A siren sounded and a speaker above the Salvation Army booth uttered: “Captain Walker, ready with gate four.”
Rod waved at the control booth and shouted, “Call off!” then turned back to Jim and Jacqueline. “Tell Carol I’m sorry she couldn’t get leave. I’ll be seeing you.”
“Might be sooner than you think,” asserted Jim. “My firm is going to bid this contract.”
“Your firm? Where do you get that noise? Have they made him a partner, Jackie?”
“No,” she answered serenely, “but I’m sure they will as soon as he is admitted to the Outlands bar. Kiss Uncle Rod goodby, Grant.”
“No,” the youngster answered firmly.
“Just like his father,” Jimmy said proudly. “Kisses women only.”
The count was running back down; Rod heard it and swung into saddle. “Take it easy, kids.” The count passed him, finished with a shouted, “ONE!”
“Reins up! Reeeiins UP!” He waited with arm raised and glanced through the fully dilated gate past rolling prairie at snow touched peaks beyond. His nostrils widened.
The control light turned green. He brought his arm down hard and shouted, “Roll ’em! Ho!” as he squeezed and released the little horse with his knees. The pinto sprang forward, cut in front of the lead wagon, and Captain Walker headed out on his long road.