There never had been a race between the King and Blue Roan, and there never
would be, unless Joel were to ride off with Lucy. In that case there would be
the grandest race ever run on the uplands, with the odds against Blue Roan
only if he carried double. If Joel put Lucy up on the Roan and he rode Peg
there would be another story. Lucy Bostil was a slip of a girl, born on a
horse, as strong and supple as an Indian, and she could ride like a burr
sticking in a horse's mane. With Blue Roan carrying her light weight she might
run away from any one up on the King--which for Bostil would be a double
tragedy, equally in the loss of his daughter and the beating of his
best-beloved racer. But with Joel on Peg, such a race would end in heartbreak
for all concerned, for the King would outrun Peg, and that would bring riders
within gunshot.
It had always been a fascinating subject, this long-looked-for race. It grew
more so when Joel's infatuation for Lucy became known. There were fewer riders
who believed Lucy might elope with Joel than there were who believed Joel
might steal his father's horses.
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