Free On the Mountain by Peggy Ann Craig Page B

was startled when the boy smiled back.  It was brief and he almost missed it, but Wade felt a rush of delight knowing he was able to bring an ounce of joy into his life.  Even if for a brief second.
    “I think you’re just about ready to try something living,” he said and turned toward the paddocks, gesturing for the boy to follow.
    There were three paddocks all together on that side of the barns.  Joe was in the one furthest away from them, the middle one was occupied by a young filly they were breaking, and the last paddock Sty and some of the other horses were pasturing.  When they approached the gate to the last paddock, his lead hand looked over and Wade could still see his displeasure.
    “The boy’s a natural,” he said in an attempt to build the boy’s confidence rather than soothe his wrangler’s ill feelings.  “He roped that post good and strong.”
    “Dandy,” the man grumbled.  “He’ll be great help when our fences decide to up and flee.”
    Wade smirked to himself, but turned away as to not let the cowboy see.  “Now remember kid, it’s all in the wrist.”
    Giving his shoulder a reassuring pat, he stepped back and watched as Joe positioned the young calf.  From up the hill near the homestead he heard someone call his name.  Cranking his neck, he looked back to see Prescott waving toward him.  He turned his attention back to the boy who was off to a good start concentrating hard on the calf.  Gesturing to Joe he indicated he would be back shortly, then headed for his brother.  As he got closer he noticed a single sheet of paper in his hand. 
    “It’s Kathleen.”
     
    * * *
     
    Anna drew her brows together as she focused hard on the calf.  Thinking of the pride in Wade’s voice had her wanting to do a good job.  She raised the rope and twirled it until it rose high over her head.  A sense of confidence filled her as she made eye contact with the animal.  The youngin’ stood on wobbly legs and stared back at her with big brown frightened eyes.
    Anna hesitated.
    The poor creature let out a mournful bleat, calling for his mother and Anna’s heart cracked.
    “What the hell you waitin’ for boy, throw the damn thing.”  Joe shifted angrily on his feet, growing impatient.
    She really wanted to.  The look of disappointment on Wade’s face nearly had her throwing the noose, but in the end she couldn’t do it.  She dropped the rope.
    Naturally, she didn’t receive a pleasant reaction from the lead hand.  He growled loudly and shot his eyes heavenward.  She thought she heard the word ‘pansy’ muttered under his breath before he marched crossly toward her.  Instinctively, she backed away, but something caught his attention and stopped him in his tracks.  Her eyes followed his gaze and spotted the horse in the stall next to them.
    “Listen, kid, we can come back to this later.  Ain’t no rush,” he said, far more forgiving than she trusted.  “Why don’t we concentrate on your riding abilities?”
    She looked at the horse standing so peacefully in the next stall and thought that sounded a lot more doable.
    ”Ever ridden?”
    She nodded.
    “You ever schooled a horse before?”
    She frowned, looking puzzled.
    He grinned.  “That’s a fancy new word Mr. Prescott uses for training horses.  Well, come on boy, let’s see how you do.”
    Joe leaped the paddock fence rather than open the gate, and Anna felt she should follow suit.  Far shorter and slimmer, leaping in one bound, however, was out of the question.  Hurrying as not to let Joe see her climb the wooden fence, she quickly made her way over.
    The lead hand grabbed the bridle around the horse’s neck and led her over to where Anna stood.  “This here is Lucy.  She’s our newest filly.  A little on the shy side, but makes up for it on the spirited side.”
    She looked up at the huge animal.  From this side of the fence, the filly was much taller than she realized.  Her eyes made contact with the