Emmett nodded towards the pony. What are his ears doing? Kito studied him. Moving. Why?
The boy shrugged. Because he's listening. Emmett smiled. There you go. The next day, they sat closer.
Emmett showed him how a horse breathed when relaxed, how the muscles around the mouth softened, how a tail could warn a man before a hoof ever moved. On the third afternoon, Kito stood beside Emmett while the pony ate from a shallow pan. Still no saddle, still no riding. By then, Nollie had begun watching from a distance. She never interrupted.
Neither did Suma. On the fourth day, Emmett handed Kito a lead rope. The boy stared at it. No, you don't have to. Kito looked toward the pony.
What if he throws me? You're not getting on him. That stopped him. Emmett stepped beside the pony, rested one hand lightly against its neck, then passed the rope back to Kito. Just walk.
Kito swallowed hard. Then he moved one step. The pony followed. Kito took another, then another. By the time he reached the other side of camp, the fear in his face had broken into the widest grin Emmett had seen all week.
Nollie laughed softly behind him. Kito turned around, leading the pony back like he had been born doing it. That evening, Nollie found Emmett near Slate." You knew he could do it? " Emmett shook his head." I knew he could choose to try."
Nollie leaned against the fence. For a moment, neither said anything. There was something different between them now, something quieter than attraction and stronger than curiosity. Trust had begun to settle in. Then a rider came hard into camp.
The mood changed at once. He brought word from Copper Creek. Several head of cattle had gone missing from Blaine Harrow's range, and Blaine was telling anyone who would listen that Apache riders were responsible. Nollie's face hardened. Suma rose slowly from beside the fire.
Emmett said nothing at first. He already knew about the missing cattle. He had helped track them the day before. The herd had scattered during a storm and wandered into a box canyon east of Harrow's place. No theft, no Apache riders, just frightened cattle and bad weather.
Nollie looked at him. You know something? I do. Will Blaine listen? Emmett glanced toward Scout.
Probably not. Nollie held his eyes. And if you tell him. Emmett knew exactly what she meant. Men like Blaine remembered who stood against them.