Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1945-12-28
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MARY OHARA
~.A.O. FEATuR esq

over to group of his own. Thunder
head tossed his head high over the
crush where he was feeding at the
rack and his faring eyes caught
sight of this maneuver. He dropped
his muzzle to feed again. Banner
continued to move Thunderhead's
mares from where they were feed
ing over into a corner of the corral
and to freeze them there.
Thunderhead wormed himself out
Of the jam. He pursued Banner and
neighed challengingly. AS the red
stallion turned and faced him, they
both reared and nipped, then
dropped to earth and stood CULVER
ing.
In Thunderhead was all the old
love for Banner, but there was an
other feeling too, and it was get
ting stronger every instant. An
ger. Combativeness. A furious up
rising and outpouring of energy that
lifted and stiffened his tail and
burst from him in squealing grunts
of protest and sent him rearing and
paving into the air. 1t would
presently find outlet in more dam
gerous action than that.
The two stations plunged past
each other again and this time each
aimed an ugly nip in passing.
"Boss Boss! T'underhead is here
mid a big bunch of mares und
colts!"
Thunderhead knew that voice. 1t
went with the oats and the shelter
and the kindness.
"Coom qvick, Bossl Dere all
mixed up wild our mares-de stall
lions is fightin'-"
He knew the other voice too that
answered from the gorge, the deep,
commanding voice with the anger
in it. And he knew the two faces
as they appeared through the driv-
ing fakes-the round pink face with
the gray curls framing it-and the
long dark face with the white teeth
showing in a wind-beaten snarl- He
knew the smell of them, but not this
other smell of consternation-this
smell of shocked horror. Nor the
panic of that voice when it shouted,
"Get the whips, Gus! Bring a
couple of pitchforksl" Didn't know
the arms that failed him and beat
him back with frenzied shouts,
"Turn Banners mares into the other
corral-he'u follow them!" Even
while he plunged past the man and
reared again and Banner reared to
face him and each aimed a smash
ing blow over the others neck that
landed like a dull thunder-clap, he
had to take care to avoid this man
who dashed his head and face with
whip, who hung, yelling, on his hal
ter, who interfered in every pos
sible way with his fixation, who flung
his whole weight and heft against
him, turning him, while the other
man turned Banner. :. ..
There was confusion flooding
his brain :. snow-wind binding his
eyes obedience conflicting with
libido. -.
The barn. His own stall and
manger full of hay and oats. How
had this happened? How had he got
shut in here? He loved this stall. He
dipped his head in the manger. Lift
ing it, he listened and pricked his
ears and reached his sensitive nos
trils into the air and fluttered them
He could smell each one of his
mares and colts. They were all
there, around the stable, feeding at
the racks everything all right
all safe and cared for while the
blizzard whined and the wind seized
the barn and ratified it like dried
pod. :.
"Can you beat it? Thunderhead
came back in the storm and brought
his new harem! Habit was too
strong for him."
Rob made a practice these days
of hiding his temper from Nell, an
nouncing even serious news in
careless manner.
So for a moment Nell was de-
ceived and turned from the table
where she was placing the silver for
supper and looked at him with Won
derment and joy.
"Thunderhead back again! Oh,
Rob!"
Rob stamped across the kitchen
floor to wash his hands at the sink,
and it seemed to Nell that the grin
he flung over his shoulder at her was
more of a toothy snarl than smile.
"Where is he now?" she asked.
"I've got him shut into the
stable"
"I'd like to see him. III go up
after supper"
"You will mott"
As he turned toward her, snatch
ing the towel from the rack and
drying his hands violently. she saw
the wildness in his eyes. She said
nothing more but set the supper
on the table, and as Rob went to his
place, he leaned over and kissed
her and said contritely, Il can't let
my darling be doing such reckless
things as that at this late stage Of
the game"
Why is that reckless, thought Nell,
then suddenly asked, where's Ban