The Black Stallion and the Girl Read Free Page A

deepscars running across his body. “From a whip?” she asked after a moment’s silence.
    Alec nodded. “Before we got him,” he answered.
    “I hope you lashed the owner as well.”
    “No, but we took him to court and got the colt away from him. That’s more important.”
    “A man like that will probably never change,” she said sadly, “but the horse will.” She swung off the fence and caught the colt by the halter. Alec was stunned by her quickness, as Black Sand must have been.
    There was no wickedness in the colt’s deep-set eyes, only a settled rage—first a spark and then fire—at being held fast. He tried to rear but Pam kept him still.
    “He is well where he should be well,” she called to Alec. “If you let me ride him, it will be easy for you to decide. You’ll know one way or another in a matter of minutes.”
    Alec accepted her challenge, knowing she was right. He felt that he could accurately predict the phases of the coming battle. If she could handle Black Sand, he’d certainly hire her. It was more than the men had been able to do.
    The colt snorted and Pam soothed him with a caress. His nostrils were wide and flaring, his eyes surprised and rebellious. He moved his big body against hers and she scolded him. “I don’t have to be strong to have the courage to ride you. You belong to one who knows best how to love you, that’s all.”
    Alec came up and snapped a lead shank on the halter ring. “Okay,” he said quietly.
    Together they took Black Sand from the paddock to the training barn. They tacked him and he was soimpatient to be off that he never stopped his dancing. Then Alec led him back to the enclosed paddock. “Try him here where he can’t get away from you,” he said.
    Pam’s eyes met those of the colt, so moist and brilliant. She passed her left hand over his near eye, closing the lid, while stroking the muzzle with her other hand. She began to hum softly, barely audibly, but the colt heard her.
    Alec waited, no longer impatient; he knew what she was attempting to do. The colt’s ears stood high, turning in her direction. She continued humming.
    “Get back,” she said finally. “I’ll be all right now.”
    Alec hesitated, wanting to help her mount, but she persisted. “I don’t need you. Please.”
    She removed her hand from the colt’s eye and, suddenly, she was in the saddle, all in one swing, almost before Alec was aware of it. Every joint and muscle from ankle to neck had acted as one. Score one for her, Alec thought, and now …
    The colt reared and Alec wondered what Pam would do about it. This bad habit accounted for the beatings Black Sand had taken from his former owner. There was always the danger of his going over backward and taking his rider with him.
    She thwarted his first attempt by pressing forward with all her strength and weight against his withers until he came down. He went up again and this time she allowed him to reach his full height before moving her weight forward to stop him. He started down, but she flung her weight back again, the reins tight in her hands, holding him upright. His forelegs pawed theair with irregular, unordered force, trying to keep his balance beneath her shifting weight and hands.
    He tried to go over backward but Pam threw her weight forward and released the reins. His hocks trembled beneath him. He lurched forward, trying to come down on his forelegs. She wouldn’t let him, her weight and hands shifting back again as though determined to keep him on his hindlegs forever.
    Alec realized then that Pam was not one to have an idea and let it lie idle; she did something about it quickly.
    The contest went on for many minutes, with Alec watching the play of balances and counter-balances between horse and rider. What Pam was doing called for strength, skill, experience and instinct—perhaps instinct above all else. To keep the colt upright, she could not be a fraction of a second too late in correcting her hands and