The Black Stallion Returns Read Online Free

he couldn’t move. His horse … would life be worth living without him? He held out his hand. “Hey, Black” … the words formed in his throat but he could not get them out. The stallion was through the stall door, Abu Ishak beside him. His hoofs rang on the floor as he moved toward Alec. Reaching him, he lowered his small head, the black mane falling down over his bewildered eyes. Alec mechanically pushed it away and rubbed his forehead, as he’d always done. Suddenly he realized that this was the last time he’d hold his horse and his arms fell around the long neckas he pressed his head hard against the stallion’s forehead.
    Minutes passed and it was quiet in the barn. Then Alec looked up and his gaze met Abu Ishak’s. “You’ll be good to him?”
    Abu Ishak nodded.
    Alec’s hand slipped from the Black’s forehead to the mane. Walking slowly, he passed his horse, his fingers trailing along the black coat; then he went to the small tack room in the back of the barn. There he sat on a trunk, knees and fingers pressed together over the bridge of his nose. He tried not to hear the sound of the Black’s hoofs as he left the barn, the shrill whistle. Then came the roar of the van’s engine, the grinding of gears, and the hard rubber wheels on the gravel driveway.
    His horse was gone. Would he ever see him again?

B LOODLINES
3
    Alec’s father allowed the evening newspaper to fall to his lap and withdrew his long legs from the footstool in front of him. Through the porch screens he could see the sun setting behind Dailey’s barn. He turned to his wife, who sat sewing beside him. “Gettin’ dark, Belle. You’ll hurt your eyes.”
    She laid Alec’s corduroy pants down on her lap and removed her glasses. “Just patching up his riding pants again. He might want them, you know.”
    “Yes, he might. Hope so.” Mr. Ramsay rose to his feet. “Know where he went, Belle?”
    “He said he was going for a walk.” Mrs. Ramsay picked up her sewing again. “I’m worried about him, Bill. He hasn’t eaten much … nothing appeals to him.”
    “Glad he’s out of his room, anyway. He’s done nothing but coop himself up there for the last two weeks.”
    “But he’s been studying hard, Bill. And he did so well in his final exams.” Then she added proudly, “Oneof his friends told me today that Alec got the highest marks in his graduating class.”
    “Yes, it’s great, Belle. But it’s still not like Alec to study hard. Of course, we both know the reason was that he wanted to take his mind off the Black. Wonder what he’ll do now, though, with school over for the summer?”
    Mrs. Ramsay looked up from her sewing. “Do you think we could afford to get him a horse to replace the Black? It could be his graduation present.”
    “Guess we could afford it all right, Belle. Don’t know as it’ll do any good, though. No horse could ever replace the Black as far as Alec’s concerned.” Mr. Ramsay sat down in his chair again and put his legs back on the footstool. “Might ask him tonight how he feels about getting another horse,” he continued. “After all there’s a long summer ahead and in his present frame of mind he’ll want to be kept busy.”
    It was after dark when Alec returned. He greeted his parents and then sat down.
    After a few minutes’ silence, Mr. Ramsay said, “You certainly did well in your exams, son. We’re mighty proud of you.”
    “Thanks, Dad.”
    Alec’s father filled his pipe, then lighted it carefully before he spoke again. “Anything special you’d like as a graduation present, Alec?”
    “No, Dad, thanks.…”
    “Your mother and I thought you might like a horse—.” He stopped. He had been going to add “to take the place of the Black” but thought better of it.
    Alec didn’t answer for a minute, and when he didspeak his voice was low, so low that it was hardly audible. “I don’t think so, Dad … thanks … not now, anyway.” He rose to his feet. “I