Free Navajo Long Walk by Nancy M. Armstrong Page B

the riverbank. Jeff said, “When my back is healed we can swim together. You’ll be glad to know I swim much better than I ride. You won’t have to rescue me from the river.”
    Kee was quiet for so long that Jeff asked. “Don’t you like to swim?”
    â€œI do not swim,” Kee answered. “Where I lived before there is no place to swim.”
    After a long silence Jeff said, “Yesterday I watched you ride Smoke from the officers’ quarters to the corral. You rode so easily you looked as if you were part of the horse. I’ve never had a place to keep a horse, and I’m a bit afraid of them, but I wasn’t going to let you find out. So early this morning I asked a soldier to saddle Smoke for me and went out to practice riding.” He chuckled a little. “You see what happened to me. But I just had to get back on Smoke after he dumped me, or I’d never have enough nerve to ride again.” He waited for Kee to say something. When he didn’t, Jeff said, “Look, Kee, I’d like to learn to ride like you do. You teach me and I’ll teach you how to swim.”
    Kee was about to say, “I do not want to learn.” Then the memory of the horrible day he forded the Rio Grande flashed through his mind. Had he been able to swim hemight have saved Small Burro for his grandmother. “You will show me how to swim. We will help each other.”
    â€œIt’s a bargain, Kee, and we’ll have fun doing it.”
    While Jeff’s many scratches were healing, Kee found a place on the riverbank behind a growth of salt cedar where he could practice wading without being seen. He shuddered with fear each time he tried, even in water that came only to his knees. He persisted until he could force himself to wade in to his waist. The first day Jeff was able to go in the river, Kee mustered up enough courage to get wet all over. In a few days, Jeff had him swimming clumsily, then with more ease. Soon, Kee showed such enthusiasm he was able to coax a few other Navajo boys to take advantage of Jeff’s lessons.
    As Kee was on his way to the stables one morning he heard galloping hoofs behind him. He whirled around to see Ganado Mucho astride his big, black horse. The Navajo headman reined in beside Kee. “I stopped at your hogan to find you. Kee, our Comanche enemies are making more and more raids upon our horses and cattle and sheep. So we need more men and boys to help keep the animals closer to the fort. I know you are a good horseman. I have seen you on the captain’s horse. Will you have time with your school and work at the stables to help bring some of the animals in each day before sun-bearer leaves the sky?”
    Kee’s eyes shone. He was proud to be asked to do a man’s work. “I do not have to work at the stables. I just like to be with Smoke. I have taught the captain’s son to ride and will show him how to take care of Smoke. But what can I ride to bring in the animals?”
    â€œYou can ride Little Mare. She is one of my horses I keep staked near my hogan. Do you know which one I mean?” Ganado Mucho asked.

    Kee answered, “Yes, I know her.” But he thought, “Ugh, that ugly little brown beast with the crooked white stripes down one side of her face.”
    Ganado Mucho must have noticed the boy’s disappointment. He said, “I know Little Mare is not large and handsome like Smoke, but she is good with cattle.”
    Kee managed a half smile. “She is a horse so I will like her.”
    At first Kee compared everything about Little Mare with his ideal, Smoke. She was ugly; he was the most beautiful horse in existence. She had stubby legs and a rough gait; he had long graceful legs and the smoothest gait of any horse he had ever seen. But after riding Little Mare for several days, he began to admire her wisdom. She seemed able to outguess ornery animals and she soon had Kee convinced that she