quality mount as a man could ever hope to see. And this ?snide? that Morey chose for himself was the best of the best. The horse was young, not more than five if that, and sleek as an otter. It had muscles that looked like rippling steel cable under a glossy chestnut hide, and its eyes were large and intelligent. It had wide flaring nostrils able to scoop in wind by the bucketful and a chest like a beer keg.
?Snide, huh??
Morey grinned. ?What I?m telling you, my friend, is that it?d be time well spent if you switched your saddle and gear to my ugly plug an? take it on the road to Meade Park. This youngun will put you there in plenty of time to catch the afternoon upbound, and you?ll be layin? in position there long before your robber boys come to pay their call.?
?It occurs to me,? Longarm said, already reaching to unstrap the cinch of his McClellan from the livery horse, ?that I?m becoming just as glad that I didn?t have to shoot you yesterday.?
Fahnwell laughed and began stripping his gear from the chestnut.
?I?ll bring him back first chance I get. No guarantees when that will be.? He pulled the cavalry saddle off the rented horse and smoothed his blanket over the back of the young chestnut.
?No hurry. If he don?t come back at all, I?ll understand. I?m not one to begrudge a friend a loan.?
Longarm was in a hurry, but he couldn?t help stopping what he was doing and turning to give Morey Fahnwell a stare and a laugh. ?You old son of a bitch. D?you realize that this horse is probably worth more than the grazing fee you?ve been pissing and moaning about all this time??
Morey grinned right back at him, quite unabashed. ?Principle, son. If a man don?t have principles, he don?t have nothing.?
Longarm clapped the man on the shoulder, switched his Spanish-bitted bridle to the tough chestnut and swung into the saddle. He reached down to shake Morey?s hand. ?Thanks. I?ll get back when I can.?
Fahnwell nodded and took a puff on the cheroot Longarm had given him. ?Eugenie?ll have supper on the table when you get there. And mind you, we?ll be expecting you t? stay the night.?
Longarm touched the brim of his Stetson in silent salute to the old man who was every bit as tough and rugged as this young horse of his. Then he touched his spurs to the flanks of the chestnut and put the horse into a lope toward the north.
This was going to be a long and tiresome ride.
Chapter Seven
The sturdy chestnut?moving that afternoon and on through the night and following morning in the steady walk, trot, and lope rhythm of the long-distance cavalry march?put Longarm in Meade Park with hours to spare. The livery mount from Snake Creek, he was sure, would have died of exhaustion miles to the south, but the chestnut could have gone on another ten or fifteen miles if it had had to.
Tired as he was, the first thing Longarm did when he reached the town was find the livery.
?I need a stall,? he told the hostler. ?I want a box stall, and I want it bedded a good two feet deep with fresh straw.?
?Are you crazy, mister? I don?t??
?You will this time,? Longarm informed the man. He handed the fellow a five dollar half eagle. It was enough to pop the man?s eyes and shut his mouth.
?Like I said,? Longarm went on, ?I want a box stall bedded two feet deep. And I want your bottle of whiskey. I expect you?ve got one tucked away someplace??
?Ayuh, I might.?
?Then drag it out here and get to forking fresh straw into that stall.?
While the hostler cleaned and rebedded the best stall in the barn, Longarm poured half the bottle of whiskey into a bucket of water and used the alcohol and water mixture to give Morey Fahnwell?s grand chestnut a thorough wash and rubdown, paying particular attention to the stout animal?s legs and feet. Then he swabbed out its nostrils and mouth with the whiskey mix, but would not allow the horse to drink yet.
Part of the remainder of the liquor went into a thick mash of barley and bran for the chestnut to eat. A swallow or two went into Longarm?s empty belly. There had been neither time nor place for him to eat since he left Snake Creek. But that could come later.
?What time is the train to Thunderbird Canyon?? he asked the hostler while he tended the horse.
? ?Nuther hour,? the man said.
?I?ll be gone a day, maybe two. Until I get back, mister, I expect this little horse to be treated like a house pet. You understand me? The thing wants to sit in your lap and have you read to it of an evening, then that?s what it gets. Right??
?Well, I don?t
?
?Five dollars a day for that kind of babying,? Longarm said gently. ?I?ll pay it gladly. On the other hand, if I decide I?m not satisfied, I?ll pull your tongue out and tie it around your neck like a kerchief. Do we understand each other??
?Uh
yeah.?
?Thank you, sir. That?s mighty kind of you.?
Longarm thoroughly bathed and rubbed the chestnut, saw that it ate greedily of the fortified mash, and only then allowed it a drink, the drinking water slightly fortified with the last of the whiskey.
?This horse has done a hell of a piece of work,? Longarm told the hostler when he was ready to leave for the
