Gather My Horses Read Online Free Page B

bad terms with someone because of other people’s squabbles.”
    The tension seemed to relax as she gave an assuring smile. “Tom, you know my father is a fair man.”
    â€œI know. That’s why I dropped in. I felt I could.”
    â€œOf course.” Now her blue eyes were both soft and direct. “But I’m sorry you got drawn into that incident.”
    â€œI just didn’t like to see the bullying.”
    She looked down and then up at him again. “I don’t blame you. I felt bad for you, and I don’t want to presume to be telling you anything about it.”
    â€œPlease do.”
    â€œYou mean, what I think?”
    â€œExactly. Yes.”
    She hesitated, and her mouth was small and pretty. Then she said, “I do not mean for this to reflect on you at all, but it just seems to me that it’s not worth it to stick up for people who probably wouldn’t do the same for you.”
    Fielding opened his eyes wide. “Do you think your father sees it that way?”
    Her face looked innocent now. “I don’t know how he has considered it, but I do know that he tries to avoid entanglements.”
    â€œThat’s good,” said Fielding, even as he wondered whether Joseph Buchanan would side with his own kind or stay aloof if things came to the point of trouble. Fielding was trying to think of the next thing to say when he heard a horse trotting into the yard behind him. Thinking it might be Mr.Buchanan himself, Fielding turned halfway and looked over his shoulder.
    What he saw surprised him. A man in a light tan suit was jolting along on a cream-colored horse. He wore no hat, and his full head of hair, yellowish white like corn silk, blazed in the noonday sun. He had the reins crossed in front and held apart with both hands. As he came closer he stood in the stirrups, then sat again, still bouncing. He did not slow the horse but rode right on by, turning his flushed, perspiring face toward Susan and then glaring with pale green eyes at Fielding. Thirty yards off, he stopped the horse and dismounted in the shade of a cottonwood tree.
    â€œLooks as if you have company,” said Fielding.
    Susan gave a half shrug and a nod.
    â€œWell,” he went on, pulling the reins through his right hand, “give my best to your father, if I don’t see him before you do.”
    She smiled. “Even if you do, I’ll be sure to tell him how courteous you’ve been.”
    Fielding returned the smile. “Much obliged.” Nodding toward the cottonwood, he said, “That fellow looks as if he needs a drink of water.”
    â€œI’ll see to it.” After a second’s pause she added, “Thanks for stopping in.”
    â€œMy pleasure. Hope to see you again before long.” He turned the buckskin around, swung aboard, and set off. After a few paces he touched his spur to the horse, and they left the Buchanan place on a lope.
    In town, Fielding went to the livery stable, paid for the day’s keep, and saddled the brown horse. Heput the bridle and reins in his saddlebag and led the horse by a neck rope. He had not ridden two blocks when he met Joseph Buchanan, who had just walked out of the grain dealer’s office. He was putting on his tall dark brown hat with four dents in the peak, and he had his leather gloves in his left hand. Fielding reined his horse over and swung down.
    â€œGood afternoon, Mr. Buchanan. How do you do?”
    â€œOh, I’m fine. And yourself?” Buchanan’s dark blue eyes went from Fielding to the two horses and back.
    â€œFine as well.” After a second’s pause, he added, “I just came by your place, but I missed you.”
    Buchanan’s eyebrows went up and down. “I was on my way home now. Anything urgent?”
    â€œOh, no. I was just passing by, so I stopped there. I know it might be early in the season for you, but I’ve already started packing, so I thought