So had the women of her tribe borne burdens since the
land was young; but none had ever borne a heavier load than did
Annie-Many-Ponies when she went soft footed across the open space to the dry
wash and down that to another, and so on and on until she crossed the low
ridge and came down to the deserted old rancho with its crumbling adobe cabins
and the well where she had waited so often for Ramon.
She was tired when she reached the well, for her back was not used to
burden-bearing as had been her mother's, and her steps had lagged because of
the heaviness that was in her chest. It seemed to her that some bad spirit was
driving her forth an exile. She could not understand. last night she had been
glad at the thought of going, and if the thought of leaving Wagalexa Conka so
treacherously had hurt like a knife-thrust, still, she had sworn willingly
enough that she would go.
The horse was there, saddled and tied in a tumble-down shed just as Ramon had
promised that it would be. Annie-Many-Ponies did not mount and ride on
immediately, however. It was still early in the forenoon, and she was not so
eager in reality as she had been in anticipation. She sat down beside the well
and stared somberly away to the mountains, and wondered why she was go sad
when she should be happy.
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