At the sound of hoof-beats behind her she turned to see Lafonte urging his tired mount toward the Pemberton trail and looking back apprehensively over his shoulder.
Several men were running after him, shaking their fists and uttering loud imprecations. A man leaped from behind a jack-pine to land in the path in front of the half-breed, lunged for the reins, missed, then caught the stirrup. Lafonte struck the man a blow with his heavy whip that loosened his hold and felled him to the ground.
Connie saw Gillis break from the crowd, jump to the saddle of a cayuse and start after the fleeing man just as the latter disappeared in the woods. Gillis waved his hand to her and vanished in pursuit. She urged Pegasus to the shelter of the timber as she saw her father and Donald running toward her.
The strenuous race and the spectacular fall had left both horse and rider in a badly shaken condition. Connie’s body was bruised and sore, and her head ached horribly. The cayuse’s strained muscles were stiffening, he was limping badly, and his head drooped wearily as he dragged his tired limbs up the steep trail.
At the barn door Connie dismounted stiffly, removed the horse’s bridle, then threw her arms passionately around his neck and stroked his symmetrical head with soft caresses. “I’m so sorry, Peggy darling,” she said in a choking voice.
The horse nipped her shoulder in a weak attempt at playfulness, as if to signify that he quite understood.
Connie’s eyes brightened at a sudden thought. “Peggy dear,” she whispered softly as she nestled her cheek against his soft mane, “do you know that I can have some nice clothes now? Lots and lots of nice things. I am going to buy you a blanket—a nice thick one for winter—and some ribbons for your mane. And you, Peggy”—with a flood of tenderness in her voice—“you won all this for me.”
She was crooning sweet nothings in his ear that only Pegasus could understand when her father appeared, breathless from running, his face grey and anxious.
Connie stepped forward. She was pale and weak, but her colourless lips tried to form a smile.
“Yes, Daddy dear—I’m—all—ri——” Her voice trailed to a whisper and the blue eyes closed as darkness fell upon her like a cloud. Swaying uncertainly for an instant, she fell like a broken flower into her father’s outstretched arms. For the first time in her life Connie had fainted. She lay like a child in his trembling arms, her upturned face wearing the pallor of death.