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“It’s a bet.”
    It was then I pulled Robert aside. “You crazy?” I said, trying to keep my voice low. “What makes you think I can ride that horse?”
    â€œâ€™Cause you can ride anything,” Robert returned.
    â€œI never been on a Appaloosa.”
    â€œYes you have,” said Robert. “Just now.”
    I frowned apprehensively. “Don’t know wild horses.”
    â€œPaul . . . you can ride anything.” His confidence in me was unwavering.
    â€œEasy for you to say,” I retorted angrily. “And you could’ve asked me first!”
    â€œâ€™Ey! This boy going to ride, he better go on and do it,” called Percy. “Our daddies’ll be back any minute now.”
    I looked again at Robert, then headed slowly toward the Appaloosa. I began talking softly to calm him, and when I reached him, I dug into my pocket and pulled out an apple wedge I had brought along for the horse I had ridden to the Waverly farm. The Appaloosa took it. I gave him a second piece and he let me pat his forehead. All the while, I was talking to him, telling him I would like to ride him and that nobody was going to slap him this time. I took the reins, then took the time to walk the Appaloosa around the meadow, talking softly to him and giving him apple wedges. Finally, when I knew there wasn’t much time left, I slowly mounted. The Appaloosa didn’t rear. I leaned low to his neck and laid my head against him. I stayed that way for a minute or two, then straightened. I kept on talking and pushed my knees gently inward, and the Appaloosa started across the meadow. Clearly, the horse had been ridden before, but not by the Waverlys. They were too clumsy to ride him.
    Again I leaned forward along the Appaloosa’s neck. “All right, let’s really show them,” I said, feeling akin to him now. Then I straightened, dug in my knees, and we raced across the meadow. I had no fear of the Appaloosa throwing me this time. I was as one with him. The Appaloosa ran wild and free, enjoying the run, and allowed me the pleasure of enjoying it with him. I was still on the Appaloosa when I saw my daddy coming on Ghost Wind. It was clear the course was finished, for Mr. Waverly was mounted beside him, and George and Hammond were walking their horses behind. I slowed the Appaloosa and went to meet them.
    â€œDon’t tell me you can ride that devil!” exclaimed Mr. Waverly as I jumped down.
    â€œPaul can ride just about any horse alive,” said Robert proudly, and looked pointedly at the Waverly boys. I noticed the arm he had been holding was now hanging normally at his side.
    Christian Waverly reddened, then said to his daddy, “Fact is, we made Robert here a wager, seeing it’s our horse and all. Said . . . said, um, if that boy there could ride him, the Appaloosa was his.”
    â€œWell, seems like to me he rode him all right,” said Mr. Waverly, who then turned to my daddy. “Looks like your son Robert’s got himself a horse. What about you?”
    â€œI think it’s time we talked terms,” said my daddy, patting Ghost Wind’s neck. “He’s a fine horse. As for the Appaloosa, we can talk about that too.”
    â€œGood,” said Mr. Waverly before turning to his sons. “Christian, you boys wipe down that stallion and give him some water. Don’t want these folks thinking we don’t tend to our horses.” Then he and my daddy dismounted and went to the house to haggle price. George and Hammond dismounted too, and took a closer look at the Appaloosa, then pulled Robert and me over toward the barn while the Waverlys took care of the stallion. “Now, just how did you two manage to get those Waverly boys to wager their horse?” asked Hammond.
    Robert and I looked at each other and laughed. Then we told them what the Waverlys had done. George laughed too. “So it backfired on them, huh? Quick