Moon Racer (5 page)

"Christmas, will you help me saddle him?"

Resigned, the Mexican nodded and followed her
out into the sunlight while Curly ambled along
behind them.

Abby paused at the fence to admire the reddishcolored gelding as he defiantly tossed his black
mane. She placed her folded arms on the top rung
and rested her chin on her sleeve, studying the bay's
movements in an attempt to take his measure. He
had a wild look in his eyes and a proud tilt to his
head as he went on a quest to find an opening in the
fence. She considered his stride and even the twitch
of his muscles.

"Why did Brent decide the horse can't be
broken?" she asked.

Curly scratched his head ponderously, a habit he
had developed over the years. "'Cause he throwed
me and Red afore we could even settle in the saddle.
I gave up on the third try; Red stayed for four."

"So," she observed, her eyes never leaving the
horse, "he is a spinner."

"You got that right ain't no one gonna get in
the saddle, much less break that devil." Curly
nodded at her. "Not even you."

Abby watched the horse for a few moments
more, then climbed over the fence and dropped
down on the other side. "I'll just see if I can take
some of the fight out of him."

Navidad hoisted her saddle on his shoulder and
followed her over the fence. "I will be sorry when
Senor Brent hears of this."

"I told you not to worry."

Abby approached the horse cautiously, but he
still flared his ears and backed away from her. After
several tries she finally managed to slip the bit
between his teeth and loop the bridle over his head.
The horse kicked his hind legs when Navidad
attempted to throw the saddle blanket across his
back. Abby grabbed and held the animal's ears so
Navidad could land the saddle and fasten the cinch.

She nodded, and Navidad covered the horse's eyes
with his battered hat, giving her time to slide her boot
into the stirrup. Just as the gelding had done with
Curly and Red, he started spinning before she had a
chance to settle into the saddle. But she slid her legs
around his belly and tugged on the reins.

Navidad wisely ran for the fence and found a safe
seat on the top rung beside Curly.

"I've watched her grow up;' Curly said. "I've
seen her ride many a wild horse, but this one might
be too strong for her to handle. There's gonna be
hell to pay when Brent finds out."

"Si. That is so."

"I've always admired that little gal's grit, but I
worry 'bout her high spirit. One day she's gonna
come up against a situation she cain't handle."

The Mexican frowned. He was afraid Curly
might be right.

Quince Hunter greeted Jonah Tremain with a warm
handshake. "Now, this is an unexpected pleasure,
Major. What brings you out my way?"

I had business in Diablo and thought this would
be a good time to visit an old friend."

Even though Jonah stood six-foot-one, Quince
Hunter still had a good two inches on him. Quince
liked the man in spite of the fact that he was a
Yankee and an officer.

"Welcome to the Half-Moon Ranch." Quince
grinned and shook his head. "You're still at Fort
Griffin, aren't you?"

Jonah raised an eyebrow. "No, thank God. I
didn't sit comfortably in that command chair. Of
course, as it stands, I may be worse off now." Jonah
frowned. "I was given command of Fort Fannin."

"I would congratulate you, but I heard about the
corruption involving Captain Gregory. Has that all
been straightened out?"

Jonah worked his hands out of his gauntlet gloves
and tucked them into his belt. "Not yet." He looked
at his friend. "Of course, if you would agree to
scout for me again, you could help find the men I'm
searching for. I'd like to have you with me."

"Not a chance, Jonah. I like itjust where I am."

"I thought that would be the way of it, but I had
to ask. Don't think I have forgotten that you saved
my life. I am here now to repay that debt."

"You owe me nothing, Major. I was just doing
what the cavalry paid me to do."

Jonah shook his head. "You warned me that
Geronimo was leading us into a trap, but I was
more interested in capturing him than in watching
for an ambush."

Quince nodded, indicating Jonah's leg. "It looks
like you still carry a little souvenir from the
encounter."

"The limp, yes. I can usually tell when it's going
to rain by the ache. The doctor assures me that the
limp will probably go away in time, but I should be
able to forecast the weather from now on."

Quince looked puzzled. "Next week we'll be driving twenty head to Fort Griffin." He smiled. "Have
you come to check up on the cavalry's investment?"

"Not at all. Your word has always been good
with me." Jonah's expression became serious.
"Other than wanting to see the Half-Moon, I have
an altogether different motive for being here."

Quince clapped Jonah on the back. "You can't
know what that army contract has meant for me and
my family. Everyone has been wanting to meet you
and thank you personally."

Jonah's mouth curved into a smile. "I am here to
offer you a new contract." He patted his front
pocket. "I had it drawn up before I left. I need you
to supply horses for Fort Fannin, and I need them
fast."

Quince looked stunned. "I don't know what to
say besides thank you. You have already done so
much for us, and now this..."

Jonah shook his head. "Dammit, will you quit
complimenting me and let me get on to the other
reason I'm here?"

"All right shoot."

"I know how well you train horses for the
cavalry, but I wonder if you can also train one
suitable for a delicate lady?"

Quince raised his brow. "And who would the
lady be?"

"Miss Patricia Van Dere."

"Sidesaddle trained?"

"Yes, of course. I did say lady."

Quince didn't need to think before he answered.
"Sure. We can do that for you."

Jonah glanced about him. Quince had once told
him that the Half-Moon was run-down. But the
house had a new coat of paint, and the barn and
stable looked like they were in good repair. "You
have quite a place here."

"Actually, I don't live here anymore. My wife has
a nice spread, the Diamond C, and I moved there
after we were married." Quince watched his friend's
face. "You did know I'm married, didn't you?"

