"Slone, you ain't holdin' it ag'in me--thet I tried to shut you up the other day?" he drawled, with dry frankness "Why, no, Holley, I'm not.I saw your point.You were right.But Bostil made me mad.""Sure! He'd make anybody mad.I've seen riders bite themselves, they was so mad at Bostil.You called him, an' you sure tickled all the boys.But you hurt yourself, fer Bostil owns an' runs this here Ford.""So I've discovered," replied Slone.
"You got yourself in bad right off, fer Bostil has turned the riders ag'in you, an' this here punchin' of Creech has turned the village folks ag'in you.
What'd pitch into him fer?"
Slone caught the kindly interest and intent of the rider, and it warmed him as Brackton's disapproval had alienated him.
"Wal, I reckon I'd better tell you," drawled Holley, as Slone hesitated, "thet Lucy wants to know IF you beat up Joel an' WHY you did.""Holley! Did she ask you to find out?"
"She sure did.The girl's worried these days, Slone....You see, you haven't been around, an' you don't know what's comin' off.""Brackton was here to-day an' he told me a good deal.I'm worried, too," said Slone, dejectedly.
"Thet hoss of yours, Wildfire, he's enough to make you hated in Bostil's camp, even if you hadn't made a fool of yourself, which you sure have."Slone dropped his head as admission.
"What Creech swears he seen you do to Miss Lucy, out there among the rocks, where you was hid with Wildfire--is there any truth in thet?" asked Holley, earnestly."Tell me, Slone.Folks believe it.An' it's hurt you at the Ford.
Bostil hasn't heard it yet, an' Lucy she doesn't know.But I'm figgerin' thet you punched Joel because he throwed it in your face.""He did, an' I lambasted him," replied Slone, with force.
"You did right.But what I want to know, is it true what Joel seen?""It's true, Holley.But what I did isn't so bad--so bad as he'd make it look.""Wal, I knowed thet.I knowed fer a long time how Lucy cares fer you,"returned the old rider, kindly.
Slone raised his head swiftly, incredulously."Holley! You can't be serious.""Wal, I am.I've been sort of a big brother to Lucy Bostil for eighteen years.
I carried her in these here hands when she weighed no more 'n my spurs.Itaught her how to ride--what she knows about hosses.An' she knows more 'n her dad.I taught her to shoot.I know her better 'n anybody.An' lately she's been different, She's worried an' unhappy.""But Holley, all that--it doesn't seem--""I reckon not," went on Holley, as Slone halted."I think she cares fer you.
An' I'm your friend, Slone.You're goin' to buck up ag'in some hell round here sooner or later.An' you'll need a friend.""Thanks--Holley," replied Slone, unsteadily.He thrilled under the iron grasp of the rider's hard hand.
"You've got another friend you can gamble on," said Holley, significantly.
"Another! Who?"
"Lucy Bostil.An' don't you fergit thet.I'll bet she'll raise more trouble than Bostil when she hears what Joel Creech is tellin'.Fer she's bound to hear it.Van Sickle swears he's a-goin' to tell her an' then beat you up with a quirt.""He is, is he?" snapped Slone, darkly.
"I've a hunch Lucy's guessed why you punched Joel.But she wants to know fer sure.Now, Slone, I'll tell her why.""Oh, don't!" said Slone, involuntarily.
"Wal, it'll be better comin' from you an' me.Take my word fer thet.I'll prepare Lucy.An' she's as good a scrapper as Bostil, any day.""It all scares me," replied Slone.He did feel panicky, and that was from thoughts of what shame might befall Lucy.The cold sweat oozed out of every pore.What might not Bostil do? "Holley, I love the girl.So I--I didn't insult her.Bostil will never understand.An' what's he goin' to do when he finds out?""Wal, let's hope you won't git any wuss'n you give Joel.""Let Bostil beat me!" ejaculated Slone."I think I'm willin--now--the --way Ifeel.But I've a temper, and Bostil rubs me the wrong way.""Wall leave your gun home, an' fight Bostil.You're pretty husky.Sure he'll lick you, but mebbe you could give the old cuss a black eye." Holley laughed as if the idea gave him infinite pleasure.
"Fight Bostil?...Lucy would hate me!" cried Slone.
"Nix! You don't know thet kid.If the old man goes after you Lucy'll care more fer you.She's jest like him in some ways." Holley pulled out a stubby black pipe and, filling and lighting it, he appeared to grow more thoughtful."It wasn't only Lucy thet sent me up here to see you.Bostil had been pesterin' me fer days.But I kept fightin' shy of it till Lucy got hold of me.""Bostil sent you? Why?"
"Reckon you can guess.He can't sleep, thinkin' about your red hoss.None of us ever seen Bostil have sich a bad case.He raised Sage King.But he's always been crazy fer a great wild stallion.An' here you come along--an' your hoss jumps the King--an' there's trouble generally.""Holley, do you think Wildfire can beat Sage King?" asked Slone, eagerly.
"Reckon I do.Lucy says so, an' I'll back her any day.But, son, I ain't paradin' what I think.I'd git in bad myself.Farlane an' the other boys, they're with Bostil.Van he's to blame fer thet.He's takin' a dislike to you, right off.An' what he tells Bostil an' the boys about thet race don't agree with what Lucy tells me.Lucy says Wildfire ran fiery an' cranky at the start.
He wanted to run round an' kill the King instead of racin'.So he was three lengths behind when Macomber dropped the flag.Lucy says the King got into his stride.She knows.An' there Wildfire comes from behind an' climbs all over the King!...Van tells a different story.""It came off just as Lucy told you," declared Slone."I saw every move.""Wal, thet's neither here nor there.What you're up ag'in is this.Bostil is sore since you called him.But he holds himself in because he hasn't given up hope of gittin' Wildfire.An', Slone, you're sure wise, ain't you, thet if Bostil doesn't buy him you can't stay on here?""I'm wise.But I won't sell Wildfire," replied Slone, doggedly.
