The Land Read Online Free PDF Page B

daddy did not let me sit Ghost Wind, because he didn’t think I could handle him yet. But finally one day he did let me mount and take the reins, and I discovered riding on Ghost Wind was what I figured floating on a cloud must be like. After that my daddy let me ride him a bit each day, and riding that stallion was what I looked forward to every dawn when I opened my eyes.
    Then there came the time when my daddy let me take Ghost Wind out alone. He was going into town, and he didn’t want the stallion’s training interrupted. He wanted me to put the stallion through his paces, both in the morning and the afternoon, but not to race him. I felt proud that my daddy trusted me to take charge of the stallion on my own, and I did exactly as my daddy said. In the morning I led Ghost Wind to the meadow, mounted him, and let him walk for some time around the meadow before I allowed him to break into a trot, then finally into a gallop. In the late afternoon I did the same, but all the time I was on the stallion, I was aware that Mitchell was watching me. He had appeared on the edge of the woods and had just stood there watching Ghost Wind and me as we went round and round the meadow. Finally, on one of our turns past him, he said: “S’pose you thinkin’ you a real somebody ’cause you can ride that stallion.”
    I looked down at Mitchell and stopped, knowing that despite our understanding, he was itching for a fight with me. Now, I don’t know what possessed me in that moment to say the next thing I did. Maybe I was feeling guilty that because I was my daddy’s son, I could ride Ghost Wind. Maybe it was that, but it wasn’t out of fear I said what I said. I no longer was afraid of Mitchell. “You want to ride him?” I asked.
    Mitchell took a step backward. It was obvious he hadn’t expected me to say that. “You know I can’t ride him,” he said. “Your white daddy’d kill me.”
    â€œYou want to ride him?” I asked again.
    Mitchell looked at the stallion, then at me. “So, what if I do?”
    â€œYou figure you can ride Ghost Wind, then get on. Just bring him back to the stable when you’re finished so I can rub him down.” I dismounted, leaving the stallion with Mitchell, and headed toward the barn. Now, I truly expected that Mitchell would come after me with Ghost Wind. After all, despite my invitation, I knew Mitchell couldn’t ride Ghost Wind. As far as I knew, Mitchell had never ridden more than a mule and had no idea how to ride a thoroughbred tornado like Ghost Wind. But instead of Mitchell following me, the next thing I knew, I heard a triumphant cry, turned, and saw Mitchell atop the stallion dashing across the meadow. For a moment all I could do was stand and stare. But then, as the stallion bucked, left the meadow, and headed for the woods, I suddenly found my legs and my voice, and I began running and screaming after Mitchell and the stallion. “Pull back the reins!” I hollered as I ran. “Mitchell, the reins! Pull back hard!”
    As fast as my legs would take me, I crossed the meadow, but there was no catching them. Ghost Wind and Mitchell were gone, hidden by the deep green of the forest. I chased them along a forest trail, then heard the cracking of branches, and a high shrieking curse, along with a loud snort, and my heart pumped faster. When I finally reached the two of them, I found Mitchell on his rear end, his hands against his head, and the stallion limping several feet away. My first thoughts were for the stallion; I wasn’t thinking about Mitchell. It was good to see him on his backside for a change.
    â€œWhoa there, Wind,” I said softly as I tried to get near the stallion. “It’s me, boy. It’s Paul.” I extended my hand slowly. “Let me take a look at you now. It’s all right. It’s all right.” The stallion pulled back at first. I kept talking, and