Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 
   The Man From Eagle Creek
   Chapter Eleven
   Tom looked out at the hole where the horse and rider had been, it was
filling in and the rifle barrel was barely sticking out.  Tom shook the
rope from his saddle and threw it over the rifle barrel and tightened the
loop slowly.  He pulled the rifle from the mud and lay it on the ground.
   "Is there anywhere I can get this stinking mud off me?" Tom asked.
   "Yep, we can ride over west about a mile and the creek has a sand
bottom, I need to get my horse cleaned up some too before I ride back to
the house."
   "It wouldn't hurt you to be cleaned up some too," Tom said as he turned
to try and wipe some of the muck off his breeches and moccasins.
   They rode in silence as they followed the creek up stream a ways, Tom
could see the change in the water, it was clear and he could see sand along
the bank on both sides.  The water was a little deeper too and he rode his
horse out in it and slipped of his back then started washing the mud from
his saddle.  He let his horse walk out of the water and then tried to get
some of the mud off his buckskins and moccasins.  He did the best he could,
but he still looked like he'd wallowed in it.
   He looked at the young boy to see how he was coming along.  The boy had
turned his back on Tom and was washing the mud off his body.  He lost his
footing and fell backwards toward Tom.  Tom looked at the boy doing all the
thrashing around in the water.  The kid stood up and his shirt was open.
   "Uh Oh," Tom said, as he saw a perfect little pair of girl teats
sticking out at him.
   "Why didn't you tell me you were a girl, you looked like a boy to me ,
covered in mud, with your hair all cut off like that," Tom said.
   The girl looked down and saw herself exposed in front of the injun and
spat at him as she covered herself.
   "Well, you don't have to stand there and stare at me while I'm trying my
best to get cleaned up some," she yelled at him.
   "Well don't fret none, you ain't much to look at anyway," Tom said and
walked out of the water.
   The girl walked out to where the water came to her shoulders and pulled
her shirt off.  She held it up and washed it the best she could then put it
back on.  Then she bent just a bit and pulled her britches off in the water
and washed them out.
   When she tried to get them back on, she had one foot in and was trying
to get the other one in, but she kept losing her balance and falling back
in the water.  She came up spittin' and cussin' again.  The girl walked out
to shallower water with one foot in and one foot out.  She tried again to
get her other foot in her britches but they were wet and her foot wouldn't
go down the leg.
   She was still about waist deep in the water when she yelled at Tom,
"Turn your back dammit so I can get dressed."
   "Go ahead girl, but don't get mad at me, I not the one that rode my
horse off in the mud and nearly died."
   Tom heard her splashing and walking out of the water and turned to watch
her, she wouldn't look bad if she was cleaned up and smiled a bit, he
thought as he watched her stumble and pull and cuss to get her wet britches
up over her white butt.
   "I hope you got a good show, while I was trying to get my clothes back
on," she hissed at him.
   "Well, you could make a little money that way I guess, with a little
practice you'd get good at it."
   The girl started laughing so hard she fell back in the water.  She
looked up at Tom and laughed even harder as she rolled in the ankle deep
water to get up.
   Tom laughed too, they were laughing so hard they both were bent over
holding their bellies.
   "I guess I did look kinda awful wallowing around trying to get my pants
up, with my naked butt sticking out," she said and went into another fit of
laughter.
   "Well to tell the truth, your butt was the best part of the show," Tom
said and they both had another fit of laughter.
   "I see now why the Indian called you people `paleface'."
   She laughed so hard she nearly peed.  Then her laugh turned to giggles
every time she thought of him calling her `paleface'.
   When she had finally gotten out of the water, she led her horse out into
the creek and stood beside her to get as much mud off her as she could. 
She already knew she was gonna get a tongue lashing if not a leather strap
across her butt for this.
   Finally she had cleaned the horse as best she could and led her to the
bank where she had to try three times before she got herself pulled up in
the saddle.
   "Where you headed Injun?"
   "Well Paleface, I was headed out to Mr.  Canady's spread when I got
sidetracked."
   "Hell you say.  I'm Elizabeth Canady, youngest daughter of Dale Canady,
is that the stud daddy wants to breed his mare to?"
   "Yep, he saw me in town and asked me to come out.  I guess we'll be
spending the night in the barn, I don't leave my horse anywhere."
   "Daddy told me about it, but he didn't say anything about you being an
injun or you being so big."
   "Well it was my horse that he wanted, not me," Tom said with a smile.
