No fire burned in Flame’s eyes. The tall stallion looked past Jay, seemingly unconcerned over the stranger’s presence.

Steve didn’t move. He couldn’t take his eyes off Flame, so astonished was he at the stallion’s easy acceptance of Jay. He heard the man say, “Really, Steve, I’ve seen more good horses ruined by trainers doing just what you’re doing now! Flame should be sponged off with warm water, swiped, blanketed and walked for at least an hour.”

Steve answered, “Flame’s used to this. He’ll cool himself out. He won’t stand still.”

“Really, that’s too much to expect of any horse, Steve,” Jay said with concern. “Please walk him.”

Steve touched Flame, and the stallion moved toward the pool.

Jay began to follow Flame, but then returned to Steve. “I dislike interfering like this, Steve. I really do. I know you’re well able to take care of your horse. But believe me, Flame shouldn’t be allowed to drink any water now. Why, that’s even worse than his standing still! He’ll founder himself. He’ll get cramp colic. He’ll die!”

Steve laughed at Jay’s outburst and said, “Watch him.”

Flame wet his long nose and left the pool, walking down the valley.

Steve added, “He knows how to take care of himself. They all do. That’s all they’ve ever known … they and their forebears.”

Jay said nothing, but he didn’t take his eyes off the constantly moving stallion. Finally he sat down on the grass, pulling up his pantlegs to keep the fine crease in his blue suit. “I suppose you’re right, Steve, but I wouldn’t take any chances.” He looked up at the boy, and then back at Flame. “Especially after such a hard ride as you gave him,” he added gravely.

“You watched us?”

“Of course, Steve. There’s nothing I enjoy more than getting up early, before dawn sometimes, and getting to a convenient track to watch horses in training. It really does something for me!”

Steve looked down at this well-dressed man who might have been at a popular metropolitan club, telling friends of his visits to Belmont Park or Churchill Downs. Yet here he was, where so few had ever been, very much at ease and urging him to sponge Flame, to blanket him, to walk him.… Flame, a wild stallion!

“I just wouldn’t want anything to happen to him,” Jay said. “He’s too fine a horse. I’ve never seen a better one. You must do everything possible to keep him sound.”

In the distance Flame lowered himself carefully to the grass and began rolling, his long limbs cutting the air.

“You sit him beautifully, Steve,” Jay said without taking his eyes off the rolling horse. “No one could have a better seat. It wouldn’t get by in a show ring, of course, but on the race track it’s the only way to ride.”

“I’ve never raced,” Steve said.

“I know,” Jay replied quietly.

Steve continued standing. He couldn’t sit down beside Jay and chew thoughtfully on a succulent blade of grass as the man was doing. He was not sufficiently at ease for that. He wondered how it was that Jay knew he had done no racing.