Black Beauty Page #4

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Hang on!

I can't be late for the Duchess!

Get him! Quick!

Give it here. Now, get that shaft off.

Go on! Get it!

The bloody rein's choking her.

There, lassie.

You idiot!

These horses have more brains than you!

Cover the chestnut with a blanket.

You fetch hot water and lotion

for the black one.

Whoa, there.

Stay!

Take care of the black one too.

As you wish, Mr. York.

My leg hurt.

The wound was deep.

Well, it's her own silly fault

if she misses her tea party...

...not yours.

No, nor mine neither.

It's enough to drive anybody back to drink.

They put wicked wooden contraptions

around our necks...

...so we couldn't even turn our heads

to lick our wounds.

After that...

...my lady never called for Ginger again.

I, on the other hand...

...continued to be subject

to her every whim.

Look, man, look!

Got a job for us then, Reuben?

Yes. It's stood out in all weathers.

Between that and the roads up there.

Plenty of rot here.

Plenty of rot everywhere.

What do they want to do?

Me lady craves a new coat of paint.

I believe your lady could use

a good deal more than a new coat of paint.

Amen.

Keep the horse for me, will you?

Best leave it saddled.

I daren't be late.

Where are you going then?

I'll be back later.

Listen.

There's a loose shoe.

Where are you going?

You mustn't ride him, Mr. Smith.

Now stand up, will you?

He's standing.

Come on, there. Come on.

Now stand up.

Where's your head?

Get out of the way!

Come on.

He pushed me...

...and pushed me...

...and pushed me!

What was the matter with him?

I was losing my shoe...

...but he had lost his mind!

My body couldn't escape...

...but my thoughts could.

They took me away from that awful place.

Far away.

But there was Reuben...

...still lying where he'd fallen.

I stayed with him.

My mother had taught me to be loyal,

no matter what.

Good Lord, what's happened here?

Roll him over.

See if we can get him to his feet.

I'll carry him.

Every step was agony.

I didn't know if my knees would ever heal.

We don't get to choose the people

in our lives.

For us, it's all chance.

Come on.

Come on, get on. Get on!

He won!

Lovely ride, son.

Thank you, Mama.

Good God, George.

What have you done to the horse?

Didn't you bother to train her?

I won the race.

You've broken her.

She can't breathe properly.

Ginger loved jumping.

Her heart leapt at every fence.

But they raced her before she was fit...

...and it shattered her.

They used to be such beautiful animals.

Now just look at them. Ruined.

A 12-month run should bring back

the mare's wind, my lord.

Well, the black one will have to be sold.

I won't have knees like that in my stables.

Sold?

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