They made several laps around the inside of the pen at top speed, squealing, bucking and kicking as they went, never missing a step or breaking stride. Jessie and Henry stood watching. “I guess they were happy to have him,” Henry quipped.

“Looks like he’s happy to be there, too.”

They stood watching for several more minutes as the horses stretched out at top speed, running from one end of the paddock to the other and back. One by one each of the horses began to slow and then drop into a trot, then a walk, then they would stop. It was the older ones that ran out of steam first, then all but the colt were stopped and standing or grazing. The colt continued to run and buck for several more minutes with Jessie and Henry both watching in wonder at the colt’s natural athleticism and power, before Jessie turned to Henry.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” she said touching Henry on the arm. “I got a call from Ed Wilson over in Lucyville. He’s been after me for over a year to sell him that little Ginger mare of ours. He finally offered me what she’s worth so I sold her to him. He’d like to have her delivered tomorrow. Seeing as how it is your turn, and all, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind taking her over for me…” she paused. “There’ll be a home cooked dinner in it for you.”

“Well now, I don’t know how I could ever turn down a deal like that.” He put out his hand to take the halter from Jessie, before they both turned and started back. “Lucyville…isn’t that about one hundred fifty miles to the south?”

“Yeah, just this side of the Arizona border. If you leave around eight or nine in the morning, it’ll probably take you most of the day.” A mischievous smile crossed her face. “Especially the way you drive.”

“Hey…there’s nothin’ wrong with the way I drive.” Henry feigned indignity. “At least I’ll get there in one piece!”

“Yeah, and two years older.” Their conversation faded as the colt, who had finished his run, trotted up to the gate and watched as they walked away.

The next morning, the colt once again came to the gate and watched as Henry pulled the truck and trailer into the yard and loaded the mare. Jessie, who had been doing chores, stopped to go say goodbye. The colt couldn’t hear what was being said between the two of them, but just before Henry climbed in the truck, Jessie stood on her tip toes to kiss him on the cheek. She stood and waved as the truck pulled away, and Henry waved back.

Henry needed to stop in Grant to fuel up for the long drive. As he pulled up to the pump and got out to begin filling the tank, he got an uneasy feeling that he was being watched. Yet, when he quickly scanned the entire area within his view, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. Not giving it much more thought, he finished filling the tank, paid for the fuel, got in and drove away. Henry passed the diner on the opposite side of the street, and for a split second out of the corner of his eye, he thought he caught sight of a familiar figure standing in the diner doorway. But when he looked back it was gone. He didn’t know it, but the reason Henry didn’t see anybody was that by the time he looked, the figure had already slipped out of the doorway, around the corner and was heading toward his pickup truck out in the back parking lot.