   "Hey look, thanks for gettin' me out of that mud back there, I know I'll
get a good fussing at for that, if not a good whippin'.  What's your name
anyway?"
   "Tom Cooper"
   "I must be really slow, are you the one daddy was telling us, about that
had the gunfight at the saloon?"
   "Well, I did have a little quarrel with a couple of folks yesterday."
   "Now you're a deputy, you sure do work fast Tom Cooper," she said with a
smile.
   "You got the same name as my mom, Elizabeth."
   "Really, but you're Injun."
   "Part Sioux, don't know what the other part is."
   "Wow a real live true half breed Sioux, my, my.  How old are you.  How
tall are you anyway.?"
   The two were riding side by side as they talked, every now and then Tom
would get a flash of white skin when her shirt whipped open.
   "I just turned twenty and I was six foot tall when I was fifteen.  How
old are you?"
   "I'm seventeen"
   "My mom was seventeen when she married my dad."
   "Wait a minute I thought you said you didn't know what the other part of
you was."
   "Well, I was raised by my mom and dad, don't really know about who my
real mom and dad were.  A long story and kinda boring too."
   "There's the ranch headquarters up ahead, I'm gonna lie about how I got
all muddy, you can tell them that you just helped me clean my horse up,
that is if you'll cover for me?"
   "I got your back Paleface."
   "You just wish you did injun Tom," she laughed and raced ahead.
   Tom could see some of the fire in this girl that he'd seen in his own
mother, must be something to do with the name.  So full of life and a
passion about everything they do.  Ready to laugh at a moments notice, even
at themselves.  A very fine trait to have he thought.  A very fiery spirit
in this Elizabeth Canady too, Tom thought as he watched her race toward the
barn.
   `I'd love to see more of that Paleface', Tom thought with a smile.
   She didn't seem embarrassed about him seeing her nakedness, she was just
mad for getting in the mud.  There was still a lot to learn about this boy
girl stuff his dad had told him, and girls like this Elizabeth and the
Sioux twins of Two Crows made the thoughts and prospects even more fun.
   Tom rode into the ranch headquarters and went straight to the barn.  He
slid off his horse and pulled his saddle off, checking for more of the
stinking mud as he looked his saddle over.
   "I see ya got some of that old blue mud on ya horse and tack same as
Beth Canady did," a voice said behind him.
   "Yes I did, I was wondering if there was a place I could wash the rest
off me, my horse and my saddle," Tom said as he looked over at the short,
bent over little man that was looking him over good.
   "Sure, ya can use the big stock tank out back, that's what the wranglers
use to clean the horse shit off their crusty asses.  I'll clean yer saddle
fer ya, and yer horse too if you'll let me," he said.
   "I'll have to clean my horse, he won't stand still for anyone else to
touch him," Tom told him.
   "They call me Runt, I'm in charge of the barn and all the animals.  I
get the mares and the studs ready for the breeding around here.  I'm pretty
good damn with them touchy bastards."
   "I'm Tom, I was asked to come here today to let my stud stick Mr. 
Canady's sorrel mare he was on this morning."
   "Tom huh, that ain't no injun name I ever heered of.  Mr.  Canady never
said ya was a Injun.  Damn boy you a big'un too ain't ya?"
   "Maybe he didn't notice I was part Sioux when we talked today," Tom said
with a smile.
   "You git yer ass out there in that tank fore all them wranglers git in
fer the day.  Ya need to get that stink off ya, I'll take care of yer
saddle," Runt told him, grinning, he already liked this tall, easy going
Injun.
   Tom rolled out his bedroll and took a clean shirt and buckskin breeches
out then rolled the bedroll back up.  He took his clean clothes out back to
the tank Runt had told him about.
   He saw the big stock tank made of wooden stays like a barrel only a lot
bigger.  He shucked his breeches off and pulled his shirt over his head as
he swung his long legs over the side and picked up a bar of lye soap on the
side.  Tom washed off all the trail dust, stench from the mud and smell of
horse.
   That lye soap could make a horse smell like a handful of flowers with a
slightly stronger scent.  He loosened his braids and washed his long black
hair from scalp to ends.  Tom ducked his head to rinse the soap from his
hair and splashed the warm water all over him before he stepped out on the
board staging beside the tank.
   Tom's skin was even a lighter color of brown than his face and arms
were.
