While the mares watched them engage, Dirk, Janice, and the others surreptitiously circled the band. At the same time, Keith on the ground and Dave in the saddle approached the combatants, ropes at the ready. Miranda watched with her heart in her throat, terrified for Little Bear and even more for Keith as he moved straight into the battle zone where two pairs of hooves slashed the air.
Swift and sure, Keith repeatedly dodged the danger of lashing heels and snapping jaws as he prepared to make his move. The first cast of Dave’s lasso glanced off Blue Eye’s shoulder. The second missed completely. The third finally caught Blue Eye’s neck. In a flash, Keith moved in, looping a foreleg with his rope. Blue Eye now fought on two fronts, one eye turned to Little Bear, the other to Keith, while wildly kicking, biting, and plunging.
While Tonya, Krista, and Janice led the mares away from the fray, Donny and Dirk caught Little Bear with their lassos. Using ropes, muscle, and sheer will, the four wranglers struggled to separate the battling stallions. While Keith continued the war of wills with Blue Eye, Donny and Dirk overcame Little Bear. Battered and bleeding, the older stallion disengaged and exited the theatre, wearing his battle scars with pride.
With fists clenched at her sides, Miranda watched the final battle for supremacy between Keith and Blue Eye. She was vividly reminded of the pivotal scene in The Horse Whisperer when Tom Booker used similar methods to wrangle the bellicose Pilgrim. After what felt like eternity, Keith managed to bring the belligerent Blue Eye to his knees. To her amazement, the horse suddenly quit struggling. With flanks heaving and mouth foaming, Blue Eye gave a great groan of surrender and lay down in defeat.
“I’m sorry it came to this, my brother,” Keith said, stroking and caressing the horse’s neck. “But there can be only one master.” Time suspended as he crooned more words that she couldn’t understand. When Keith finally looked up at her, his grim expression had softened. “You see, Aiwattsi? It is over. Now, the real work with this horse can begin.”
*
Once recovered, Blue Eye seemed perfectly happy to follow the trail of his mares back down the mountain to their pasture. When the last weary wrangler arrived back at the ranch, a feast awaited. Jo-Jo had outdone herself with a spread of food that covered virtually every surface of the kitchen and dining room. The party lasted for several hours before eventually breaking up, with Dirk and Janice driving home, Dave and Donny heading to the bunkhouse, and Tonya and Krista retiring to the guest room in the ranch house.
Once the guests had left, Miranda revealed the truth to Jo-Jo. “You really believe Judith and Robert were behind this?” Jo-Jo asked incredulously.
“It’s possible Marvin acted on his own,” Miranda said, “but that doesn’t explain the source of the cash he’s been throwing around.”
“Unbelievable.” Jo-Jo shook her head. “My own daughter.”
“I’m sorry I came between you,” Miranda said.
“You didn’t, sweetheart. I’m just going to have to set Judith straight once and for all.”
“What are you going to do?” Miranda asked.
“I have half a mind to disown her completely,” Jo-Jo said, “but since no harm was really done, I’m just going to make it clear she isn’t welcome back for Christmas. Or maybe the next one either. Speaking of which…will Keith be spending it with us?”
“We haven’t talked about it,” Miranda said.
“He isn’t still planning to leave, is he?”
“I don’t know that either,” Miranda said sadly. Jo-Jo laid her hand on hers, her faded eyes seeking Miranda’s. “I didn’t think he was the right one for you in the beginning, but I’m not so sure anymore. If you really love him, Randa, I think you’d best do whatever it takes to convince Keith to stay.”
*
Miranda left her grandmother and pulled on a jacket, eager for a word alone with Keith. She opened the door and found him waiting for her on the front-porch swing. He silently held the blanket open and welcomed her into his arms. Claiming the quilt and the quiet of the night, she snuggled under his chin.
“I’m guessing you spoke to Jo-Jo?” he said.
“Yes. I told her all about Judith and Robert’s role in this sabotage.”
“What did she say?” Keith asked.
“She was livid,” Miranda said. “She called Judith right away. Of course my aunt said Marvin lied and denied all culpability, but Jo-Jo doesn’t believe her. She’s almost ready to disown Judith at this point. I hope it all blows over in time, but they won’t be welcome back to the ranch for a while. This day seems so surreal to me,” she said. “I still can’t believe you did what you did with Blue Eye.”
“I’m just glad he finally gave in,” Keith said. “I truly didn’t want to shoot him.”
“Would you really have done it?”
“Dunno.” He shrugged. “I’m just glad he didn’t push me to the point of having to make that decision.”
“I got all of it on film, you know. I’m adding it to my documentary. You’re the star of it, by the way.”
He frowned down at her. “I’m not so sure I want to be in any more films, Miranda. I got third-degree burns the last time around.”