Steve stood close beside his horse, rubbing his hand across the silken coat. When he turned away again he heard the sound of Flame’s hoofs behind him once more. He was almost at the gorge when the hoofbeats stopped. Turning around, Steve saw his horse standing still, watching him with large, curious eyes. The stallion shook his fiery head and whinnied.

Steve called to him, but Flame remained still. After a while he went back to his grazing and Steve left the valley.

All through the gorge and across the marsh, Steve thought over and over again, Will he return to his band after all? Was I wrong in thinking he’d live alone, an outcast, rather than go back and face the Piebald? But he’s not going to live alone. I want him. I’m going to take him away. I don’t want him to fight the Piebald!

As the boy reached the top of the hollow leading from the marsh, he looked for the black-and-white stallion. The Piebald was grazing with his band in the center of Blue Valley. Steve watched for several moments before ducking below the tall cane and moving up the valley.

And always, as he walked along, the Piebald was there before him, as vivid as though Steve were actually looking at him. He saw the close-set eyes, one blue, the other white. He saw the hatred, the viciousness gleaming in them. The long mulelike ears were pulled back flat against the heavy head as the stallion bared his teeth and shook his massive body.

Then, in his mind, Steve saw the Piebald go forward to meet Flame, as he had done that first day. Heavily he ran, the earth shaking beneath his thunderous hoofs. And during the next few moments, Steve relived every blow of pounding hoofs on flesh, every second of raking, tearing teeth during the terrible fight.

He came to an abrupt stop, the palms of his hands wet and a feverish light in his eyes. “Stop thinking of the Piebald!” he said aloud. “Flame isn’t coming back. There will be no fight. I’ll have him away from here soon. I’ll have him for my own.”

But when Steve walked forward again, he asked himself, But what if he does come back? What if he fights the Piebald while you’re away? What if he’s killed? Flame is smarter and faster, but if he’s just a little afraid he’ll be killed by the Piebald. The Piebald is no blundering bruiser, but crafty and cunning, and he knows how to use his weight to his advantage.

“I’ve got to get Flame away soon,” Steve muttered. “I won’t have him killed now.”

Steve’s pace increased until he was running, his body crouched low and hidden from the Piebald by the tall cane.