Hoofbeats of Danger Read Online Free Page B

as always. My little girl held her head while I was shoeing her.”
    â€œThese wild ponies—I’ve seen ’em go loco like this,” she heard Jeremiah say in a glum voice. “They go back to being wild, being feared of humans. There ain’t no cause, and there ain’t no cure. It’s a darn shame to see it happen to a fine horse like Magpie.”
    â€œBest to shoot it now and put it out of its misery,” put in the guard. There was a rumble of agreement from the other men. “Want me to fetch my gun, Dawson?”
    A cry burst from Annie, and the men halted, turning in surprise. Eyes swimming with hot tears, she rushed forward, breaking into the circle of men. “You can’t shoot her, Pa!” she said urgently. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her, but you’ve got to give her a chance. Magpie’s so sweet-tempered, she wouldn’t turn against humans like that.”
    Her father looked at her, startled. Water dripped from his shaggy dark hair and beard. “Better stay out of this, Annie,” he warned.
    Annie dug her fingernails into her palms. “But Pa, I know that horse,” she pleaded. “I’ve slept in her stall—she’s eaten her oats right out of my hand. A horse like that doesn’t go wild again.”
    Billy raised his voice. “You’re a good horseman, Mr. Dawson—you know what she’s saying is true.”
    Pa flashed him a sharp glance.
    â€œShe must be sick or hurt.” Annie pressed her point. “Why don’t we send for Redbird Wilson? She knows a lot about healing animals. Remember the time we took her that goat with the broken leg?”
    Her father hesitated, considering. They could hear a dull thud as Magpie flung herself against the side of the barn. “Well, I don’t know,” he said, his gaze flickering toward Nate Slocum. “I guess it’s worth a try. After all, she’s one of the fastest ponies the Express has got.”
    The stagecoach guard folded his thick arms. “Who’s this Redbird Wilson you’re talking about?” he asked curiously, cocking one eyebrow.
    Mr. Dawson ran his fingers through his hair. “She’s a girl who lives up the mountain just west of here. I reckon she’s sixteen years old or so. Her pa’s a mountain man, her ma’s a Shoshone. The Shoshone grandpa is a healer. He’s been teaching Redbird.”
    The guard looked shocked. “You’d let an Injun doctor that horse, Dawson? Why, you know the Injuns have been trying to shut down the Pony Express ever since it started. They attacked your rider this morning, didn’t they?”
    All eyes turned to Billy. He pulled back uneasily. “Well, yeah, sure they set on me. But those were Blackfeet, not Shoshones. And they were just shooing me off their hunting ground—”
    The coach guard clapped Nate Slocum on the shoulder. “You’ve been a jehu on this route for years, Nate. How many times you been attacked by Injuns?”
    Nate Slocum frowned. “So often I’ve lost count.”
    The guard nodded and went on. “I haven’t been working for the Overland long, but I do know the ways of the West. And one thing I can tell you is never trust an Injun. Blackfoot, Paiute, Apache, Sioux—they’re all the same. They’ll do anything to keep white men from settling the West.”
    Nate Slocum turned gravely to Mr. Dawson. “I’m of the same mind. Asking an Indian for help is just plumb foolish. I won’t report this to headquarters, Dawson—but if I did, you’d get fired, sure as shooting.”
    The driver pushed past Annie and went inside to finish his supper. The guard followed close behind.
    Annie, Billy, Pa, and Jeremiah faced each other under the dripping eaves. Annie fought to keep her voice from trembling as she said, “Pa, forget what they say. You know Redbird could help—she’s