With the breaking of the drouth, Jamie seemed to acquire fresh vitality,
and by the time the grass covered the valley he was able to take short
rides on his pony, carefully guarded from over-exertion by Limber and
Doctor Powell. Under their united care the little patient gained
additional strength. They all hoped that the crisis might be
successfully tided over.
One day when Limber and Jamie had returned from their ride, the
cowpuncher accosted Traynor in the stable, while unsaddling the ponies.
"Thar's goin' to be a sale of Government horses at Port Grant tomorrow,
and maybe I'd better go an' look 'em over."
"Good idea," assented the Boss. "Better get over early and size them up
before the bidding commences."
Early the next morning Limber reached the garrison and made his way to
the Quartermaster's Corral where the horses destined for sale were
tethered. Frequently good horses could be gotten cheaply at such sales,
because of blemishes that rendered them unfit for Cavalry use, yet did
not interfere with other work. Only a perfect horse was reckoned a match
for the ponies of the Apaches.
Limber selected two animals, then stood watching the sales. He noticed
with surprise that no one was bidding on a big, handsome sorrel with
cream mane and tail and eyes that were alight with intelligence. The
slender legs and tapering ears showed heritage of racing blood.
The cowboy examined the animal, but there was no sign of blemish.
Puzzled, he watched inferior horses put up and sold after lively
bidding; but no one made an offer on the sorrel, that watched the other
horses with evident interest that was almost amused curiosity. Limber
liked the horse, somehow.
"What's he condemned for?" asked Limber of a soldier who stood near him.
"Unmanageable. Breaks rank, won't face with the other horses, dances
when he ought to stand still, and runs like the Devil, everytime they
line up in parade. He's racing stock. A dandy horse, alright, but too
high-lived for Cavalry work, and they can't break him in to it. He's got
more sense than any other horse in the troop, but after they punished
him a few times, he got to fighting every time a saddle was put on his
back."
Limber remembered several excellent horses at the Diamond H that had
been more unpromising material. When he went back to the ranch after the
sale, he led the big sorrel horse, intending to handle it himself.
Jamie was in the stable when Limber arrived, and the horse leaned out
its graceful neck until its nose touched the child's shoulder. A sudden
thought struck Limber. The horse had been used to children, evidently,
at some period of its life.
"Go get some sugar," said Limber to Bronco, and when he returned, Limber
handed a lump of sugar to the child. "See if he will take it from you."
Jamie held out the sugar, and Gov'ner, with a little nicker, took it
carefully from the boy's hand. After repeating the operation several
times, the boy moved slowly away, holding out his hand, and the horse
followed him, threading gingerly between the buggies, around the men,
and receiving his reward.
Traynor and Nell came out to watch them, and Gov'ner condescended to
make friends with the woman, also, but flatly refused to accept sugar
from any of the men. He plainly showed his preference for the child, and
Traynor laughed as he said,
"He has no use for any one but you, Jamie. He's your horse from now on;
but you must not ride him until Limber says that it will be all right."
So for days Gov'ner was educated, gently and kindly, and always with the
child near by. At first the boy was placed on the animal's back, while
it was led about the barn. After that, Limber, mounted on Peanut, led
Gov'ner on the road at a walk, while Jamie talked to the horse or patted
the shining neck. Not once was there any indication of fractiousness on
the part of Gov'ner. A child's love and kindness had conquered where
discipline had failed.
Mornings, when the day's work on the range was light, Gov'ner would be
led out and the miniature cowboy saddle placed on his back. Neatly
coiled and tied to the saddle was a beautifully made riata, the gift of
Bronco, who was noted for his skill in making these ropes. When the
childish figure appeared, equipped with leather leggings and tiny spurs,
there would be a sharp, joyous yelp from Dash, the leader of the
greyhound pack, and an answering call as Killem, Catchem, Scrub and
Beauty came leaping in delight, knowing there were rabbits and coyotes
to chase.
Fong shuffled out with a lard-pail slipped into a flour sack, which he
carefully tied to the little saddle, with the smiling information,
"Clake and clookies." Then Nell kissed the boy good-bye, saying, "Take
good care of him, Limber;" and the man, turning in his saddle would
reply, "Don't you fret, Mrs. Traynor. We all look out for the Kid."
In the evening, the cowpuncher, dwindling to a tiny white-robed figure,
crawled into Nell's arms as she sat in front of the big, "comfy"
fire-place, to tell her about the baby calves, and how many rabbits had
been chased. Once, with shining eyes and flushed cheeks, how "Me and
Limber roped a coyote--but we let it go home again to its fambly--'cause
I told Limber I knew they would be waiting for it to come."