"Yes. I had heard that. Congratulations!"

"I'll tell you about my w e later. Right now I
want to hear about this lady you mentioned."

"I don't think I ever told you about Patricia. She
is my fiancee."

"That's what I thought you were saying." In a
teasing tone Quince said, "If you've ridden all the
way out here to invite me to your wedding, a
written invitation would have sufficed, but it would
have denied me the pleasure of seeing you again."

"The wedding isn't until next June, but you'll get
an invitation."

"I'm sure we can find your lady a suitable mount.
All you have to do is decide if you want a gentle
horse or one with spirit."

"Gentle, I should think." Jonah thought about the
times Patricia had dutifully ridden beside him, until
one day he realized she was not enjoying herself.
After some tactful prodding, she had admitted that
she was not fond of horses. "Yes, definitely gentle."

"We have two that might be suitable. When do
you need it?"

"The general will be accompanying Patricia to
Fort Fannin for a visit next month. I had hoped to
present her with the horse at that time."

"Your father is coming west?"

"So it would seem."

Quince knew that Jonah always referred to his
father as "the general," and he had often wondered
why, but was too polite to ask. "It's too late to ride
to the north pasture today. Of course, you'll be
staying here at the ranch for a few days."

"If it wouldn't be an imposition."

"Major, no one is more welcome on the HalfMoon than you are. When my family learns that
you have awarded us the contract for Fort Fannin,
they'll be even happier to see you."

"Nonsense. Don't mention it. I chose you for the
contract because I need someone I can depend onyou have already proven that you can deliver
saddle-ready horseflesh on time."

"Thank you anyway. Now, what would you like
to see first?"

Jonah could almost feel life pulsing around him:
he heard the whinny of a horse, the wind in the
branches of a tree, and it stirred a strange
excitement within him. "Actually, I want to observe
the operations of a working ranch. I want to see
everything."

Quince laughed. "Now, that will take some
showing, but I think we can manage it."

Jonah looked up at the sun to gauge the time of
day and judged it to be midafternoon. "Who trains
your horses for the sidesaddle?"

"My sister, Abby. She's one of the best trainers
on the ranch."

Jonah watched Quince for a moment before he
spoke. "I heard your father is out of prison."

"Looks like bad news travels fast."

"I wonder if you remember telling me about your
family that night we got roaring drunk in Tucson?"

Quince remembered the incident all too well
because it was the first time he had ever seen Jonah
drink. They had been tracking a band of banditos for
two grueling weeks across the Arizona desert. It had
been about dusk when they came upon a small ranch
situated a few miles from the Mexican border, where
they were met with a gruesome sight. The banditos
had murdered a whole family, including three
children. After burying the bodies, the soldiers had
ridden back to the fort, where Jonah had demanded
permission to track the raiders into Mexico. He had
been incensed when the commanding officer had
forbidden him to pursue them across the border.

"It's funny what a man will talk about when he's
drunk," Quince said. "As I recall, we drank for three
days. Otherwise I would never have shared my
family secrets with you or anyone."

Jonah expressed indifference with a shrug. "Why
not? I told you about my family."

"Oh, yeah," Quince said' with irony. "As I
remember it-correct me if I'm wrong your greatgrandfather served under General Washington and
distinguished himself at Yorktown. Your grandfather
graduated from West Point with the highest honors
ever achieved and went on to serve in Congress. Oh,
yes, I almost forgot your father was one of General
Grant's officers and was decorated by Abe Lincoln
himself and is now a retired general."

"As I recall," Jonah said, "I bared my soul to you,
somewhere between the good brandy we started out with and the foul-tasting swill we ended up buying
from the trading post. I have a vague memory of
confessing that the general had my life all planned
out for me before I had even taken my first step."
He imitated his father's voice," `All Tremain men
go to West Point and pursue a military career.'"

"Until that night I thought you liked being in the
cavalry. You're certainly good at it look how high
you've risen in rank in just the last two years."

"I might have chosen to join the cavalry on my
own, but I'd have liked to have been given the
choice."

Quince nodded in agreement. "I know what you
mean; life sometimes has a way of choosing for us."

Jonah decided to move on to another subject.
"You look fit and hearty for a man who's just
become a husband."

"Jonah, my friend, you are looking at a happy
man. But then, you've already met my Glory, so
you know how fortunate I am that she chose a
saddle bum like me."

"Wild, untamable Quince, his wings clipped by a
woman." Humor twinkled in Jonah's eyes. "I'll
venture to guess you haven't told her everything
about your past, such as how the women at the post
always gave you... the eye."

"Sometimes, when you're dealing with women,
the past is better left to the past." Quince leaned
against a fence and crossed his arms. "I'm anxious to
meet the woman who's about to clip your wings."

Jonah didn't want to talk about Patricia-today.
Sometimes, like now, he had difficulty even remem bering her face. But she was the woman he would
marry... because it was expected of him, just as
he had been expected to go to West Point. He had
no objections to Patricia; she would make an
admirable officer's wife. "I suppose we all
surrender to the inevitable in the end. Look at you,
choosing marriage over scouting."

Quince shook his head and held his hand out at
shoulder level. "The reason is about this tall, and has
red hair and dark eyes." Then Quince motioned, indicating that Jonah should follow him. "No offense,
Major, but I don't miss eating dust and spoiled food,
and fighting heat, renegades, and snakes."

"I feel a -calmness in you that only a good woman
can bring out in a man. You are fortunate, my
friend," Jonah told him.