Blue eyes and white teeth flashed as he laughed again.
"I like 'em mean," he had said, "and I keep 'em mean.

A tame horse is like a tame man, and I don't give a damn for a fellow who won't fight!" Once that had irritated her but now, remembering, it rang in her ear to a different tune.

As Rickety spun to his feet, Perris vaulted to the saddle and found both stirrups in mid-leap, so to speak.

The gelding instantly tested the firmness of his rider's seat by vaulting high and landing on one stiffened foreleg.

The resultant shock broke two ways, like a curved ball, snapping down and jerking to one side.