A month passed. Luke and Mark took Teddy into town and the young man bought jeans, boots, a couple of work shirts, and a Stetson hat. Luke insisted that he buy a pair of leather work gloves, and Mark recommended a lasso. Luke showed him around the ranch and taught him how to string wire, but it was Mark who worked with Teddy as he learned the basics of herding cows, cleaning tack, and tending the garden. The two young voices were constantly in Luke's ears and it was a bittersweet pleasure for him to observe how close Mark had grown to his new friend. If Margaret had lived, the boy might have had brothers. How much was he missing with this life as an only child?
The thought was uppermost in Luke's mind one bright morning as he rode out and watched Mark demonstrating a trick with a lasso, swinging a narrow loop around his head and then moving it up and down his body. "Now you try, Teddy."
The young man took the rope and got it going well enough but when he tried to move it down over his head, the rope caught his hat and sent it flying. He burst out laughing and Mark joined him.
Luke rode up. "Are you planning to get any work done today?"
They looked guilty for a moment but the big man had a twinkle in his eyes and Mark and Teddy couldn't help the grins spreading across their faces. "Don't you think Teddy's getting good, Pa?"
"I do." Luke leaned forward. "Matter of fact, I think you both deserve a reward. What say we all go to town and have dinner at the hotel? That is, if you two can spare the time from trick roping." The big man was warmed by the smiles that flashed at him and he turned his horse. "I want you to finish checking the fences today."
"I can do that, Mark," said Teddy quickly. "You wanted to see your friend Freddie."
The boy looked at his father. "Can I, Pa? Freddie's dog just had a litter of pups."
"Well…" Luke drawled the word out, enjoying the expectant look on Mark's face. "I suppose so. Be at the hotel at six o'clock sharp if you want dessert."
"Don't worry!" Mark vaulted on his horse and galloped off.
The big man turned to Teddy. "I'd better help you with the fences. The last time I made a deal like that with Mark, I was the one who was late and he made me get him two desserts."
Teddy chuckled. "He's quite a boy, Lucas. I'm going to miss him when I move on."
Luke pushed his hat back. "You have plans?"
"I do indeed. Now that I've had a taste of ranch life, I think I'd like to get a place of my own. Perhaps up in the Dakotas. I'd like a place with a lot of buffalo."
"Well, you'll always have a place here too." Luke spoke as brightly as he could but there was a sadness in him at the thought of Teddy leaving. They rode out to check the fences and were almost done when they heard a shout across the field.
"Mr McCain!" Freddie was coming at a hard gallop and he was waving his hat frantically. He pulled up in front of Luke and Teddy gasping for breath.
Luke's mouth went dry. "What's wrong, Freddie?"
"Mark! He came to see the pups and then we were going to town and we were crossing old man Halloran's place and Mark fell down a well!"
"Fell down a well?"
Freddie nodded vigorously. "It wasn't really a well. It was where Mr Halloran started a well but he didn't find no water so he just left it. It was all grown over so we didn't see it and Mark's horse stepped right in it and they both fell in." Tears streaked down Freddie's cheeks. "He yelled up to me that he was all right but the horse broke his neck. And he tried to climb out but the ground was just so crumbly he couldn't make it."
Even in that moment Luke sent up a brief prayer of thanks that Mark hadn't been riding Blue Boy but a loaner from the blacksmith while his beloved horse got new shoes. "Come on, Freddie! Show me!"