   He took his clean shirt and slipped it over his head, the tail of the
shirt fit him like a long gown and soaked up what water was dripping off
him.  Tom pulled his tight new buckskins up over his hips and laced them
tight at the waist.
   He left the shirt outside the breeches and buckled his gun belt over it.
He tied the holster to his leg just above his left knee.  He looked down at
his moccasins and decided to wear them, there wasn't that much of the mud
left on them anyway.
   Tom was just picking up his clothes from the wooden staging when three
men rode up from the corrals.  Tom looked up to see looks of hate and
contempt in their eyes.
   `I guess we'll have us a go round here to start the visit off right.'
Tom thought as he picked up his clothes and walked to the barn.
   "Who told that God Damned injun he could bathe in a white man's water?"
The larger and rougher of the three bellowed as they all came in the back
of the barn.
   "By God I did, he's a guest of Mr.  Canady so if you got a bitch about
it, take it up with the boss." Runt stood up as tall as he could to stare
at the man.
   "By God I'm the ramrod around here and me and my men deserve a clean
bath when we come in at the end of a week's work.  We ain't gonna bathe
after no God Damned stinking injun has dirtied up our bathin' water," he
shouted at Runt, kicking dust at him as he stood there.
   "From the looks of you, Tom here is a might cleaner than you three.  You
could all do with a good bath and a change of clothes, you wear the same
damned clothes for a week, smelling like a bunch of wet dogs drug through
horse shit even after a bath," Runt said, standing his ground.
   "Shut yer fuckin' mouth you ol' dried up pile of cow shit.  You ain't
got a say so about a damn thing around this place," The man went on.
   "What's all the hell raising about in here, you can be heard all the way
to the house." Everyone turned to see Mr.  Canady standing in the door of
the barn.
   "This Runt of yours told this stinkin' ass Injun he could bathe in the
stock tank, and we ain't about to take no bath after a God Damned injun."
   "Mr.  Roller be real damned careful you don't over step your bounds
here, Mr.  Tom Cooper is a friend I met in town today.  He's also a deputy
sheriff and he's here to spend the night while that magnificent stud
standing there puts a colt in my sorrel mares belly.  If you or anyone else
here on this ranch don't like the arrangements I've made, follow me to the
house and collect your pay.
   "Now, I'll stand for no more of this talk, you will do one of two
things, keep your mouth shut about Mr.  Cooper or spend the rest of the day
and night in the bunkhouse where we don't have to listen to it.  Have I
made myself clear Mr.  Roller."
   "Have it your way Mr.  Canady," Roller spat and walked away.
   "Tom, I'm glad to see you, my youngest daughter tells me that you saved
one of my mares that had wandered off and got herself stuck in the mud up
the creek a ways."
   "Well, I heard her hollering for help and did what I could Sir."
   "Well for that I'm upping the fee for your stud to three hundred
dollars. Runt tells me we have another mare that's horsing too, she's as
big as your stud and should drop one hell of a piece of horse flesh, you
think your boy there can handle both of them?"
   "Sir I'd put my money on him in a race across the plains or in a corral
with a dozen mares, he's a horse bred from the prairie," Tom said.
   "You mean this big animal not only has the blood of a champion he has
the heart as well?"
   "I've seen him run for half a day and not even breath hard, I've seen
him run flat out for hours and still want to run more.  I usually just let
him have his head, he seems to know where I'm going and how soon I want to
get there."
   "I know some friends that have some pretty good racing blood, would you
be interested in hearing more?"
   Tom smiled at Mr.  Canady as the two men thought the same thoughts. 
"I'll let you see him run in the morning, then you tell me."
   "He may be a bit worn thin by morning Tom, don't you think?"
   "Sir, you haven't seen this horse.  All you see is the way he's put
together and his color.  Wait until you see his heart."
   "Tom, I think we may have us some fun if that horse is half as good as
you say."
   "He's not half as good as I've told you, he is twice as good, you'll see
in the morning."
   "Come with me Tom I want you to meet my other two daughters and my wife,
they're all waiting to see the man I call my new friend."
   Tom, looked at his horse, walked over pulled his head down and said
something in his ear.  The big Palomino shook his head and mane wildly.
   He raised his head high, stuck his tail in the air and pawed the ground.
   Runt and Mr.  Canady watched in disbelief that this man could say
something that would cause that reaction in a horse.
   "What in the hell did you say to him Tom?" Mr.  Canady asked.
   "I told him I was gonna eat supper and for him to look out for Runt over
there, he had a couple girls for him later," Tom smiled.
