Katie and the Mustang, Book 4 (12 page)

He tossed his head and nickered.

It was only then that I heard a rustling sound and what sounded like footsteps in the trees below us. I held my breath and lifted my head. “Grover? Is that you?”

The Mustang nickered again, and I pulled hard at the lead rope. He turned to look at me, then faced the wind and nickered once more. “Grover?” I called. It was then I heard an answer. It wasn't meant for me, though. It was a whinny.

Now that I knew what I was looking for, I spotted the mare. She was a honey-colored horse with a long dark mane and tail. She eased back into the trees just as I saw a deep sorrel pass farther down the hill. Peering through the branches, I could see three more mares, all sleek and fit.

The Mustang shook his head hard and pulled at the rope. I tried to turn him toward me again. He dragged me forward a little ways. The mare whinnied again. He answered her.

There was no squealing challenge this time. For whatever reason, these mares seemed to be without a stallion. I saw two more threading their way through the pines, a gray and a tall chestnut.

The stallion turned, and I saw an expression in his eyes that had nothing to do with me. It was as though someone had lit a lantern inside him. I felt my eyes fill with tears. I might never find my home, but he had. This Oregon country was where he had been caught. All he needed was for me to take the halter off and let him go.

I began to cry hard. Everything that mattered to me was gone, had been taken away, all at once. But I knew what was right. I loved the Mustang. He had been my friend when I had no other in all the world.

My hands were shaking, and my vision was blurred with tears, but I knew what I had to do. I would not pay him back for his good heart by keeping him from
his
home.

Choking back sobs, I unbuckled the halter and slid it off over his ears. He turned to nuzzle my cheek, then he shook his head and rubbed his muzzle on one extended foreleg, scratching, erasing the marks in his coat from the leather straps.

He took a few steps, and I caught my breath. Then he stopped and looked back at me. “Good-bye,” I whispered to him. “Thank you.” He looked at me for a long moment, his eyes deep and kind.

Then one of the mares whinnied. Involuntarily, I reached out as the Mustang whirled around, reared, then lunged into a canter down the slope. I lowered my arm slowly, my heart aching as I watched him disappear into the forest. The hoofbeats and nickering got louder, then faded slowly into silence.

For a long time I stood, motionless, listening, feeling empty and scared and alone. I coiled up the lead rope and slung the halter over my shoulder and started back toward the wagons. It was the longest walk of my life. I stopped twice to weep, and I couldn't help turning back, over and over, trying to spot him, to hear him, but he was gone.

By the time I got back to camp I was pretty much past crying. I knew I had done the right thing. I knew it. And it still hurt like fire and weighed like stone on my heart.

CHAPTER TWELVE

 

 

 

 

I
woke up the next morning and remembered that the Mustang wasn't there. A weight settled onto my spirits that seemed too much to carry. My daydream about living with my uncle Jack was gone—and so was my best friend. I felt sad and numb. I felt like I had left my own heart on that mountainside. Day after day, I plodded through my chores. Mrs. Kyler was watching me and so was Grover, but they left me alone, and I was grateful.

Life in the camp went on. Every family was looking for land. I helped Mrs. Kyler as always and waited for her to tell me I needed to make some arrangement in town, find some employment. I still walked the mares every morning, looking for grass. It helped me to be around them, as odd as that may sound, because I knew they missed the Mustang, too, in their way.

Most evenings, I helped Mrs. Kyler make supper, then walked out to visit with Midnight and Delia before I went to bed. I usually cried a little, and the mares seemed to understand. One evening, Andrew was going through the herd, checking the horses. He thanked me for taking special care of them.

“They eat every blade of grass I can find for them,” I told him. “Delia's flanks are all filled in, and Midnight's almost are. They're both putting on weight faster than any of the others.”

The instant the words left my lips, I heard what I had said and understood. I blushed. He grinned, and I knew I was right. I stared at him, delighted. “They're both in foal? How long have you known?”

He smiled again. “A month or two.”

I was astounded. “Why didn't you tell me?”

