Ransden’s horse eyed Old Nathan, then said to the mule, “Yer feller ain’t goin’ t’ do whativer hit was he did last night, is he? I cain’t much say I liked thet.”
“Didn’t much like hit myse’f,” the mule agreed morosely. “He ain’t a bad old feller most ways, though.”
“Like I said,” Ransden grinned. “Jest a neighborly warnin’. Y’ see, I been leavin’ my rifle-gun t’ home most times whin I’m out ‘n about . . . but I don’t figger t’ do thet fer a while. I reckon if I ketch someb’dy hangin’ round my cabin, I’ll shoot him same’s I would a dog chasin’ my hens.”
Old Nathan looked up to meet the younger man’s eyes. “Mebbe,” he said deliberately, “you’re goin’ t’ stay home ‘n till yer own plot fer a time?”
“Oh, land!” whickered the horse, reacting to the sudden tension. “Now it’ll come sure!”
For a moment, Old Nathan thought the same thing . . . and thought the result was going to be very bad. Sometimes you couldn’t help being afraid, but that was a reason itself to act as fear warned you not to.
Ransden shook his head violently, as if he were a horse trying to brush away a gadfly. His hair was shoulder length and the color of sourwood honey. The locks tossed in a shimmering dance.
Suddenly, unexpectedly, the mood changed. Bully Ransden began to laugh. “Ye know,” he said good-humoredly, “ifen you were a man, I might take unkindly t’ words like thet. Seeins as yer a poor womanly critter, though, I don’t reckon I will.”
He kicked his horse a step onward, then reined up again as if to prove his mastery. The animal nickered in complaint.
“Another li’l warning, old man,” Ransden called playfully over his shoulder. “Ye hadn’t ought t’ smoke meat on too hot uv a fire. You might shrink hit right up.”
Ransden spurred his mount forward, jerking the left rein at the same time. The horse’s flank jolted solidly against the mule’s hindquarters, knocking the lighter animal against an oak sapling.
“Hey thur, you!” the mule brayed angrily.
“Sword ‘n pistol by his side!” Bully Ransden caroled as he trotted his horse down the trail.
“Waal,” said the mule as he resumed his measured pace toward the cabin, “I’m glad that’s ended.”
“D’ye think it is, mule?” the cunning man asked softly. “From the way the Bully was talkin’, I reckon he jest managed t’ start it fer real.”
The two cows were placidly chewing their cud in the railed paddock behind the cabin. “Thar’s been another feller come by here,” the red heifer offered between rhythmic, sideways strokes of her jaws.
“Wouldn’t milk us, though,” the black heifer added. ” ‘Bout time somebody does, ifen ye ask me.”
“Don’t recall askin’ ye any blame thing,” Old Nathan muttered.
He dismounted and uncinched the saddle. “Don’t ‘spect ye noticed what the feller might be doin’ whilst he was here, did ye?” he asked as if idly.
“Ye goin’ t’ strip us now?” the black demanded. “My udder’s full as full, it is.”
“He wint down t’ the crik,” the red offered. “Carried a fish down t’ the crik.”
Old Nathan dropped two gate bars and led the mule into the enclosure with the cows. His face was set.
“Criks is whur fish belong,” the black heifer said. “Only I wish they didn’t nibble at my teats whin I’m standing thur, cooling myse’f.”
“This fish don’t nibble airy soul,” the red heifer explained in a superior tone. “This fish were dead ‘n dry.”
Old Nathan removed the mule’s bridle and patted the beast on the haunch. “Git some hay,” he said. “I’ll give ye a handful uv oats presently. I reckon afore long you ‘n me goin’ t’ take another ride, though.”
“Whyever do a durn fool thing like that?” the mule complained. “Ye kin ride a cow the next time. I’m plumb tuckered out.”
” ‘Bout time,” the black heifer repeated with emphasis, “thet you milk us!”
The cunning man paused, halfway to his back porch, and turned. “I’ll be with ye presently,” he said. “I ain’t in a mood t’ be pushed, so I’d advise ye as a friend thet y’all not push me.”