   Runt busted out laughing and so did Mr.  Canady.  Runt was still bent
over laughing as the two men walked over to the house.
   Tom followed Mr.  Canady into the big ranch house and into the dining
room.  He looked all around the room and saw the fine furniture, the
paintings on the wall, the fine plates and the silver knives, forks and
spoons.  A door opened on the side of the dining room and four women came
through the door.
   "Tom I want you to meet my wife Margaret, my oldest daughter Alissa, my
middle daughter, Catherine, and you've met Elizabeth.
   "Ladies I present Tom Cooper out of the Dakota Territories," Mr.  Canady
introduced them.
   Tom was feeling the heat up around his neck again and smiled at each of
the women as they smiled and shook hands with him.  When he took
Elizabeth's hand, she winked at him and smiled.
   Tom whispered, `Paleface'.
   The three daughters sure took after their mother, they were beautiful.
All had dark brown hair, Alissa and her sister Catherine wore theirs down
to their shoulders, Elizabeth wore hers cut short and wild.
   "Mr.  Cooper, we've heard so much about you from Dale and Elizabeth,
we've been waiting to meet you and see what all the fuss was about," Mrs.
Canady said looking Tom up and down.
   "Did I lie when I told you about this young buck?" Elizabeth said as she
winked at Tom again.
   "Sister you didn't do him justice when you said he was a tall Sioux
Indian with long hair.  I pictured a savage," Alissa said smiling at Tom.
   "I must admit Elizabeth I agree with your description as well as
Alissa's.  I would bet he could be a savage," Catherine laughed out loud.
   "Tom you'll have to excuse my daughters, you'd think the three of them
were horsing here instead of my mares," Mr.  Canady said.
   "You may well be right Dale and don't forget their mother either.  It's
not often we get company here that has the interest of all the women
folks," Margaret Canady said.
   Tom was now feeling the heat burn his neck.
   "Why don't you take that Colt off your hip and lets all sit down and
have some wine," Mr.  Canady said to Tom.
   "Sir if I could, I'd like to keep it close, I'm never more than arms
reach from it."
   "Very well, hang it over the back of that chair, take that hat off and
sit down to some fine beef steak brought up from the slaughter house in
Omaha, and cooked by the best damn cook in Nebraska," Mr.  Canady told him.
   Margaret Canady poured the wine and as she sat back down, Mr.  Canady
stood to propose a toast.
   Tom looked on as the others picked up their wine glass and held it out
over the table.  He picked his up, smelled it and held it way out from him
too.
   "To the best women and the best mares in Nebraska, may they all spring
studs to carry on the bloodline," He said loudly, and sipped his wine.
   Tom looked around the table and the women were sipping theirs too.  He
took one sip and decided he'd rather have water.  That was the awfullest
tasting drink he ever put to his lips.
   Margaret Canady watched Tom as he sipped the wine and sat the glass back
beside his plate.  "Tom, perhaps you would rather have some cool water?"
   "Yes Ma'am I sure would, we don't drink wine where I come from, my dad
won't even allow whiskey in the trading post."
   "I'll get him some water mother," Elizabeth said, as she jumped to her
feet and headed out the door.
   "Tom tell us about where you live, what do they raise up there?" Mr. 
Canady asked.
   "Well there's mostly open plains, with wild horses and what buffalo
there is left.  I was raised near the Sioux reservation and have many
friends among the Sioux.  The Dakotas have not declared statehood yet and
there are only a few ranchers and farmers up that way."
   "Please tell us how a young man that is obviously part Sioux came by the
name of Tom Cooper," Catherine said.
   "Well Ma'am, I never knew my real father and mother, I was raised by the
only people I ever knew as parents.  My mom taught me to read and I've read
every book I can get my hands on.  My dad's grandfather was named Tom
Cooper and he gave me that name."
   "That's an amazing story, how did you come by the Palomino stud?" Mr. 
Canady asked.
   "My dad traded with the Cheyenne for a stud and mare, this horse is the
first born of theirs.  I still have the Cheyenne Palomino's too.  They were
as pure bred as the Cheyenne could produce on the plains.  You can see in
my horse the heart and spirit of the Great Cheyenne People."
   Tom knew he lied some about how he got the horse, but it would be better
to stick to mostly the truth in case he had to remember.
   "We can see the pride of you toward your parents and your Sioux heritage
too Tom, we are truly honored by your company," Alissa said.
