint breath of relief ken kea rushed out to flicks he had already seen her that morning soon after sunrise he had presented himself and standing before her said 1 I am ken do you know me are you getting to like me now he ran out to her again and a said aid dads dad s coming to look at you frcka now you be a good girl and dont run away As lf if she had understood him blicka stood quietly at a little distance when mclaughlin ln came out and set the chunk of iodized ionized salt down near the pine tree then he took out his pipe and lit it and examined the filly while ken watched his father to read the verdict on his bis face finally mclaughlin ln said ashes so sick and hangdog hang dog its hard to tell about her now do you think ashes loco co rob growled 1 I would have sworn it by the way ashes behaved ever since she was born but as a matter of fact weve never seen her except when she was scared out ol of her wits dad well when you said shed been so frightened always when wed seen her did you mean that maybe she loco before answering rob eyed the filly thoughtfully and drew several long long puffs puff s of smoke through his pipe ashes got a very intelligent face he said at last much better than rockets fine delicate mouth lovely eyes set tar far apart that light tracing of veins all over but we cant really know until we see how she responds to training how can I 1 train her what shau shall I 1 begin on you cant do a thing with her now all you can do Is win her confidence the most important thing anyway theres one thing that will help you ken what her sickness and misery when you take away everything freedom friends home habits happiness from a living creature almost life itself it will turn irk in sheer need and desperation to the one thing that Is left and you me ken had never felt so important por tant yes you are her whole make her like it TO BE CONTINUED |