These old horse-traders were incomprehensible in any relation
concerning horses. Recalling Creech's intense interest in Wildfire and in the
inevitable race to be run between him and Sage King, Lucy almost believed that
Creech would sacrifice his vengeance just to see the red stallion beat the
gray. If Creech kept the King in ransom for Lucy he would have to stay deeply
hidden in the wild breaks of the canyon country or leave the uplands. For
Bostil would never let that deed go unreckoned with. Like Bostil, old Creech
was half horse and half human. The human side had warmed to remorse. He had
regretted Lucy's plight; he wanted her to be safe at home again and to find
happiness; he remembered what she had been to him when she was a little girl.
Creech's other side was more complex.
Before the evening meal ended Lucy divined that Creech was dark and troubled
because he had resigned himself to a sacrifice harder than it had seemed in
the first flush of noble feeling. But she doubted him no more. She was safe.
The King would be returned.
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