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.No one has been able to do more than try to ride him a few times.We exercise him by turning him out in a large paddock for several hours, and by leading him between two saddle horses, but it's hard to do even that when everyone's afraid of him."Cord's last experience with this kind of thing was with Lathrum's useless yellowhorse, and he wasn't going to be drawn in."I'm sorry, ma'am, but no."Mrs.Stone then played what she obviously thought was her trump card."I understand you worked a difficult horse for Alferd Lathrum last year, that you agreed because you wanted to improve your stock with some of his Eastern breeding, and that he cheated you so that you don't have the young stallion he promised.Would an offer of breeding one of your mares to this horse change your mind? I wouldn't cheat you."Cord had seen the big red horse in the distance once or twice and talked to Windonabout him.He thought the horse was probably the best looking animal he had ever laid eyes on.He was tempted, but he had been burned badly last fall."That's generous of you, Mrs.Stone, but the colt I got from Lathrum is doing fine.My wife did some nursing on him and brought him around.I don't."Right then he made the mistake of glancing at Anne.He could see her face falling as if he were telling her no.Oh, hell, he should have known.If they were going to shoot the damn horse if nobody could do anything with it, she'd be hellbent for saving it.When he hesitated, Mrs.Stone pressed her advantage."Please.He's such a beautiful animal.There just has to be something wrong no one has found.He's been checked from head to toe - teeth, everything, but there must be something.Mr.Windon told me." Her voice trailed away.Good old Bob, Cord thought acidly.He'd probably filled her full of magic stories.He said, "All right, Mrs.Stone, I'll come look at the horse, say Tuesday morning.If I can figure out something so you don't have to destroy him, I'll expect the breeding.If I can't help you, you don't owe me anything."Her face lifted in a genuine smile."Thank you very much, Mr.Bennett." She surprised him again by holding out a gloved hand, and solemnly shaking hands to seal the bargain.Leona and Rob had come in during this discussion and were as awed by VirginiaStone's presence as Martha.As soon as the door closed behind her, Rob said, "Now there's a real lady."Anne just made a face at her brother."Which mare will we take to him?"Cord felt like laughing at her, but didn't let it show."Damn it, Annie, quit.Probably the horse needs to be shot."Luke broke in to share what he knew on the subject."Boy, are you right.He took the last couple of bronc busters tried to ride him straight through a fence.Broke one man's leg."This slowed Anne down fast enough."Cord," worry was written all over her, "you won't."He stood up and headed for the parlor."No, I won't.I've had enough of you nursing me and pouring soup stuff down my throat for a lifetime."Over Anne's shoulder, Cord saw Frank scowl.His brother and the rest of the familycould take the words anyway damn way they wanted.All that mattered was allayingAnne's fear, and her smile told him he'd succeeded at that.* * *Chapter 26THE PEOPLE OF MASON REFERRED to John and Virginia Stone's property as anestate, and as she rode up the winding driveway beside Cord, Anne could see why.Maybe the house wasn't quite as big as her Aunt Clara's mansion in Chicago, but set on a hill with acres of land on all sides, it looked even more impressive.The barn had also been built as much to impress as for utility.Everything was white with green trim.Two long rows of stalls were separated by a wide center aisle, and the hay loft above gave the barn more height than a two-story building.Even though she had never been to the Stones' before, Anne was struck by thefamiliarity of the scene.As on the day they delivered Adamson's horses to the train, there was an unexpected crowd of curious townsfolk already leaning against most of the pretty white fence surrounding the riding areas.When they were close, she could see Ephraim and Martha, Frank, Pete, and Luke in the crowd.Following Cord's lead, she ignored them all, and they rode right to the barn and tied Keeper and Lady outside.John and Virginia Stone and her stableman, introduced only as Lennie, were waiting.John Stone was as elegant as his wife, a slim man of moderate height with dark hairfrosted with silver on the sides and a sharply trimmed short beard.He and Lennie seemedto be having a contest to see who could look more bored by having to put up with this hopeless, last ditch effort.Virginia Stone was upset and more than slightly embarrassed."I'm so sorry.I didn't mention this to anyone, but it seems my husband has."John Stone was not apologetic.He just leaned against the barn wall and crossed hisarms.Cord ignored them all and walked over to look at the horse through the barred top of the stall.Beside him, Anne caught her breath.The horse was a glowing deep red without a single marking.Quality showed in the shapely ears, the broad, flat forehead, small muzzle and tracing of veins visible under the satiny coat.Everything about the animal seemed to flow smoothly together.He looked powerful, yet refined.Restlessly pacing the stall, Firebrand gave evidence of the quality and athletic ability that had lured Virginia Stone to buy him, and also of the foul, dangerous attitude that made John Stone want to see him shot
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