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Puzzled and confused by his presence, wondering why, and how, he had gotten there, Lauralee could not find the power to make her feet move.
She was also stunned speechless.
Then she emitted a small cry behind her hand when Dancing Cloud yanked the rifle from Paul and threw it in the water, then knocked Paul to the ground.
She expected Dancing Cloud to come to her.
Instead he disappeared among tall brush, then just as quickly rode into view on a horse.
He gave Lauralee a lingering, questioning stare, then rode toward the road.
Panic seized Lauralee.
She now knew that he had seen her being kissed.
He had misinterpreted it!
He did not know, and obviously had not heard, the true reason she was at the Brown farm.
To say a final goodbye to Paul!
And placing aside her wonder of how and why Dancing Cloud could be there, Lauralee saw no other choice than to go after him.
She looked at the horse and buggy, then at Dancing Cloud’s horse.
To catch up with Dancing Cloud she chose the horse.
So thankful that at least she had learned the art of horseback riding at the orphanage, when she had been deprived of all other outdoor activities, she ran to Dancing Cloud’s horse, quickly untied the reins, then swung herself into the saddle.
Paul ran after her. “Don’t go after him, Lauralee!” he shouted. “He’s a madman. Stop, Lauralee. Stop!”
She ignored Paul and rode onward. She leaned over the horse and sank her heels into his flanks, glad now that she had Dancing Cloud in sight. He did not seem to be riding as quickly as she would have thought.
Then she remembered his wound. That surely was hampering his riding ability. Every bounce had to cause him renewed pain.
Again she puzzled over how and why he was at the Brown farm.
Had he discovered her misguided liaison with Paul?
Had he come to spy on her?
If so, why did he have the need to hide in the pond? That, above all else that was confusing to her, was the most outlandish of all.
She rode onward, gaining on Dancing Cloud, her mind drifting back momentarily to the time when she had learned the art of riding a horse.
The owner of the orphanage in St. Louis had discovered a new breed of horse, a heavy draft-horse breed that originated in Clydesdale, Scotland.
The Clydesdale.
Scott Hopper, the owner of the orphanage, had begun breeding Clydesdale horses.
After learning the art of riding a horse after the Clydesdales had been brought to the stables at the orphanage, Lauralee had fallen in love with them; one in particular. She had named him Buddy. He was dark brow
n in coloring, with prominent white markings.
As discovered with all Clydesdale horses, Buddy became noted for his high leg action while walking or trotting. He had feathery long hair on his legs, an attractive head, and well-formed legs and feet.
But as with everything and everyone else in her life that she loved, Buddy had been taken away from her and sold to another breeder in New York.
