Bad Medicine Read Online Free PDF Page A

this,” he said, stepping clumsily toward the batwings.
    When Lucas returned to the table with a tray of six beers he had a frown on his face.
    â€œYou’re lookin’ worried,” Will said.
    â€œWell, maybe I am a tad. See, the thing is VanGelder has a pair of gunhands workin’ for him an’ they’re both bad news—a Mex an’ a Anglo. Both killers. The Mex is the one who gunned the sheriff a while back.” He paused for a moment. “You’d best watch yourself, Will.”
    â€œI always do.” Will grinned. “C’mon—let’s have at those brews.”
    Slick was gaining weight and strength daily. Out in the pasture now, he’d established himself as the top gun, and the other horses kept their distance from him, moving away from the water as he approached the trough and grazing with a good bit of ground between themselves and the Appaloosa.
    One morning, as Will and Lucas leaned on the pasture fence, Lucas said, “I guess I might owe you a stud fee.”
    â€œHow’s that?”
    â€œYesterday, when you was out shootin’, my bay mare come into strong heat, struttin’ ’round with her tail up, drippin’ like a leaky roof durin’ a rainstorm. Slick, he figured he’d calm her down some—humped three times that I saw an’ probably a couple more times I didn’t see.”
    Will laughed. “Slick likes the ladies OK,” he said. “That mare is a real good looker, built nice, handy an’ quick on her feet. If she took, you’ll end up with a hell of a foal.”
    â€œThat’s how I see it.” Lucas smiled. “An’ I got no doubt she took, after all the times Slick climbed on her.”
    Will rolled a smoke, eyes still on his horse. “I’m gonna bring Slick in today, look him over. If he’s back in shape I’ll ride him out to Hiram’s place.”
    Lucas nodded. “I figured that was comin’,” he said. “I guess I can’t talk you outta it.”
    â€œNope.”
    â€œGettin’ a li’l weary of pumpin’ lead at rocks an’ suckin’ beer like you done the last week or so?”
    Slick, standing in the crossties in the barn, was rock hard and twice as feisty, stomping his hooves, snorting, ready to feel Will’s rig on his back. The new brand was crusted over nicely with no moisture weeping from it. Will filled two of his new canteens and secured them with latigo strings around his horn and saddled the Appaloosa up, slipped the low port bit in his mouth, and led the horse out of the barn. Lucas stood by the pasture fence, chewing on ablade of grass, waiting for the show he was pretty sure would come.
    Will stepped into a stirrup, swung aboard—and Slick sunfished, all four hooves off the ground, all his pent-up energy released. He went up again like an unbroken bronc and Lucas yelled out, “ WHOOOO — EEEE ! Ride ’em, Will!”
    Will waved his hat, face showing his joy. “Mr. Blacksmith,” he yelled, “you tol’ me this horse was broke when I bought him off ya!”
    â€œWell,” Lucas called, laughing, “kinda
green
broke. Give him eight, ten years an’ he’ll calm right down.”
    Will allowed Slick to play for a few more moments and then reined him in. He waved to Lucas and set out at a quick jog toward what had been his brother’s home—and that of his brother’s wife and twin daughters.
    Slick shook his head, trying to get under the bit. Tired of wrestling with him, Will gave him all the rein he wanted. The Appaloosa surged ahead as if he’d been fired from a cannon and was in a full gallop within a bit of a second. Chunks of dirt and grass leaped into the air from under all four hooves as Slick stretched out and poured on all the power and speed he had. As it always did, the rush of pure strength and willingness of the animal at speed cleared