Поющие в терновнике

           AtfourteentheyquitRiverviewforever,couldn’theadbacktotheblack-oilplainsquicklyenough.AlreadytheylookedlikejuvenileBobs,JacksandHughies,inwhatwasgraduallyreplacingtheold-fashionedgreytwillandflannelastheuniformoftheGreatNorthwestgrazier:whitemoleskinbreeches,whiteshirt,aflat-crownedgreyfelthatwithabroadbrim,andankle-highelastic-sidedridingbootswithflatheels.Onlythehandfulofhalf-casteaborigineswholivedinGilly’sshantysectionapedthecowboysoftheAmericanWest,inhigh-heeledfancybootsandten-gallonStetsons.Toablack-soilplainsmansuchgearwasauselessaffectation,apartofadifferentculture.Amancouldn’twalkthroughthescrubinhigh-heeledboots,andamanoftenhadtowalkthroughthescrub.Andaten-gallonStetsonwasfartoohotandheavy.

           Thechestnutmareandtheblackgeldingwerebothdead;thestableswereempty.Meggieinsistedshewashappywithastockhorse,butBobwentovertoMartinKing’stobuyhertwoofhispart-thoroughbredhacks—acreamymarewithablackmaneandtail,andaleggychestnutgelding.ForsomereasonthelossoftheoldchestnutmarehitMeggieharderthanheractualpartingfromRalph,adelayedreaction;asifinthisthefactofhisgoingwasmoreclearlystated.Butitwassogoodtobeoutinthepaddocksagain,toridewiththedogs,eatthedustofableatingmobofsheep,watchthebirds,thesky,theland.

           Itwasterriblydry.