Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-01-11
CHAPTER XVI

A flashing glance of Rob's fierce
blue eyes paid tribute to Ken for this
sign of understanding and honesty.
"An the same, Ken, we're commit
ted to this and we can't turn back.
Neither can Thunderhead turn back.
It's too late. Remember, too, how
much depends on this"
"What?"
Have you forgotten all the things
you were going to get for your
mother?"
Ken WINGED.
Right now, with hospital expenses
facing us, believe me. if there's any
money in Thunderhead, we need it"
Ken's mind began to turn and
twist, looking in every direction for
some escape for Thunderhead.
Touch and Go had run in two races
and had not shown in either. al
though she had nearly been in the
money in the second race. She had
one more chance, in the race which
would follow the Greenway race that
afternoon. But certainly she was
nothing to count on now.
"And," went on Rob, remember
the things you were going to do for
the ranch. Wooden fences. Clear
of the debts"
II know"
Are you going to turn tail and be
q gutter now at the last moment
Just because Thunderhead is MOON
ing for his mares?"
But dad-it's just because-be-
cause-well, he never was like this
to me before. He always stared at
me, and did things to me, aimed a
kick or bite at me, you know. I
always had to watch him. But he's
changed. He was glad to see me
this morning-glad! He-he-"
What did he do?"
well, he just put his head in my
arms and leaned against me the way
he always did with mother, as if
I was the only friend he had in the
world-and gave a kind of a little
mumbling grunt, you know the
sound, as if it comes right out of
his heart"
Rob was silent and could not raise
his eyes to look at his boy,
At last he said, ken, you've got
a divided loyalty here. And there's
nothing tougher than that. Which
ever way you turn you hurt your
self and someone else too. This hap
pens to people often and it'll be
good experience for you. Are you
going to stick to your plan to make
money for the ranch and for all our
needs-your own too, don't forget
that-the money that's needed for
your education and Towards -Are
you going to carry on with what
you've started - what we've all
worked for for three years? Or are
you going lowell, not exactly quit,
but be DETECTED from your aim at
the last moment?"
"Would that be wrong, dad?"
''It would not be strong, Ken. I
could not admire such behavior. 1t
wouldn't be manly. Sometimes, in
life, you have to choose course
that is right and pursue it even if
it hurts some innocent party"
Ken did not answer. Rob finished
his breakfast, laid down knife and
fork and pushed his plate away.
when Dickson gets on that horse
this afternoon want you to be pull
ing for them both with all your heart"
Ken's face began to burn. Visual
izing Thunderhead prancing out with
Dickson on his back, he couldn't do
anything but pull for him! The idea
of any other horse beating Thun-
derhead!
"And remember this, Ken, al
though right now Thunderhead's got
his mind on other things than rae
ing, and he's sulking, yet he's been
trained for a race horse. It's in his
blood now. And after little of it,
this life will become his true life"
Ken's eyes lifted to his fathers
with deep probing question. "Hon-
estly, dad? AS much as his wild life
would be?"
Rob hedged. We'll, Ken, you
know how feel about horses. I al
ways have the regret that when we
take them for our own ends and
make artificial lives for them, we
deprive them of their true and nat
ural and self-sufficient lives. But
those would not always be neces-
sarily better lives, in terms of the
horses well-being and happiness"
This made Ken thoughtful. Rob
was getting impatient. He called
the waiter and paid the check. A
glance at Ken showed him that the
boy was still in a state of indeci-
sion. He leaned across the table.
'Listen!"
Ken looked up. There was dif-
ferent tone in his fathers voice and
q different look on his face.
"You're going to make your deci-
sion right now, Ken, and then stick
70 it,"
'Me?"
Eyes. Be man. It's your horse.
u you want him taken away from