One day Jamie did not come out to Gov'ner's stall, and the horse
whinnied in vain. The men went around speaking softly, taking off their
spurs to avoid any possible noise on the board floor of the stable, and
Doctor Powell never left the bedside of the darkened, quiet room, where
he battled for the life of the child they loved so deeply.
"You had better take him and Mrs. Traynor to Los Angeles," the doctor
advised Traynor. "She is breaking down under the long strain, and in her
condition needs care as much as the boy. I will go with you and stay as
long as I can be of any assistance."
"Do you think there is any hope for him?" asked Traynor.
"A child's life is a bit of delicate mechanism," answered Powell, "even
when all hope was lost, I have seen wonderful rallies. Not through the
skill of a physician, but through some peculiar recuperative power we
don't understand, as yet."
Traynor wrung the doctor's hand silently.
Arrangements for the trip were completed, the trunks and luggage loaded
on the heavy wagon had already started for Willcox. As Traynor assisted
Nell into the carriage, Gov'ner, poking his head from the box stall,
wondering what it was all about, saw Limber carry a limp little figure
from the courtyard into the stable. The horse recognized the boy and
whinnied joyously. Jamie lifted his head and spoke to Limber, who
carried him over to the horse. Gov'ner's nose reached out and the thin
little hand stroked it weakly.
"Good-bye, Gov'ner," came the faint voice. "Limber will be good to you
till I come home. Won't you, Limber?"
Limber's face twitched as he answered, "No one shall ride Gov'ner whilst
you are gone, Kid."
After the carriage disappeared and the men had gone about the various
duties of the day, Fong shuffled into the barn and looked around
cautiously. Seeing no one, he sneaked into the saddle room and picked up
a shiny little lard pail, that had once been used to hold cookies.
Clutching it tightly the Chinaman ran swiftly across to the kitchen,
and shut the door with a bang.
Limber, who had been saddling Peanut, unobserved by Fong, witnessed the
incident, and when evening came, the cowboy knew it was not opium that
caused the Chinaman's red-rimmed eyelids.
Gov'ner was very lonely in the stables and pastures all day when the
other horses were busy, and at first he called incessantly. Then finding
that it brought no response from the child he loved, he stood patiently
watching the door that led into the court.
Letters came from Traynor saying that they were winning the battle, and
that Jamie would come back to them better than ever before in his life.
Then came another letter which Limber read with a choking voice, for
Traynor told the boys of the Diamond H that they now had a new Boss, and
that the little mother was well, happy, and sent her love to them all.
That she said they were "all her boys," and she would not be satisfied
until she got back home again and showed them the wonderful baby.
Traynor added that Doctor Powell would be home that week, but the rest
of them would not return for another month.
Fong, on a hunt for eggs, passed through the stable as the letter was
finished, and Limber called him to tell him the news. The old Chinaman's
eyes filled up with tears that streamed down his face. "Klid he comme
home all light; new blaby clommee allee samee. When he clome? I blake a
cake!"
That night the Mail Order catalogue was the centre of attraction in the
bunk-house, and for hours the index and illustrations were scanned in
search of a suitable gift for the new Boss. Saddles, spurs, chaps were
debated as not quite fit articles for immediate use, as the recipient
would be about two months old when he reached the Diamond H. In a
quandary they hunted up Fong.
The old Chinaman bristled with importance and put on the horn spectacles
that made him resemble a reincarnated Confucius. Slowly and critically
he squinted at the catalogue, then a "smile that was child-like and
bland" expanded his face, while his long-nailed finger pointed
triumphantly.
"You clatchee him. He all light for blaby."
They stared at the illustration, gazed blankly at Fong and then looked
again at the book.
"What's it for?" demanded Bronco.
"No savey? Blimeby--blaby clatchee teeth!" Fong gave a vivid
impersonation by chewing the end of a fork which he seized.
"I guess that's o.k. so far as it goes," Roarer endorsed, "but we've got
to get somethin' else. That's too durned measly."
Once again they studied, suggested, rejected, and finally, in the hours
approaching dawn, the order sheet was filled out. The articles
enumerated ranged from the teething-ring and rattle, a baby buggy, a
high chair, silver mug, one pair silver-mounted spurs, one
silver-mounted bit, a small-sized saddle, bridle and a gold bracelet
"for a lady" that was to be inscribed "from the boys of the Diamond H."
A letter explained the circumstances and eventful arrival, and asked if
the head of the store would take special care with the order, and pick
out a nice bracelet, as they were all cowpunchers and didn't know
anything but cows,--perhaps the store-keeper might get his wife to pick
out the right sort of bracelet.
Two weeks later they received word that their order had been carefully
filled, and a handsome, plain gold bracelet inscribed as desired had
been forwarded, together with the other articles in their esteemed
order.