Top Horse of Crescent Ranch by Howard L. Hastings

Author:Howard L. Hastings [Hastings, Howard L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: Fiction, Childrens, Middle-Grade, Horse, Western
Publisher: Acme Book Continuum
Published: 2021-03-14T00:00:00+00:00

23A MARAUDER

The spring round-up was finished. Sunlight had proved his worth.

“I’m glad you didn’t try him on the big stuff,” Mr. Stevens said, when Charlie told him how cleverly Sunny had handled the calves. “Your horse will weigh a couple of hundred pounds more next summer. Time enough then to rope the big steers and cows from his back. I’d say now he’s about like a freshman at college. Not quite ‘varsity’ stuff.”

“Can’t we go on the fall round-up, Dad?” Charlie asked rather wistfully.

“We’ll have to see about that. Remember it’s more strenuous than the spring one. Lots colder, and those wild beef critters are harder to handle than the cows and calves. Rides are much longer, too, for we have to move the steers to the railroad. Maybe there will be snow. I wouldn’t be surprised if I said, ‘Wait ’til next year.’ And then, there is school, you know.”

Charlie felt that he and Sunlight would not be in the fall round-up. He consoled himself with the thought that he would have the rest of the summer to enjoy his horse, and that Helen and he could have long rides together. He had never ceased to admire the fine appearance the mare and colt made when they were out together. Brother and sister began to test the speeds of the two horses to see which was the faster. Sunlight now was of an age when thoroughbreds are raced for a mile or more in contrast to the shorter distances at which two-year-olds are run. He might be as fast now as he ever would be and certainly by next spring he would have attained his full measure of speed. Betsy could still hold her own with him. Charlie had not yet asked Sunlight to run his fastest. He was content just to let him gallop alongside the mare. The boy knew that Helen hated to think of the time when Sunlight could outrun his dam. Her pride in Betsy was as great as was Charlie’s in Sunny.

The summer passed quickly and pleasantly. Day after day Charlie, Helen and Mrs. Stevens rode their horses over the range. The father seldom could accompany them these days. Ranch work kept him busier than he ever had been before. He began to depend on Charlie’s reports about the condition of the stock within fair riding distance of the Crescent Ranch.

“Keep your eyes open, son,” he said. “Watch our fences. I’m depending on you to keep things in good shape near home.”

Sunlight and Sundance took their turns on those trips. Often Charlie rode alone. He would spend many hours seated on some rock or stump, looking out over the rolling country. He formed the habit of carrying field glasses with him, the better to watch the wild things within vision and to examine the cattle without riding near. He was particularly interested in a band of prong-horned antelope. These he could always depend on finding within a mile or so of Mercury Butte. There were seven does and ten fawns in the bunch.

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