Simply breathing clean air was a novelty. The pinto obviously enjoyed it, too, Drew noticed. The horse’s steps were quicker, his head higher, his spirit almost exuberant. Damien Kingsley, however, was not a happy man. He was in his usual position, at center front of the herd, with his brother Terry riding right point and Drew riding left. To say Damien was unhappy about the new arrangement was an understatement. But he hadn’t tried to change his uncle’s orders, for which Drew was relieved. He didn’t want to be the cause of a quarrel in the Kingsley family, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about Kirby using him to test Damien’s limits—for he knew that was what his friend was doing. When the drive left the Red River that morning, Kirby had been gone a day and a half. But no one was really surprised. The trail boss had said he would be gone several days. Now that they had left Texas, everyone was aware of increased danger and the need for moving quickly and having campsites planned well ahead.
