Mail Order Bride: Westward Dance Read Free Page B

caught Jasper, eventually the
bigger dog would overpower him. The husky went down with a loud cry
of pain and then lay still. Seth turned his attention
elsewhere.
    The next thing he knew, the little mutt
was jumping around Hank’s legs, nipping at them. Jasper saw the
other dog and made a beeline for him. The little mutt was more
interested in playing than fighting and started leading Jasper
around and under Hank who began side stepping and
bucking.
    “Hey, get out of here Jasper!” Seth
yelled.
    Another one of the wild dogs joined the
free-for-all and it was too much for Hank. He crow-hopped and when
the wild dog got ahold of his right front leg, Hank reared. Hank
went higher and higher and his rear feet began sliding on the
loose, dusty ground. Seth knew he was going over and tried to jump
clear, but yet another dog arrived and latched onto a stirrup,
preventing Seth from getting his boot out in time.
    Hank fell over backwards, half-pinning
Seth under him. Seth felt horrible cracking sensations in his right
leg and along the same side of his chest. Pain exploded within him
and he cried out. Fortunately, the fall had jostled Seth’s foot
free so that when Hank began getting up, the horse didn’t drag him
from where he lay.
    The next thing he knew, Marty was
kneeling next to him. “Boss! Boss? You ok?”
    “No! But don’t worry about me. Kill
those dogs and keep the herd together and safe. I’ll be fine until
you do that,” Seth said.
    “But-“
    Seth cut him off. “Do what I’m tellin’
you, Marty! Now!”
    “All right, all right,” Marty said and
went to carry out Seth’s orders.
    Jasper and the little mutt stayed with
Seth, sensing that he was weak and in need of protection. One dog
came near them and the mutt surprised Seth by going after it.
Jasper followed suit and together they warded it off. Hank also
stayed near Seth, sniffing and nudging his master as if to
apologize for hurting him.
    Seth had trouble staying conscious, but
fought the blackness that tried to claim him. Using Jasper as
support, Seth succeeded in propping himself up on his left elbow.
He watched Ray and Marty shoot more of the dogs. As their numbers
dwindled, the rest gave up and disappeared back into the
trees.
    Some of the herd were scattered and
Seth knew that they needed to gather them again. He called Jasper
to him and pointed at the herd. “Bring ‘em on! Bring ‘em on!” he
commanded. It was the order to bring the herd together
again.
    Jasper whined, reluctant to leave Seth.
“Jasper, bring ‘em on!” he repeated.
    The collie gave one more whimper of
reluctance and then he left to do his job. Once Jasper joined in,
it was easier gather the herd. The mutt stayed close to Seth the
whole time, licking his face off and on. Seth was glad in a way
because even though the little stinker had helped cause his
accident, he was keeping Seth conscious.
    Seth had no idea with what breeds the
small dog was mixed. He was black and gray, and quite filthy. He
had long hair and looked like a mop. Marty came back and the
mongrel moved out of the way but then came back to see what was
going on.
    “Boss, where’re you hurt?” Marty’s dark
eyes roved over Seth. His right leg was bent at a strange angle.
“Looks like you got a busted leg.”
    “No kidding. We gotta set it quick. I
think my collar bone is cracked, too. Damn! We gotta get this herd
home,” Seth said through gritted teeth.
    Ray road over and dismounted. “I got
Jasper keeping the herd together. Oh, man! Look at that
leg!”
    “C’mon and help me set it, Ray. You get
Seth sitting up against you. You got whiskey in your saddle
bag?”
    Ray said, “You ever known me not
to?”
    Marty laughed and fetched the alcohol
and gave a healthy dose of it to Seth. Seth took another big swig
and waited a couple of minutes while the booze took effect. Ray got
him sat up. The world tilted beneath Seth and he shook his head to
keep awake. The fog began to fade and Marty finished