Black Stallion's Shadow by Steven Farley

Author:Steven Farley [Farley, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-80822-6
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2011-11-16T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

Sabotage

The next Jeep to reach the crash site was the camera car. Frank jumped out, quickly checked on the actors and then stormed over to Wes. He took off his French Foreign Legion cap and threw it to the ground. His face was red and veins stood out on his forehead. “Two days ago we lost the trailer. Today this. What’s with these animals of yours?”

“Don’t start up with me, Frank. You know I can’t program a horse like a computer. They have minds of their own.”

“And you’re paid to train them, right? These setbacks are going to finish us. We’ve lost Kramer and Dousette for the rest of the day at least.”

“That’s not all we lost,” Wes said quietly.

“We’re lucky someone didn’t get killed, instead of just a horse,” the director said.

Wes squinted his eyes and leveled a cool stare at the director. He bent down to pick up a lash whip that had fallen from the wagon and lay on the ground nearby.

“Just a horse, huh, Frank? Just a horse? Why, I’ve half a mind to …” He snapped the whip with deadly accuracy, popping the dirt inches from the director’s feet.

Frank jumped backward. “You crazy carny. Are you trying to lose this job or what?”

Wes loosened his hold on the whip and let it slide through his hands to the ground. He looked down at the dead horse and took a deep breath. His voice softened. “Someone has to take care of these horses, Frank. You want to do it?”

Frank didn’t say anything.

“Leave me be, will you, Frank? I have work to do. Go on now.”

“Okay, Taylor. We’ll talk about this later.” Frank spun around and marched back to the camera car.

Alec walked over to check on the Black. His stomach still felt a little queasy. On the other side of the trees the wranglers’ Quarter Horses bunched together with the Appaloosas. Steam rose from their sweat-drenched coats. Some of them started running up against each other. They must have smelled the death in the air. Alec caught hold of the Black’s bridle. He moved the stallion upwind and away from the others.

Kramer sat on the ground near Alec, rubbing his shoulder and moaning loudly. Considering what had just happened, the actor had been incredibly lucky. He’d slid at least twenty yards across the dirt, but his leather suit had protected him from being hurt. Now Alec understood why motorcyclists wore leather outfits. One of the cameramen knelt beside him. “How are you feeling, Paul?”

“I’m getting too old for this.”

“Everything’s going to be all right. We’ll get you out of here as soon as the rest of the crew shows up. You just hang in there.”

The other Jeeps arrived, and the rest of the crew pitched in to help. The injured actor, Louie Dousette, was carried to a Jeep and driven back to the ranch. Alec overheard someone say that the actor would have to go to the hospital.

It didn’t take long for Kramer to begin playing the part of the tough old trooper.

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