The Blacksmith’s Bravery Read Free Page A

exasperating lunk of a man!
    After HELP WANTED, Griffin had scrawled, MEN ONLY NEED APPLY .
    She turned on her heel and marched up the street toward the smithy. No smoke came from the chimney, and she didn’t hear the clang of Bane’s hammer. He mustn’t be working at the forge. A quick glance inside confirmed her conclusion. She strode around the corner toward the livery stable.
    Marty Hoffstead was bringing in two big geldings from the back paddock. He walked between them, holding one halter with each hand.
    â€œWhoa now.” He stopped them in the middle of the barn floor. He let go of one, and the horse immediately put its head down, snuffling the floor. It walked along, picking up stray wisps of hay with its lips.
    â€œWhoa, you!” Marty spotted Vashti standing in the door and waved his arm. “Can you get that nag and hook him up? There’s a rope tied to the ring over there.” He nodded toward the side wall.
    Vashti stepped smoothly into the dim barn, without any sudden moves, and stooped to catch a leather strap that ran along the horse’s cheek. “Come on, big fella.” The gelding raised his head. She pushed gently on his nose. He backed up, and she was able to lean over and snatch the end of the dangling rope. How Marty had expected to get it and hitch the two big horses without help, she didn’t know.
    â€œThanks,” he said. “This is a two-person job, for sure.” He hooked the other horse to a rope on the other side of the barn floor.
    â€œWhere’s Mr. Bane?” Vashti asked.
    â€œGone to Silver City on the morning stage.”
    She arched her eyebrows. “Oh?”
    â€œYup. Ned Harmon caught whatever Bill Stout had yesterday and was too sick to go, so Griff had to ride shotgun for Bill this morning.”
    â€œWhy didn’t he send you?”
    â€œMe? I’m not a good enough shot to hold off road agents. But I don’t know as I can hitch up the six for the Boise coach alone.” Marty eyed her speculatively. “Guess you’re too scrawny. Would you step across to the Nugget and see if anyone over there can help me?”
    Vashti scowled. She didn’t especially want to get her good clothes smelling like a stable. On the other hand, she resented the implication that she couldn’t hitch a horse or two. And while she disliked Marty and didn’t trust him farther than she could throw an anvil, a little voice inside her egged her to show him just what
he
knew.
    â€œI can do it. You want me to harness these two, or to bring in the next two?”
    Marty’s eyes narrowed. “Well, missy, the harness for the two wheelers is hanging yonder.” He nodded toward the barn wall. “Iffen you want to try to sort that out, I’ll go bring in the swing team.”
    By the time he’d brought in the next pair, Vashti had the first harness over the near wheeler’s back and was buckling the belly band. Marty somehow managed to get the two new horses into place and came to survey her work. He grunted and went out the back again.
    She had two horses done before he had the team all lined up. Marty grabbed the next harness off the wall and went to work. They labored without speaking. Occasionally Marty said, “Get over, you,” to a horse or swore quietly. Vashti scratched each horse’s forelock as she slipped on their bridles. They were good horses. Cyrus Fennel had always bought good stock for the line, and Griffin seemed to be keeping up the standard. Vashti loved to watch the coaches come thundering into town. The drivers always had them run up the main street while they cracked their whips, just for looks.
    The lead horses didn’t have breech straps, and the harnesses went on quickly. Marty was still messing with a buckle on his side. Vashti took an extra moment to caress the two leaders’ silky noses.
    â€œGuess you’re all set,” she said.
    Marty came around and cast a