Gone to Ground Read Online Free PDF Page B

across to the far wall of the canyon and all the way down to the northern end of the pasture. Another gate at the far end opened into the canyon where it narrowed again. That trail followed the creek to where a spring burst out of the canyon face several miles further on, then up a wash to the pasture that bordered the canyon on its eastern edge.
    Three cows, two calves and a bull were already in residence in the large meadow, as were the other three horses. The grass, fed by creek and spring rains, was deep and green, and the new cows headed gladly into the pasture through the open gate where they immediately began grazing on the unaccustomed abundance.
    Maggie turned Hank and rode back to the barn where she dismounted, tying him to the hitching rail outside. Having shut the gait, Mark ran over, followed by his animal bodyguards.
    “What were you up to today?” Maggie asked Mark as she started unsaddling Hank “Did you get your school work done?”
    “Yes, Mom. I finished all of it except I had some problem on the fractions in the math,” Mark answered, looking up from the kneeling position he’d taken while playing with the dogs. “Then I watered the garden and I took Jack and Gypsy out into the pasture to try some of that stuff they talked about in that dog training book. You know,” he said, face animated, “if we can train Jack and Gypsy like that book says, then they can gather the cows and horses, and you won’t have to work so hard.”
    “Yeah, that would sure be great,” answered Maggie, smiling into the saddle where Mark wouldn’t see. “So, how did it go?”
    “Well, not so good, I guess. I think I need to read some more in that book. Jack went out like they said, but he only got the calf.” Mark paused looking down at the dog’s ruff gripped tightly in his right hand. Then he glanced up with a hopeful look on his face, his green eyes flashing with excitement.
    “But he did bring it back to me. It’s just that Gertrude, the mom, got angry when the calf bawled, and took out after him full blast.”
    Maggie stopped what she was doing and turned to look at Mark. “What did you do?”
    “Well, Jack wouldn’t stop when I yelled at him, so I ran for the fence. Gertrude caught Jack and rolled him over, then took her calf back.” Mark ducked his head again, sure what was coming.
    Maggie took a deep breath and counted to ten. “I think from now on we’ll wait until we’re both here before we do any more dog training, okay?” Maggie stated, looking at Mark’s bent head, the dark blond hair floating lightly on the breeze. “I do not want you taking those dogs into the pasture without me. Understand?”
    Mark blew out a sigh of relief, glad that his chewing out was relatively mild. “Yeah, okay,” he agreed, “but I really think we can get the dogs trained so that they can help us. That book talks about cool things and Jack and Gypsy are awful smart. They just get so excited sometimes, see, and they just can’t help it.” The excitement started to light his face again.
    “Alright, alright, we’ll try,” Maggie said. “Just remember, not without me. And would you get this blasted calf away from me before I turn it into a pair of calfskin boots and a plate of veal fettuccine!”
    While Maggie had been unsaddling Hank and talking to Mark, Jenny, apparently feeling that dinner was entirely too late in coming, began butting hard into Maggie, searching for milk and striking any available body parts, which unfortunately were all at rear end and crotch level. Maggie kept swatting it away, whereupon it turned its quest to Hank, who pinned his ears and stomped his feet in an irritated manner, apparently unappreciative of being butted in the stomach by the determined calf.
    Mark laughed, and grabbed the small black and white calf by its rope halter and dragged it off toward the barn. Maggie followed with her arms full of saddle, pad and bridle, heading for the tack room. The cavernous area was cool