   Elizabeth came back with a glass of water and leaned over to place it
next to his plate, making sure she brushed his shoulder as she did.
   Tom felt the heat turn to fire now.
   Margaret Canady went to the kitchen and returned quickly with the cook
following her, carrying a large covered silver platter.  The cook sat the
platter on a small table near the wall and walked around to Elizabeth and
took her plate.  He walked over and placed a thick red piece of meat on it
and brought it back.  The cook did the same with Catherine's plate then
Alissa's.  Next came Mrs.  Canady's and Tom was next, followed by Mr. 
Canady.
   Tom looked at the thick piece of meat and looked at the others at the
table.  He had never eaten beef, but had eaten venison and buffalo meat.
   "It looks good but I've never eaten beef," Tom said.
   The cook came in with a big platter of bread that smelled really good to
Tom.
   "Tom, cut off a piece of that steak and tell us what you think of it,"
Dale Canady said as they all watched.
   Tom cut off a small piece and put it in his mouth, it was good, he began
to chew the tender meat and a smile came across his face.
   "I take it you like steak Tom," Dale said.
   "Yes Sir, this is good," Tom said as he cut off more and began to eat in
earnest now.
   The cook, waiting for one word of praise from the tall Indian that had
never tasted beef steak, turned and went to the kitchen with a smile.  Tom
watched as the others took a piece of the good smelling bread from the
platter and got one himself.  It sure smelled sweet and fresh.  He tasted
the bread and ate the first roll quickly.
   "Tom, these rolls were made fresh today by the cook, we love them.  What
do you think?" Catherine asked.
   "This is the best bread I ever ate," Tom smiled.
   After the best meal Tom had eaten since he left The Dakotas, he and Mr.
Canady walked out to the barn to get the stud into the corral with his
mare.
   Runt was rubbing Tom's horse down with a large brush and heavy cloth. 
Runt had him all slicked down, his long white mane and tail were shining in
the late sunlight through the back door.
   "Have you been over to the mare's barn to get her ready Runt?" Mr. 
Canady asked.
   "Yes Sir, guess that's why Tom's horse likes me now, I smell of hot
horse flesh." Runt laughed.
   "Well why don't you get her and put her in the big corral, we'll let Tom
bring his horse out.  I'm sure he'll be snorting and blowing smoke to get
to the mare once he smells her."
   "Yes Sir," Runt said and jumped to his feet.
   Runt had both legs broken as a kid, when a wagon fell on him.  His ma
and pa had set them as best they could and put splints on him.  His legs
healed but they were never straight.  Runt had to drag one foot and limp
with the other leg.  He was the best Mr.  Canady had ever seen at calming
down rowdy horses in the barn though, and he treated them with the care of
a mother.
   "Tom, you better put a bridle or at least a halter on your stud, he's
going to get pretty excited here in a few minutes."
   "He won't need one Sir."
   "Well I'm sure you know your horse, but I've never seen a stud act with
any sense when he smells a mare close by."
   "He and I are one, we're each a part of the other, he will be alright."
   Mr.  Canady just stood looking at Tom with his big stud horse, and shook
his head.
   "Bring him on out," Runt yelled from out back.
   Tom put his hand under the horses lip and leaned over to rub his face on
the horse, "C'mon boy, it's time to show Mr.  Canady and his mare what you
got."
   Tom dropped his hand and walked out the door of the barn, his big stud
turned his nose in the air and sniffed, staying right with Tom all the way.
Runt had the gate to the corral open and Tom walked in a few steps, then
patted his horse on the neck, whispered a few words in his ear and walked
out.
   The mare and the stud were circling the big corral.  Soon she stopped
and the stud came up behind her.  He was jumping and dancing on his front
feet as he walked up and sniffed her.  The mare backed up a step or two,
the stud sniffed her and started pawing the ground.  He reared up over her
back as she backed to him.
   The whole incident took no longer than five minutes and the two horses
were walking the circle again, this time in a more calm manner of the
mating ritual.
   Mr.  Canady's three daughters had walked out to watch from the outer
fence where they climbed up and sat watching the breeding take place.
   Having seen this many times and even helping with the preparations at
times, the breeding of the horses was something the girls had grown up
with.
   None of them spoke a word as the big Palomino mounted the mare and stuck
her.  He was a magnificent animal just as their dad had described him, when
he got back from town earlier.
   "That is some stud over there," Catherine said to her sisters.
