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Back Come Again No More Save as PDF
Chapters (55)
  1. Cover
  2. Back Cover
  3. Title Page
  4. Contents
  5. PART I 
  6. 1.
  7. 2.
  8. 3.
  9. 4.
  10. 5.
  11. 6.
  12. 7.
  13. 8.
  14. 9.
  15. 10.
  16. 11.
  17. 12.
  18. PART II 
  19. 13.
  20. 14.
  21. 15.
  22. 16.
  23. 17.
  24. 18.
  25. 19.
  26. 20.
  27. 21.
  28. 22.
  29. 23.
  30. 24.
  31. 25.
  32. 26.
  33. 27.
  34. 28.
  35. 29.
  36. 30.
  37. PART III 
  38. 31.
  39. 32.
  40. 33.
  41. 34.
  42. 35.
  43. 36.
  44. 37.
  45. 38.
  46. 39.
  47. PART IV 
  48. 40.
  49. 41.
  50. 42.
  51. 43.
  52. 44.
  53. 45.
  54. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  55. Touchstone Reading Group Guide

Two Spuds had located a box canyon halfway along where they could rest. A nameless creek spilled through the canyon and tall trees grew in the shade. They reached it shortly after sunup and eased the horses in, hoping they wouldn’t notice they were penned up until it was too late. At the last minute, the black saw the walls closing in and tried to turn back. Emaline was the rider closest to him. He spun and went right at her, screaming as he had screamed when he gnawed Farron Blue. Emaline’s horse shied and nearly threw her. Eli yelled at her to get out of the way and let the horse go, but Two Spuds had other ideas. The Choctaw stood up in the saddle and rode right at the black, shrieking a high-pitched war cry and whirling the knotted strip of leather he used as a quirt over his head. Plenty Doors picked up the idea and galloped at the horse from the flank, hollering a half-remembered Crow battle chant. For once, the black seemed confused. He faltered, spun one way and then the other, then turned and trotted back toward his mares, who were already in the canyon.

The other riders whistled and lifted their hats. Emaline rode over to thank them and asked Spuds how he knew the horse wouldn’t eat him.

“I didn’t. But I figure he’s part grizzly bear. Sometimes they say the best thing to do with a bear is to make a whole lot of racket and go right at him.”

“What if it didn’t work?”

“He’d likely be chewin on my arm right now.”

They made camp at the mouth of the canyon, the riders with their campfires and picketed mounts blocking the exit. Eli didn’t realize how worn-out he was until he sprawled on his bedroll next to the fire. Then he felt the ache of all the long hours in the saddle, fatigue rolling over him in waves. He started to say something to Ezra, but his brother was already snoring. He reached for Juanita and pulled her to him. She came willingly enough and he felt something stir in his groin, but he was sound asleep before he could act on the impulse.

45.

THEY WOKE AROUND NOON AND SPENT AN EASY afternoon in the shade, curried and brushed their horses, made sure they were fed and watered, checked to see if any of the mustangs were injured. They had left behind nearly a hundred horses, but Two Spuds figured they still had close to four hundred, including the prize. One black mustang stallion, slated for delivery to the high country.