Providence by Noland Karen

Author:Noland, Karen [Noland, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-11-08T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter eleven

Kate watched Jonathan lead his old sorrel mare into the barn in the dim light of dawn. Smokey padded silently behind, faithful to his young master. Rio and Gypsy stood at the corral fence, saddled for the round up. They waited patiently, ears twitching at the sounds of morning, occasionally swishing a tail at the ever present flies.

Jon prepared to heave his ancient leather saddle on the mare’s back, when Kate stepped out of the shadows and laid a hand on his arm. “Why don’t you turn old Sally out. She deserves a rest after all the years she’s put in.” Kate could see the crestfallen look on Jon’s face. “I think today would be the perfect opportunity to try out your new horse,” she added quickly, as Luke entered the barn leading a small bay gelding and handed the lead to Jon.

The boy’s eyes shone brightly as he struggled for words. “You mean, he’s mine, Miss Kate? All mine? Really mine?”

“I thought it was about time you had a good cow pony of your own. After all, Sally has been hauling you around most of your life, and she wasn’t young when she started doing that. I think it’s time she earned her retirement, don’t you?”

Jon spoke not a word as he ran his hand over the gelding’s coppery coat, fingering the silky ebony mane.

“He’s about ten or eleven, we’ve used him before on the ranch here, maybe you remember Will riding him for a couple of years?” Kate continued.

“Yes, ma’am, I do. He’s a fine horse. Does he have a name?”

“Funny thing, we always just called him Jesse’s bay colt, because we bought him from Jesse McDonald, do you remember him?”

“I think so. Isn’t he the man that ‘steaded the quarter section down south, then sold out to Mr. Will the year after?” Jon asked.

“That’s right. What do you think you’ll call him?”

“Well, maybe I’ll jest call him Jesse since he probably already knows that.”

“Jesse it is then.” Kate said.

Leaving the boy to saddle his horse, she took Sally and turned her out to the tall grass pasture. Luke joined her at the gate, and they stood together watching the old mare trot out and flag her tail like a filly with the scent of new grass filling her nostrils for the first time.

“She deserves this. That old mare has hauled him around faithfully for the last ten years. Why, I’ll bet she’s twenty-five years old or better.” From the corner of her eye, Kate could see Luke watching her and shaking his head. “What?”

“I still can’t get used to the sight of you in mens’ clothes,” he said with a grin.

“Well, it may not be feminine, but it’s a lot more practical for what we have to do today.” She wore Levis, a pale blue cotton shirt, a brown woolen vest with large roomy pockets, and worn leather boots. Her hat hung down her back by the stampede string, and a pair of deerskin gloves were tucked into her belt.

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