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Thar’s always some greenhorn as thinks he has—" "Oh?" Drew wondered aloud. The black-and-gold horse was beautiful and plainly of good breeding. That he was also a runner was not out of the question. But that Oro could best Gray Eagle-Ariel stock on the track, Drew doubted. There were unbroken records set on eastern tracks by horses in Shiloh’s direct blood line.
That’s how th’ ’Pache does his fightin’. An’ th’ spit-an’-polish officers what come from eastward—they’s got t’ larn that. Only sometimes they ain’t good at larnin’, an’ then they gits larned—good an’ proper. Hey, Kells!" They were at the stable and Fenner lifted a hand, palm out, in greeting to the liveryman. "Here’s Ole Tar wantin’ his special grub—" Drew went on to Shiloh’s stall.
The sullen gray sky gave only dulled light, but enough to see by. Drew had heard many stories of the fury of the stallion battle, and he had seen fearsome scars ridging the hides of two of the Range studs. But actually witnessing such a battle shook him. Teeth ... hoofs ... blood on Shiloh’s shoulders and flanks ... a strip of flesh dangling.... But Drew saw that the Pinto was marked, too.
Wouldn’t do for you to be jumped by Apaches. If we don’t come back in three or four days and Shiloh’s able to travel, you take the Mexican and head back to the Stronghold—understand? I mean that." "Yes, suh." Drew had lost his right to protest, lost it the instant he had betrayed their ambush. Now he turned quickly and hurried to where Shiloh stood.
The slim boy on the golden horse shot the Kentuckian a shoulder-side look and grinned, raising his quirt in salute as Drew nodded and smiled back. Some of the noise died. Don Lorenzo pointed a pistol skyward. Drew strove to make his body one with Shiloh’s small easy movements. The big gray knew very well what was in progress, was tensing now for a swift getaway leap.
But by the next morning a few doubts troubled him as he tightened saddle cinches on the stallion. Shiloh’s only races so far had been impromptu matches along the trail. Though the colt had been consistently the victor, none of his rivals had been in his class. And if Oro’s speed was as striking as his coloring, the Range stud would prove a formidable opponent.
"Yeah, always supposin’ that," Nye agreed. "Magnífico!" Drew glanced over Shiloh’s back to the speaker. Coronel Oliveri paused in the doorway of the stable to study the stallion with almost exuberant admiration mirrored on his dark and mobile features. "Don Cazar"—the Mexican officer raised a gloved hand in a beckoning gesture—"por favor, Excellency ... this one, he is of the Blood?"
"So. And this one is a fighter, too. I think. Señor, should you ever wish to sell, por favor, remember one Luis Oliveri! For such a horse as this—sí, a man might give a fortune! Ah, to ride into camp before that puffed-up gamecock of a Merinda on such a horse!" Oliveri closed his eyes as if better to imagine the triumph. "Shiloh’s not for sale, Coronel," Drew replied. Oliveri shrugged.
Fill up your belly an’ take some ease. Then if we do have this little lady gittin’ us up tonight, you’ll be ready for it. I’ll see t’ th’ stud an’ th’ mule. That colt’s not a wild one." Kells surveyed Shiloh knowingly. "No, I seed he was gentle-trained when you come in." He ran his hand down Shiloh’s shoulder, touched the brand. "Spur R? That ain’t no outfit I heard tell of before."
"Sí, of the Messenger line. But a gray of that breeding—" Don Cazar’s forefinger ran nail point along his lower lip. "Ariel blood, perhaps?" Drew busied himself adjusting Shiloh’s hackamore. This was getting close. Hunt Rennie had lived in Kentucky over a year once. He had visited Red Springs many times before he had dared to court Alexander Mattock’s daughter and been forbidden the place.
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