Fair Land, Fair Land by A. B. Guthrie Jr. Page B

just suspected the other of
playing him false with the woman. It didn't happen near here, and the
truth is hard to come by. Anyhow, the one man killed the other and
took off, never to be seen again hereabouts."
    "And the woman?" Higgins asked.
    " All I know is she wouldn't stay with the
tribe."
    Higgins let out "Ah-h" without meaning to.
Culbertson regarded him with curiosity, but Potter broke in. "Yes,
I must meet this man, if Brother Higgins will take me to him."
His eyes asked the question.
    Higgins shied at the idea. Towing a saddle-sore
preacher over the miles? Listening to the talk-talk about the good
Lord? He wouldn't be in the hands of the Lord. He would be in the
hands of Higgins, who was a long shot from grace. But Preacher Potter
was so oncoming. And Summers did want to be married.
    He said, "I guess all right."
    " Probably day after tomorrow," Culbertson
said. "I believe I can have your horses by then, Hig."
    Higgins lingered after Potter and Dawson had gone. "I
been thinkin', Major. You know, our manners ain't high class. Horn
spoons and a common pot to eat out of."
    " I"ve done the same."
    " But this with the preacher is special. In our
order could you throw in some spare tin stuff, like knives, forks and
spoons and maybe cups?"
    " I'll do it, Hig."
    " And some red cloth for Teal Eye?"
    Culbertson put a hand on his arm. "All that will
be my gift. Good night, Hig."
    16
    Higgins looked over the four horses Culbertson had
bargained for. They were on the small side, as Indian stock usually
was. From their teeth he judged that the oldest was about eight, a
good useful age. One of them, the one that caught the eye, wasn't
quite to his liking. It was a pinto, and to his way of thinking a
solid color meant a solider horse. They were all a mite skittish.
    They were gathered outside the fort, he and Potter
and Culbertson and half a dozen Indian men who stood watching off to
one side.
    Culbertson asked, "Satisfied, Hig? They were the
best I could do on short notice."
    " Thanks. Plumb pleased." The horses ought
to be shod, but he had given up that idea. They had never known a
shoe and wouldn't take kindly to having any tacked on. On each of
them he would have had to use a rope and pull up a leg and anchor it,
raised, to the horse's neck. No thanks. Not now. Anyhow, the way
ahead wasn't too rocky.
    The broken pack horses were ready. He had put the
untried ones between the older horses. They weren't carrying anything
and should lead along all right. He shied a look at Potter. The man
had on his long coat and wore a hat with a small brim and a domed,
undented crown. He would find soon enough how the wind liked it.
    Right now the air was still, and a glow in the east,
above the far, deep-sloping bank of the Missouri, showed the sun
would be peeking up soon.
    He set to work bridling and saddling the new horse
that looked gentlest. Against emergencies he would have to lead away
with the trained horse he had ridden in. This new one was for Potter.
Culbertson had gone over to the hitch rack and came back leading the
pack string.
    " Ready?" Higgins asked Potter.
    " Don't worry about me, Brother. I have ridden
before."
    " We head west. Up the hill and due west."
    Higgins helped Potter get his considerable bulk in
the saddle and handed him the reins.
    The horse got its head down, crow-hopped and jumped,
its back arched like a bow. Potter's hat sailed off first, spooking
the string. Potter followed it and hit the ground with a bump. Potter
didn't need Higgins' outstretched hand or answer the question, "You
hurt?" He got up, smiling, and said, "A lesson in
humility."
    The Indian men were bent over, laughing.
    Potter went on, " ‘Blessed be the meek, for
they shall inherit the earth." He rubbed his right ham. "It
was a rough introduction to inheritance, if any." He still wore
his big smile. "The earth hereabouts has no give to it."
    Culbertson had caught up the saddle horse. The pack
string had quieted. Higgins said, pointing, "Maybe