Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-01-18
CHAPTER XVII

"1'm collector of fine horses, my
boy. That's the second one I've &C
quired this afternoon. Hop up on her
now, son, and ride her over to my
stables"
Mr.. Greenway limped over to the
filly. Rob caught ken's arm and
showed him the check. 1t was made
out to Kenneth Mclaughlin, and the
amount was five thousand dollars.
Ken looked up at his father. Rob
McLaughlin's big white teeth were
flashing in wide and joyful grin.
THAT does it. KEN" he exclaimed.
But Ken could only stare at his IA
theirs face, then at the check, and
feel dazed.
Greenway called to Ken, "Take a
last ride on her. SON.
Ken thought over all that had hap
pened and all that was going to hap
pen. He and his father and Thun-
derhead we're starting back to the
ranch this day. Then Thunderhead
would be gelded-plenty of money
now to have Doc Hicks come to the
ranch and do it-and then he would
be sold to the army for a band
horse. They brought the most mon
ey of all, his father had said, more
than the army paid for ordinary
horses. He might bring as much
as three hundred dollars. White
horses for cavalry bands were not
easy to find.
Ken thought suddenly of getting
on Thunderhead and running away
with him. Turning him loose some
where. Giving him away
When they were getting ready to
load the stallion, Ken asked, dad,
is the reason you've got to geld him
because you can't get rid of him
unless you do?"
bright boy!" said Rob sarcastic
cally. Then he put his hand on
Kens shoulder. cts not the money,
Ken-not any more, although three
hundred dollars isn't to be sneezed
at. But it's really because there's
no other way to save Banner and
to save myself, incidentally, from
having to adopt about thirty wild
Mares"
Before eight o'clock they had the
stallion in the trailer and had start
ed the long drive back to the ranch.
The eagle headed into the strong
westerly wind and hung on motion
less wings high over the valley.
The Fastener" had blown itself
out and no sign of it remained ex-
cept for patches of snow under the
trees and in the depressions of the
hills. Here was summer again. In
dian summer, with the quakin' ASP
a riot of crimson and ochre and the
cottonwoods shedding golden leaves
on the surface of the river.
Ken Mclaughlin. was leading his
stallion through the keyhole. AS
they emerged on the threshold of
the valley they halted. The horse
was saddled with the small horse
hair saddle Ken had made himself.
Underneath the bride was a heavy
chain halter and lead, and over his
eyes blindfold, but in spite of this
he knew where he was and his body
was tense, and fierce snorting
breaths came from his nostrils.
He paved the earth.
With one hand Ken uncinched the
girth, lifted the saddle off and
dropped it on the ground. The CLINT
of the sun on steel stirrups struck
the eagles eyes, and a sudden lift
of his body registered the reaction.
Again he spread his wings wide, cir
cled and conferred over the pass.
Ken undid the latch of the throat
strap, talking softly to his horse.
"You don't know it, Thunderhead
but this is good-by you've
got to 60 to your mares and take
care of them and live stallion's
life you're true throwback,
Thunderhead . you're not race
horse though you can 60 like the
wind when you want to . and
you're not an army horse prancing
around carrying kettledrum {.
you've got to go back and
I've got to go to school and do a lot
OF other things so =. we {.
can't be together any more :"
Thunderhead's hoof dug impa-
tiently at the earth. Ken slid his
arm up underneath the stations
neck and laid his own head against
it. His voice went on while his fin
gers drew off the bride, the chain
halter, and at last the blindfold.
''Don't forget me, Thunderhead . -.
won't forget you never, Thun-
derhead. :"
Ken stepped back, the stallion was
free, and he knew it. He took a
step forward, switching his tail. His
head was high, his ears alert, his
eyes roved over the valley. 1t was
as If he counted every mare and
colt grazing there quarter mile or
SO away. But he seemed in no hur-
ry to join them. They were all his,
and now there was no one to dis
pute him.