The Land(67)

I looked at Luke Sawyer. “And are you?”

“Depends,” he said. “I’ve done business with the man before, but only to buy a couple of everyday kind of horses for hiring out to folks around here. I’ve never bought any real quality animals from him, and he swears most of this bunch is quality.”

I turned again to the herd. “Could be. Mustangs are known for their speed.”

“Well, to be truthful, I’ve got my eye on one in particular. That black beauty of a stallion tethered yonder on the far side. Don’t know what kind of quality he is, but he sure is a beauty.”

I nodded in agreement.

“I want you to check him out and let me know what you think.”

Again I nodded.

“Fact to business,” said Luke Sawyer, “I want you to cut out the best six of the bunch.”

“That’ll take time,” I said.

“Know that. But I need for you to check out all these horses and let me know what you think in the next two days. Man’s expecting buyers to be coming in after then.”

I frowned. “Don’t you have somebody to do that kind of work for you already?”

“Never needed anybody. Took care of it myself. This here’s different, though. I’ve got a chance to get some real quality animals at a low price, and if I get the right ones, I can do right well in selling them later. I hadn’t given much thought to this until Miz Hattie’s letter arrived. If you’re as good with horses as she says you are, then maybe I’ll buy them.”

I fixed my eyes on Luke Sawyer. “On my word?”

Luke Sawyer fixed his eyes on me too. “On Hattie Crenshaw’s,” he said.

I took a few moments to stare out across the corral before turning back to him. “You know, Mister Sawyer,” I finally said, “if I take the time I’ll need with these horses, I’ll lose time on the furniture you’ve got contracted.”

“I’ll take care of that. I always give myself a little leeway in dealing with my customers, and I’ll give you two extra days on the orders we’ve got.”

“I understand that, Mister Sawyer, but I could be losing money.”

“Not really. I’d pay you for your time, same as I’d pay my stable boy.”

I wanted to laugh at that, but of course I didn’t. I remained sober. “So, all you want me to do is pick out the best six for you?”

“That’s right.”

“And what if there aren’t six good ones?”

“Then you pick out whatever there is. Course now, I’m going to have to approve of them.”

“I understand that, but like you said, these horses are only bronco-busted. You planning on giving them more training before you sell them?”

“Well, that would make them worth more, so I’d think so.”

“You’ve got somebody in mind to train them? Somebody who’s trained horses like these before?”

Luke Sawyer’s glance at me was coy. I figured he knew where I was leading with this. He put on his bartering face. I’d seen it often enough to know. “There are some fellas around.”

“Might be a good idea then for them to take a look at the horses as I cut them out.”

“Was thinking on that.” Luke Sawyer pursed his lips. “Was thinking too, if you’d like the chance, I’d let you see what you could do with one or two of them.”

I shook my head. “Well, I thank you, Mister Sawyer, but I’ve contracted with you to make furniture, and if I spend my time training a horse at a stable boy’s wages, I’m definitely going to lose money. I can certainly check over the herd and take out the best for you, but I figure I’ll need to get back to my workbench after that.”

“Suit yourself,” said Luke Sawyer and turned away.

“When do you want me to start?”

“Now.”

I did just that. After Luke Sawyer left, the first thing I did was sit atop that fence and study each horse from afar. There were fifteen horses all together. I watched the movements of each and the way they were with one another. I noted the ones who stood together and the ones who stood apart. Several times I let go shrill sounds and banged tins. Some horses were nervous and bolted. Others became more alert, their ears perked, but remained in place. By the time I got down from that fence, I already had a good idea of the horses I’d be cutting out for Luke Sawyer.

Next thing I did was to build a temporary chute into which I could put one horse at a time. Then I enlisted the aid of Luke Sawyer’s stable boy and two of his friends with the promise of a day’s wages for each, and had them help me in roping the horses and leading them into the chute. We were able to get a few of the horses in without much difficulty, but most, including the palomino, gave us trouble. Still, I was able to get a close look at each of them, and I studied them carefully, front and rear. I checked their ears, their eyes, their abdomens, their legs, and their hooves. I should have checked their teeth too, but I chose not to be bitten. I took note of the weaker horses.