He shrugged. “I probably should have. I didn't want you and my mother worrying about one more thing every time we had to come across rough country or ford a river.”

I stood still, a weight easing off my heart. Two foals. The Mustang had sired
two
foals. Maybe one would look like him. Maybe both would. I grinned, picturing them playing, leaping and running on Andrew's farm, racing across his good grassland.

“It's such grand news,” Andrew said. “I was hoping for one. I didn't ever think we'd get this lucky.”

I met his eyes. “May I come to see them? I don't know where I will end up, but, please, can I just come see them sometimes?”

Andrew was studying my face, and he chuckled. “My mother made me promise that if we got two, I'd give you one once it was old enough. I know better than to cross my mother.”

I stared at him as though he was speaking some language I had never heard before. He patted my shoulder. “Close your mouth, Katie. You'll catch a fly.”

I whirled and ran back toward Mrs. Kyler's wagon. She grinned when she saw me coming, and I whooped like Miss Liddy did sometimes, high and loud.

“Figured it out, did you, finally?” she teased.

I stamped one foot, pretending to be upset. “Everyone knew?”

She nodded. “We're all so pleased about it.”

“Why didn't anyone tell me?”

She reached out and patted my cheek. “I thought losing the Mustang was something you needed to get used to first,” she said. “Was I wrong?”

I didn't know what to say, so I hugged her, hard. She smelled like wood smoke and soap, and, for a minute, I didn't think about anything except how kind she was, how much I loved her.

“I don't know where I will end up,” I began, “but if I can't take care of the foal right off, will Andrew keep it for me until I can?”

She nodded solemnly. “I am sure he would.”

I danced a little jig, hopping in a silly circle. She laughed. So did I. It felt both strange and wonderful at the same time. I noticed Julia and Polly watching me from a distance. They smiled and waved, and I knew they were glad for me.

The next evening, Miss Liddy came into the Kylers' camp. Grover and I were eating second helpings of Mrs. Kyler's beans when Miss Liddy pulled a cracker box close the fire to sit upon.

Mrs. Kyler sat across from her. “My husband and I have been talking. We have an offer to make you, Grover.” Mr. Kyler was leaning against the wagon, and he nodded.

I glanced at Grover. He had stopped chewing and stared at Mrs. Kyler, his eyes full hope.

Mrs. Kyler leaned down and put a stick of dead-wood across the fire. It flared up, sparks floating upward into the ink-dark sky.

“And you, too, Katie,” she added. “Miss Liddy and I have already made our bargain.”

I blinked and looked at Miss Liddy.

She smiled at me. “Mr. Kyler is about to settle his land claim. In exchange for our help building cabins for the winter, tending stock, whatever needs doing, they will let us all winter on their place. Me, Jacob, James, Pierre—and both of you.”

Grover and I exchanged another quick glance. My heart was racketing inside my chest.

“Andrew says you work miracles with the horses, Katie,” Mrs. Kyler said, “and everyone knows how hard both you and Grover can work.”

“And come spring,” Miss Liddy said, “we can all talk again and decide what's best for everyone.” She winked at Grover. “You can practice all winter.” Then she looked at me. “And we'll work on your riding when the weather lets us.”

I turned to stare at Mrs. Kyler. Her face was full of kindness. Tears were stinging at my eyes, but I blinked them back. This wasn't a time to cry. I was going to be all right. I hadn't found my own family, but I had ended up with friends so close they might as well be.

I exhaled slowly, taking it in. Hiram would be so pleased when I wrote him. So would Annie. They weren't really my family either, but…I glanced at Grover. Having family was no guarantee of having love.

“Yes?” Mrs. Kyler said, looking between us. “Do we have a bargain?”

Grover and I both nodded.

“And you can come back whenever you like,” she said to Liddy. Then she looked at me and Grover. “If you leave, you can always come back.”

I smiled, breathing in the cool, soft Oregon air. Grover shot me a look so full of joy and relief that I grinned at him.

I looked up at the sky and knew that the Mustang was somewhere under the same stars, standing watch and guarding his herd. He had found his home. And maybe I had found mine. Maybe I had.