Scarecrow on Horseback Read Online Free PDF Page B

far end of the barn.
    “She's easy to control,” Mel admitted to
Sally when they'd arrived back where he was examining his nails and
resting comfortably against the railing.
    His answer was to teach her to stop and to
back up and even to trot a few steps. “I don't like trotting,” Mel
grumbled as Sally helped her off the horse half an hour later.
    “Yeah, well Lily's got a bumpy trot. Loping's
smoother. You can try that next time.”
    “I thought Jeb said some little kid was due
to ride her.”
    “Not tomorrow. I'm leading a family ride
tomorrow. You can ride tail for me on Lily. We'll be walking the
whole way on a level trail. Nothing to it.”
    He made it sound so tame that Mel was
tempted. “Would Jeb let me ride tail?” she asked.
    “I expect so. There's no one else around to
do it. Like I said we're short-handed. Will be even after the
college kids show up.”
    “I don't like Jeb,” Mel said.
    “Jeb's not a bad feller, just kind of full of
himself.”
    “You like everybody, don't you, Sally?”
    “What? You mean because I like you?” he
teased, and Mel jabbed his arm when he chuckled.
    * * * *
    That night when they were in their own cabin
and her mother asked her what she'd been doing all day, Mel told
her mother about her riding experience.
    “That's good, Mel. You might as well take
advantage of all the free riding now you're here.”
    “I told you, Mom. It's not riding I like. Its
horses. You don't like horseback riding, do you?”
    “Me? No. I'd rather use four wheels to get
where I want to go, but I like looking at horses—from a distance.
That head wrangler's not bad to look at either.”
    “You mean Jeb?” Mel asked in alarm.
    “Umm. He's a hunk. Too bad he's just a
kid.”
    “Do you think he's nice?” Mel persisted.
    “I guess. Of course, I've barely talked to
him. He seems kind of shy, although I hear he's got a
girlfriend.”
    “She got mad at him and left. He's not nice,
Mama. He puts Sally down in front of people, and he orders
everybody around.”
    Her mother laughed. “Sally, your idol! Well,
Jeb's the man in charge. So ordering everybody around is his job,
Mel. As to how he treats Sally, that's between Sally and him, isn't
it?”
    “Umm,” Mel said, but she knew how devastating
mockery was and how hard it was to defend yourself against it.
    * * * *
    The next morning, Mel avoided having to ride
tail on Lily by keeping away from the corral when the horses were
being readied for the family trail rides. Then Lily was assigned to
another small child for a week. Meanwhile Sally kept complimenting
Mel on her work as she helped him with his chores.
    “Seems like you got a special feel for
horses. You sure communicate with them better than most folks,” he
said.
    “Well, I've got a special feel for Lily. I
wish she was my horse, like Rover is yours.”
    “You planning on riding her?”
    “No, but I could take care of her and watch
over the little kids who ride her and like that.”
    “Might work,” Sally said. “Whyn't you check
with Jeb?”
    “Would you ask him for me, please?”
    Sally grunted, but he complied.
    The next morning in the corral, Sally
informed her, “Jeb says you're in charge of Lily.”
    Mel beamed.
    Every day that Lily was free, Mel exercised
her on a lunge line, putting her from a trot to a lope. Mel liked
working alone in the small outdoor ring on the other side of the
brook. There no one could laugh at her for talking to the mare and
pretending that Lily was answering her.
    “Ever think of joining a circus, Lily? You
could have a beautiful lady standing on your back as you circled
the ring while everybody applauded.”
    And Lily's answer. “I'd rather be here with
you.”
    “Well, the mountains are great and the air is
so fresh.”
    “Food's good, too,” Lily might say.
    “So do you like it when the day's over and
you go up in your mountain pasture for the night?”
    “Yes, I like relaxing up there, but I'm glad
to come down in the morning to be