Prev | Current Page 20 | Next

Brand, Max, 1892-1944

"Black Jack"

Vance had returned to the ranch only the day
before after a long absence. More and more, after he had been away, he
found it difficult to get in touch with things on the ranch. Once he had
been a necessary part of the inner life. Now he was on the outside.
Terence and Elizabeth were a perfectly completed circle in themselves.

CHAPTER 3

"If Terry worries you like this," suggested her brother kindly, "why
don't you forbid these pranks?"
She looked at him as if in surprise.
"Forbid Terry?" she echoed, and then smiled. Decidedly this was her first
tone, a soft tone that came from deep in her throat. Instinctively Vance
contrasted it with the way she had spoken to him. But it was always this
way when Terry was mentioned. For the first time he saw it clearly. It
was amazing how blind he had been. "Forbid Terence? Vance, that devil of
a horse is part of his life. He was on a hunting trip when he saw Le
Sangre--"
"Good Lord, did they call the horse that?"
"A French-Canadian was the first to discover him, and he gave the name.
And he's the color of blood, really. Well, Terence saw Le Sangre on a
hilltop against the sky.


Pages:
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32