Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon Page A

told her he would be there bright and early.
    Victoria smiled at her grandmother as they pulled away. "You are really something. You made them think they were doing you a favor. I am going to have to watch my step with you."
    "They were doing me a favor, honey. When you help someone else, you are the one who reaps the reward. Do not forget the Delgados were the ones who helped you first."
    "I had not thought of it in quite that way," Victoria said.
    The next morning, Victoria went to the barn to saddle Rebel. The friendly vaqueros smiled and waved at her. Old Ned, whose job it was to tend the horses, looked up at her. Victoria had thought him very strange when she had first met him. He always referred to himself as Old Ned and he much preferred the company of horses to that of human beings. She had often heard him talking to the horses as though he actually knew what they were thinking.
    Victoria's grandmother had told her why he acted so oddly. When he was only twenty, he had lived in west Texas, where the winters were fierce and cold. He had started out one morning on a buffalo hunt. Around noon, he had found a large herd, and killed one of the buffaloes. His horse had stepped in a gopher hole, and had to be shot. As he was some twenty miles from home and a blue norther came up suddenly, he skinned the buffalo, and wrapped himself in its hide for warmth. During the night, a pack of wolves came up and began gnawing at the hide, but he was helpless to do anything as the hide had frozen around him, holding him captive. The buffalo hide, which held him prisoner, was also his protection from the wolves. They were unable to gnaw through the frozen hide. The next day, when the sun came out and thawed out the buffalo hide, he made his way back to town. He had turned completely white-headed overnight, and was as simple-minded as a child. Alice Anderson had hired him to look after her horses, and had never regretted it.
    "Your Rebel has been waiting for you, Miss Victoria," Old Ned told her. "He thinks you have been neglecting him."
    "I would never do that, Ned."
    "Old Ned told Rebel that, but you know how horses are."
    "How are they, Ned?"
    "They put their trust in people, and most times get let down."
    "That is something I would never do to Rebel, would I, boy?" She rubbed his sleek neck.
    "No ma'am, I don't believe you would. This Rebel is the finest horse Old Ned has ever seen, and I told him so."
    Victoria smiled at him kindly. "Thank you for taking such good care of him, Ned."
    "Old Ned is glad to do it, Miss Victoria. You run along now and give Rebel a nice run. Let him have his head for a while."
    "I will do that, Ned." She and Rebel raced across the pasture, both happy and free. The sun beat down on them. The smell of wild flowers was in the air, and life was good once again.
    Dr. Dan checked Bodine over and pronounced him fit. Then he went into the kitchen to find* Mammaw. "Got anything good to eat?" he asked.
    "Sit down at the table. I will spoon you up a plate."
    "Smells good. What is it?"
    "Beef stew and corn bread," Mammaw told him. "And if you clean your plate, apple pie."
    "Bring it on, Mammaw; I am starved."
    She sat down across from him and watched him eat. "This reminds me of when you and Edward were younger and always underfoot." Dan took a drink of the milk she had poured him.
    "That is because you were and are the best cook around."
    "Why hasn't Edward been by to see me since he came home?" Mammaw asked.
    "Oh, that reminds me, last time I was here, I was supposed to tell you that Edward sent his regards and would be over to see you soon."
    "I was afraid of how he would be received when he came home. Has there been any trouble, Dan?"
    "No, but that is how it is when you are rich and powerful."
    "Maybe," she agreed. "But he should be careful all the same. Are you going to the picnic Saturday?" she asked.
    "Sure I am," Dan said, taking a big bite of corn bread.
    "Are you taking anyone?" He shook his head no, since