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           Meggiewasquitecuriousabouthimlongbeforeshemethim.

           Sinceshekeptthechestnutmareandtheblackgeldinginthestablesratherthanthestockyardsandwasmostlyobligedtostartoutlaterofamorningthanthemen,shewouldoftengolongperiodsoftimewithoutrunningintoanyofthehiredpeople.ButshefinallymetLukeO’Neilllateoneafternoonasthesummersunwasflaringredlyoverthetreesandthelongshadowscrepttowardthegentleoblivionofnight.ShewascomingbackfromBoreheadtothefordacrossthecreek,hewascominginfromsoutheastandfartherout,alsoonacoursefortheford.

           Thesunwasinhiseyes,soshesawhimbeforehesawher,andhewasridingabigmeanbaywithablackmaneandtailandblackpoints;sheknewtheanimalwellbecauseitwasherjobtorotatetheworkhorses,andshehadwonderedwhythisparticularbeastwasnotsomuchinevidencethesedays.Noneofthemencaredforit,neverrodeitiftheycouldhelp.Apparentlythenewstockmandidn’tminditatall,whichcertainlyindicatedhecouldride,foritwasanotoriousearly-morningbuckerandhadahabitofsnappingatitsrider’sheadthemomenthedismounted.

           Itwashardtotellaman’sheightwhenhewasonhorseback,forAustralianstockmenusedsmallEnglishsaddlesminusthehighcantleandhornoftheAmericansaddle,androdewiththeirkneesbent,sittingveryupright.Thenewmanseemedtall,butsometimesheightwasallinthetrunk,thelegsdisproportionatelyshort,soMeggiereservedjudgment.