The Blacksmith’s Bravery Read Online Free PDF Page A

lose yourhead, that’s a bad idea.”
    They clipped along so fast they were already passing the feed store. The leaders bent around the corner by the smithy and pounded toward home.
    â€œSlow ’em down,” Johnny yelled.
    Vashti pulled back on the lines, but it seemed to have no effect. “Lay right down on ’em!”
    She put all her weight into her pull, rising up on her heels. “Tighten the near leader’s rein.”
    There wasn’t time for her to figure out which ribbon led to the near lead horse’s mouth as and they came abreast of the livery. Johnny reached over and added the strength of his muscular forearm to her tugging and gave a loud, firm “Whoa!”
    The six horses stopped so fast the wheelers nearly piled up on the swing horses’ tails.
    â€œQuick,” Johnny said. “Gimme the lines. Bane’s coming.”
    As she untangled the reins from her hands, Vashti saw two men coming from the interior of the big barn.
    â€œI’ll come by for the four bits later,” Johnny hissed. “Don’t talk about it.”
    â€œWhat’s going on here?” Griffin’s bushy dark eyebrows met in a frown over the bridge of his nose.
    Vashti felt her face flush. “Hello, Mr. Bane.”
    â€œI said, what’s going on?” Griffin glared at Johnny, who refused to meet his gaze. “Conway, did you let this woman drive my stagecoach?”
    Johnny’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “Well, uh…”
    â€œI’ve got a mind to fire you, except we’re so shorthanded I can’t. Get down off the box, and get out of my sight.”
    Johnny dropped down over the side of the coach, thrust the lines into Griffin’s hands, and disappeared. Vashti craned her neck to see where he went. It appeared he was headed over to the Fennel House for some lunch—that is, if he didn’t detour into the Nugget first.
    â€œMiss Edwards.”
    She turned back and found Griffin had climbed up on the step and was eye-to-eye with her.
    â€œYes, sir?”
    â€œWhat do you think you’re up to?”
    â€œPlease, Mr. Bane, I told you I can drive. Let me learn to handle the six. I know I’d be the best driver you ever had.” She stared into his smoldering dark eyes. For a long moment, neither of them said a word.
    At last, Griffin’s beard twitched, and he opened his mouth. “No.” He stepped down and backed up two steps, then turned around. “Come on, Marty. Let’s get the teams switched. Move!”
    Vashti sighed. For a moment, she’d thought he was wavering. She gathered her skirts and climbed down on the side away from the barn door. No sense trying to get him to change his mind today. She’d walked a few yards before she remembered the treasure box. Reluctantly she turned back.
    â€œOh, Mr. Bane?”
    He paused in unhitching the off wheeler from the whiffletree. Though he said nothing, his dark eyebrows rose in question.
    â€œMr. Watson’s up to the office guarding the treasure box because the safe wasn’t open.”
    Griffin frowned.
    â€œIf you don’t want to give me the combination, you could go over there, and I’ll help Marty switch the teams.”
    Griffin laughed. “First you think you can drive, and then you think you can wrangle these critters.”
    â€œDon’t laugh, Griff,” Marty said from the other side of the hitch. “She helped me while you were gone. She knows how to harness a team better’n Ned or Bill does.”
    â€œI doubt that.” Griffin pulled out his pocket watch and scowled at it. “Time I get up there and back, we could have these horses changed.” He looked at Vashti. “Just tell Cecil to stay there until I come.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    Vashti walked swiftly back to the office. When she walked in, Cecil jumped up off the edge of the desk with his shotgun in his hands.