Never has Flame come to me while I have been near the gorge, he thought. Why? Is it because he’s afraid to leave? Steve paused in his thinking, his face troubled. No, it isn’t that, he thought. It hasn’t anything to do with it. I won’t think that way.

Then he had reached the stallion, and there was room only for affection in his eyes. He burrowed his hands in the fiery mane as he talked to his horse.

After several minutes, Flame lowered his head to the grass and Steve slid his hand over the sleek back. For a while he studied the wounds, all of them nearly healed except for the one on the stallion’s chest. But there was no sign of infection and in just a few days it too would be well healed.

Moving to one side of Flame, Steve raised both hands to the stallion’s back. The boy stood there quietly for a few moments before leaning more heavily upon the horse. Finally most of his weight rested upon the stallion.

“Steady, Flame,” Steve heard himself say.

Flame raised his head, turning to the boy before going back to his grazing once more.

Steve’s hands moved over the stallion’s back again; his fingers were nervous and uncertain now that the moment was near. Flame stomped the ground with his hind leg to rid himself of flies.

I can’t very well get on his back, Steve thought. He’s much too high for me. But I could mount him from that rock over there. He’d follow me over there.

The stallion’s small ears pricked forward as Steve moved slowly over to the rock. Without hesitation, the horse followed the boy.

The rock was three feet high and flat on top. Steve stood up on it. It was as good as anything he could want as a springboard from which to mount Flame. He was aware of that, and yet still he hesitated, his left hand upon the red mane.

Finally he raised his other hand to the stallion’s back. Half his weight now rested upon Flame. There was a moment when Flame turned to him, his eyes wide with wonder. Steve talked to him, and the stallion went back to his grazing again.

He’s got complete confidence in you, Steve told himself. He knows you wouldn’t hurt him. Lean more upon him, then move over onto his back. Don’t jump, though. The slower and easier you do it, the better.

Steve knew there was no turning back now. He was going to ride his horse!

Gradually the bulk of his weight fell upon Flame until only the balls of his feet were resting on the rock.