Read The End of the Trail for Free Online Page B

up here by the house while you guys looked at this horse?” Frank asked. “I’m, uh, something of an architecture buff, and this place seems very interesting.” Joe noticed an odd look cross Frank’s face, though nobody else saw it.
    â€œSuit yourself,” McSavage said. “This house dates back to the late nineteenth century and I’m sure you’ll find it fascinating. The rest of you, come with me.”
    Joe hung back for a moment and whispered in his brother’s ear. “What was that about? You’re up to something.”
    â€œThere’s something funny about this town,” Franksaid. “Those guys with the sack of money, that sheriff who won’t let us get out of here, the storm that may have been, phones that conveniently break, and this old house watching over the whole place. I want to check it out.”
    â€œJust don’t get yourself in trouble,” Joe said. “Remember, Bill’s got farmhands looking after this place.”
    Joe hurried down the hill after the others. McSavage was leading them toward an old barn. Outside the barn, in the paddock, was a large black stallion, a very impressive-looking horse.
    â€œThis is Formby,” Bill said. “Any of you boys like to ride him?”
    â€œI would,” Chet said excitedly. “All I need is a saddle.”
    â€œGot one right inside,” McSavage said. He walked into the barn and returned with a saddle, which he threw across Formby’s back. Chet cinched it and climbed on. Formby seemed to take to Chet immediately.
    â€œHere you go, young man,” McSavage said, pulling an apple from a barrel and handing it to Chet.
    Chet took the apple and leaned forward to lower it toward Formby’s mouth. “You love apples, don’t you, boy?” Chet asked the horse.
    Abruptly Formby reared up. Something about the apple seemed to bother him. He began buckingwildly, then running around in circles. It was almost as though he was trying to throw Chet off.
    Caught off balance, Chet struggled to stay in the saddle. He managed to straighten up and pull hard on the reins, but that only made the stallion buck more. Somehow, Joe knew, Chet had to regain control of the horse and soon. If not, he stood a good chance of being thrown—and trampled.

6 The Horse Whisperer

    â€œSomebody do something!” Joe cried as Chet fought desperately to stay on the horse. “Mr. McSavage, you’ve got to stop Formby.”
    McSavage held up his hands. “I don’t know what’s happening,” he said. “I’ve never seen Formby like this.”
    As Joe and Phil watched, frantic to help their friend, Chet managed to get hold of the saddle pommel. Then he grabbed Formby’s mane, one hand after the other, until he was stretched forward in the saddle, his arms wound tightly around the stallion’s neck. To Joe’s and Phil’s astonishment, it looked as though Chet was now talking into the horse’s ear.
    Formby continued to buck but slowly started to calm down. Finally the wild thrashing ceased, andonce again he stood calmly with Chet still on his back.
    â€œI knew we could work things out, Formby,” Chet said to the horse. “You’re a good horse. I knew that all along.”
    â€œWhat did you do, Chet?” Phil asked.
    â€œYeah, I’ve never seen anything like that,” Joe said.
    â€œYou’re one lucky guy,” Bill McSavage said.
    â€œIt wasn’t luck,” Chet said. “I’ve done a fair amount of riding. I’ve even been told I had a real talent with horses. Sometimes you just have to know how to talk to them.”
    â€œWell, you’d better get down off there,” Mr. McSavage said. “Wouldn’t want that to happen again.”
    â€œIt won’t,” Chet said, staying in the saddle. “Formby and I are just getting to know each other. He’s going to be fine now, aren’t you,