   "Yes that's one thing we will all agree on," said Elizabeth, "And he has
a nice horse too," she added and the sisters laughed among themselves at
her remark.
   "Runt get the other mare and bring her out and put in the next corral
over.  We'll get them both stuck once then put them out in the pasture."
   "Yes Sir," Runt said as he shuffled off to the far barn once more.
   Mrs.  Canady had joined her daughters on the outer fence, sitting there
on the top rail, talking among themselves as if having an evening social.
   "I thought the breeding of our horses had gotten to be routine with you
girls, now I see all of you taking up interest again, and I might say that
all three of you seem out of breath," Their mother said as she leaned over
to look down the line at all her daughters as their faces turned a shade of
pink.
   "Mother, we haven't seen you out watching our mares take a sticking in a
while either.  Was there something special about this time?" Elizabeth said
in a teasing way.
   "Well I had heard so much about this big stud that I wanted to witness
him in action."
   "Mother you are speaking of the horse, right?" Alissa said and all four
laughed aloud at their private jokes.
   Tom heard the laughter and turned to see all the Canady women watching
from atop the outer fence.
   He looked from one to the other all the way down the line, and each
could feel his eyes on them.  Alissa felt her stomach quiver excitedly,
Catherine squeezed her legs tighter together and suppressed a moan,
Elizabeth felt a rush of warm blood spread over her face and her bosom. 
Mrs.  Canady felt her heart skip a beat as she took a deep breath, she knew
her daughters felt the same as she did.
   Runt returned with the big mare and put her in the adjoining corral. 
Tom clicked his tongue and his horse walked to the gate.  Runt and Dale
Canady looked on in amazement as the horse walked away from the hot mare
and followed Tom out the gate and into the next breeding pen.
   The same routine took place here as it had in the other corral.  The
stud smelled the mare, and she knew she was in the presence of a stud.  The
two pranced and sniffed, walked and stopped.  The mare spread her hind legs
out wide, raised her tail, and let a stream of piss squirt out behind her.
The stud walked up and sniffed the piss on the ground, turned his nose up
and his lips were working and twisting showing his teeth.
   The stud walked up and sniffed the mare.  She raised her tail and backed
up to him.  The ritual was over as the big horse reared up over the mares
back.  She was a big one and he stood taller and moved forward, finally
hitting the mark.
   The four women watched, sucking their lungs full of air as the stud
stuck the waiting and willing mare from behind.  There was almost as much
heat on top of that fence as there was in the mating pens.
   When the stud was through with his male duties, he backed out and slid
off the mares back.  There was an unmistakable sound of breaths exhaling
and a soft moaning from the four women on the fence.  Tom heard the soft
chorus of `oooooooh' that came from the outer fence and glanced that way
briefly.
   Margaret Canady felt suddenly exposed as she had let her inner feelings
out in the open for all to see.  "Come on girls, lets get back to the
house, we've made a spectacle of ourselves out here."
   Without a word her three daughters slid off the fence and looking back
over their shoulders all four walked toward the house.
   "Runt turn the two mares into the short pasture over there and Tom can
let his horse in with them for the night."
   "Yes Sir," Runt said as he took the mares one by one to the gate and
spanked them on the rump as they went by.
   Tom led his horse to the gate and walked in with him a ways.  He rubbed
him on the neck and whispered to him once more, before turning to leave the
three horses to their own place for the night.
   "Tom if I can be lucky enough to get one foal that looks like your stud
I'll be the envy of all the horsemen in this part of the world.  That is
one magnificent animal."
   "Thank you Mr.  Canady.  He's a special friend to me as well as my
mount."
   "I can see that, and to think you ride him with no bridle, and he walks
away from a hot mare to be with you is simply amazing to me."
   "I have been with him every day since he hit the ground, and even before
he was weaned from his mother's teat, he has been following me around where
ever I go.  He'll never be far enough from me that he can't smell me."
   "Let's sit on the porch and visit a spell before we turn in, Margaret
has prepared you a room in the house."
   "Sir, I'd rather stay in the barn, I'd feel more comfortable here and my
horse would feel better if he can smell me close by."
   "I understand Tom, and will honor your wishes.  I'm sure the presence of
four women sleeping under that roof over there had nothing to do with your
decision either."
   "Sir, I...."
   "I was only teasing Tom, I know what my wife and daughters look like and
how they act around you.  There's not a one of them that wouldn't tear you
apart piece by piece if they had the opportunity."
   
  
The Man From Eagle Creek - Chapter - 11