As they led the big black stud out the door and up the ramp , Lonny got a lump in his throat . Helen watched until they started to load him , then turned and went back into the office . Dr . Greely was standing next to Alex Bartlet and they were talking in low tones which Lonny could not overhear . Mr . Bartlet patted the doctor on the back and said , " I believe you ’ ve made a wise decision , Doc . We can really get the mares for this horse .” Without looking back at Lonny , Mr . Bartlet yelled at his driver and helper and said , " All right , boys . . . let ’ s get started . Take it easy . We don ’ t want anything to happen to this one .”
I TV QUEST
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YV HEUE by Charles Barry Sanderson
In assessing his situation , Lonny Barnes had about decided that there was no use worrying . . . " nothing would turn out all right anyway .” Since his accident he had been virtually dependent upon Helen for his personal activities and upon M . L ., his young ground man . for his horse activities . He felt that he really shouldn ’ t be too despondent , however , as he had found out just how many friends he really had . What worried him was the fact that he would be in a cast for at least another four weeks and would be hardpressed to get his first string of horses ready for the big middle-of-the-season horse shows .
It was a balmy spring afternoon and Lonny had gone to the barn to make out bills for April . He sat in his big chair behind his desk with his leg propped couch . His crutches lay on the floor beside rbk . He was engrossed in his figures , punching v ions on his old hand-crank adding machine ,
, phone rang . He made a half-turn to his right n ; hcked up the receiver . It was Dr . Greely .
- a brief and somewhat frustrating conversation ^or . ny banged the receiver down without so much as o ioyc . Mumbling to himself , he banged his fist on the desk . M . L ., hearing the obvious com mown in into the office and looked at Lonny . The voung colored boy didn ’ t know what to say as he saw that his boss was obviously shaken . " What ’ sa matter , Mirfta Lonny ? You all right ?” Lonny cleared his throat and looked at the boy and said , " M . L . . . . we ’ re going to lose BEAU GENTRY . Dr . Greely says that he got such a good deal from Alex Bartlet that he couldn ' t turn it down .” Without thinking , the young horseman said , ’’ Why , that s — of a b- —! He already got two of the top studs in the business . Why he want to take somepin away from you ?” Lonny looked up , smiled , and said , " Remember when I told you about the time Mr . Bartlet wanted me to tie a particular horse at a show back in 1967 ? Well , he told me then that he would get even with me and I guess he just
did .” There was a small crowd at the Lonny Barnes Stables when the truck came to get BEAU GENTRY .
Lonny stood in the doorway and watched the truck as it wound its way out the drive toward the road . He noticed that Dr . Greely stood motionless where he had been when they loaded his horse . As he turned toward the office , Helen Barnes came out and walked right up to him . She was flushed and obviously had been crying , and her anger could be held no longer . " Let me tell you something . . . I ’ ve heard of raw deals before , but this beats anything I ’ ve ever heard of . I . . . ” Lonny put his hand on her shoulder and said , " Now , sugar . I ’ m sure Dr . Greely did what he thought was best for all of us . You know we couldn ’ t handle a big breeding program with me on crutches and , besides ...” Helen brushed his hand aside and said , " Besides , nothing ! I ’ m damn ’ tired of you knocking yourself out for other people and ending up with the short end of the stick .” Dr . Greely stood listening , and reached inside his pocket and handed Lonny a sealed envelope . " Read this before you make up your mind about anything , Lonny .”
At supper that evening , Lonny looked at Dr . and Mrs . Greely and said , " Why didn ’ t you tell me about the contract before you loaded up your horse ?” Dr . Greely laughed and said , " Well , I thought it would be a welcome surprise . I really didn ’ t count on you two getting so mad . Besides ... I didn ’ t know there was anything between you and Alex Bartlet .” Helen sat down and picked up the contract that Dr . Greely had drawn up between himself and Alex Bartlett for standing BEAU GENTRY for the 1969 season . " He really wanted him , didn ’ t he ?” she said as she took a sip of coffee . Lonny said , " I ’ m surprised that he would go for such a contract , especially since you put a limit on the number of mares that he could breed .” " Well . . .” Dr . Greely added , " he knew all along that we plan to show him again this year . You don ’ t suppose he believes that we WON ’ T show him , do you ?” Lonny said , " You never can tell what that man is thinking . He is ' way ahead of us most of the time .” Spring had finally arrived and Lonny was fairly active around the barn , despite his cast and crutches .
26 Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse