thinking, Robert.â
âWell, it was Paul who done it, got us that horse!â Robert exclaimed. âBesides, it serves them right for putting us on that Appaloosa in the first place.â He rubbed his arm. âMy arm got hurt.â
âIs it really hurt?â I asked.
âJust sprained, I think.â
It was then Christian Waverly came over to us and he said, âThat white nigger of yâalls got yâall a hell of a horse.â
George turned quickly. âYou talking about Paul?â
âSure. Who else?â
In one liquid movement George slammed Christian hard against the barn wall, then thrust up his arm and locked it under Christianâs jaw. âYou talk about Paul,â George said, his voice calm, âyou best remember one thing: Youâre talking about us.â
The other Waverlys stood startled and silent, watching from a distance. Robert and I stood silent too, not knowing what George might do. Hammond, as always, took charge. âThatâs enough, George. Let him go.â
George glanced over his shoulder at Hammond, then turned back to Christian and smiled before loosening his hold and backing away. Hammond then stepped up to Christian and said quite crisply, âYou have to understand something, Christian. Paulâs our blood, and we make no bones about it. You have something to say to that?â
Christian Waverly glanced at George and shook his head. âAll right,â said Hammond pleasantly, then turned to Robert and me. âPaul, you and Robert take care of that Appaloosa now and letâs see about getting him home.â
Late that afternoon we left the Waverly farm, and we took both the Appaloosa and Ghost Wind with us. My daddy rode the stallion, and Robert and I, with the Appaloosa between us, took turns holding his reins. We rode that way all the way back to my daddyâs house.
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After we were home, my daddy summoned Mitchellâs daddy to the stables. Now, Willie Thomas was mighty good with horses, and my daddy entrusted the most prized of his horses to his care. Willie Thomas knew their ailments and how to fix most of them. He saw to their feeding, their hooving, all their care, but he didnât train or ride them. My daddy did that himself. By the time Willie Thomas arrived along with Mitchell, only I was with my daddy. Hammond and George were getting ready to go courting, and Robert had gone off to nurse his sore arm. âSo, this hereâs Ghost Wind!â Willie Thomas exclaimed when he saw the stallion. âHe ride goodâs he look, Mister Edward?â
âHeâs a fine riding horse, all right,â said my daddy, âbut he needs training. I figure he gets that training, he could be the best around.â
âYes, suh,â said Willie Thomas, stroking the stallionâs forehead. âHe sure got a good look to him, I know that!â
âNow, Willie,â said my daddy, âI expect you to take mighty good care of this horse. Iâm depending on Ghost Wind to win me more than a few races by the coming year, and I want him in the best condition possible. Iâll do the training myself, and I donât want anybody sitting him besides myself and Paul here. Paulâs got a definite hand with horses, and I figure him to ride for me someday with his light weight.â
This was the first time Iâd heard this. I was actually going to ride Ghost Wind! I couldnât help but grin, and I glanced over at Mitchell in my pride. But Mitchell cut me a sour look, then looked back at the stallion.
Willie Thomas nodded. âDonât ya worry none, Mister Edward. I take good care of this horse for ya.â
âI know you will,â said my daddy.
Beginning the next day, I worked with my daddy in training Ghost Wind. Sometimes George and Hammond helped with the training, but once they went away to school, it was just my daddy and me, and I learned a lot from him. At first my