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John R eynold s G ard in er Sto ne F ox Illu str a te d b y G re g H arg re aves To B ob a t H udso n’s C afé C onte n ts 1 • G ra nd fa th er 2 • L it tle W illy 3 • S earc hlig ht 4 • T he R easo n 5 • T he W ay 6 • S to ne F ox 7 • T he M eetin g 8 • T he D ay 9 • T he R ace 10 • T he F in is h L in e Ack no w le d gm ents About th e A uth o r Cre d it s Copyrig ht About th e P ub lis h er 1 G RAN DFA TH ER O NE D AY G RA NDFA TH ER w ould n’t g et o ut o f b ed . H e j u st la y th ere a nd s ta re d a t th e c eilin g a nd lo oked s a d .

At fir s t lit tle W illy th o ught h e w as p la yin g.

Lit tle W illy liv ed w it h h is g ra nd fa th er o n a s m all p ota to fa rm in W yo m in g. I t w as h ard w ork liv in g o n a p ota to fa rm , b ut it w as a ls o a lo t o f fu n. E sp ecia lly w hen G ra nd fa th er fe lt lik e p la yin g.

Lik e th e tim e G ra nd fa th er d re sse d u p a s th e s c are cro w o ut in th e g ard en. I t to ok lit tle W illy a n h o ur t o c atc h o n. B oy, d id th ey la ugh. G ra nd fa th er la ughed s o h ard h e c rie d . A nd w hen h e c rie d h is b eard fille d u p w it h te ars .

Gra nd fa th er a lw ays g o t u p r e al e arly in th e m orn in g.

S o e arly th at it w as s till d ark o uts id e. H e w ould m ak e a f ir e . T hen h e w ould m ak e b re ak fa st a nd c all lit tle W illy .

“ H urry u p o r y o u’ll b e e atin g w it h th e c hic k ens,” h e w ould s a y. T hen h e w ould th ro w h is h ead b ack a nd l a ugh. Once lit tle W illy w ent b ack to s le ep . W hen h e w oke up , h e fo und h is p la te o ut in th e c hic k en c o op. I t w as pic k ed c le an. H e n ever s le p t la te a gain a fte r th at.

That is … until th is m orn in g. F or s o m e r e aso n Gra nd fa th er h ad fo rg o tte n to c all h im . T hat’ s w hen lit tle Willy d is c o vere d th at G ra nd fa th er w as s till in b ed .

There c o uld b e o nly o ne e xp la natio n. G ra nd fa th er w as pla yin g. I t w as a no th er tr ic k .

Or w as it ?

“G et u p , G ra nd fa th er,” lit tle W illy s a id . “ I d on’t w ant to p la y a nym ore .” But G ra nd fa th er d id n’t a nsw er.

Lit tle W illy r a n o ut o f th e h o use .

A d og w as s le ep in g o n th e fr o nt p orc h. “ C om e o n, Searc hlig ht! ” lit tle W illy c rie d o ut. T he d og ju m ped to it s fe et a nd to geth er th ey r a n o ff d ow n th e r o ad .

Searc hlig ht w as a b ig b la ck d og. S he h ad a w hit e sp ot o n h er fo re head th e s iz e o f a s ilv er d olla r. S he w as an o ld d og— actu ally b orn o n th e s a m e d ay a s lit tle Willy , w hic h w as o ver te n y ears a go .

A m ile d ow n th e r o ad th ey c am e to a s m all lo g c ab in su rro und ed b y ta ll tr e es. D oc S m it h w as s it tin g in a ro ck in g c hair u nd er o ne o f th e tr e es, r e ad in g a b ook.

“D oc S m it h ,” lit tle W illy c alle d o ut. H e w as o ut o f bre ath . “ C om e q uic k .” “W hat s e em s to b e th e m atte r, W illy ?” th e d octo r ask ed , c o ntin uin g to r e ad .

Doc S m it h h ad s n o w w hit e h air a nd w ore a lo ng bla ck d re ss. H er s k in w as ta n a nd h er fa ce w as co vere d w it h w rin k le s.

“G ra nd fa th er w on’t a nsw er m e,” lit tle W illy s a id .

“P ro bab ly ju st a no th er tr ic k ,” D oc S m it h r e p lie d .

“N oth in g to w orry a b out.” “B ut h e’s s till in b ed .” Doc S m it h tu rn ed a p age a nd c o ntin ued to r e ad .

“H ow la te d id y o u tw o s ta y u p la st n ig ht? ” “W e w ent to b ed e arly , r e al e arly . N o s in gin g o r music o r a nyth in g.” Doc S m it h s to pped r e ad in g.

“Y our g ra nd fa th er w ent to b ed w it h o ut p la yin g h is harm onic a?” s h e a sk ed .

Lit tle W illy n o dded .

Doc S m it h s h ut h er b ook a nd s to od u p . “ H it c h u p Rex fo r m e, W illy ,” s h e s a id . “ I’ll g et m y b ag.” Rex w as D oc S m it h ’s h o rs e . H e w as a h and so m e palo m in o . L it tle W illy h it c hed R ex to th e w ago n, a nd th en th ey r o de b ack to G ra nd fa th er’s fa rm . S earc hlig ht ra n o n a head , le ad in g th e w ay and b ark in g. S earc hlig ht enjo yed a g o od r u n. Gra nd fa th er w as ju st th e s a m e. H e h ad n’t m oved .

Searc hlig ht p ut h er b ig fr o nt p aw s u p o n th e b ed a nd re ste d h er h ead o n G ra nd fa th er’s c hest. S he lic k ed h is beard , w hic h w as fu ll o f te ars .

Doc S m it h p ro ceed ed to e xam in e G ra nd fa th er. S he use d ju st a b out e very th in g in h er lit tle b la ck b ag.

“W hat’ s th at fo r? ” lit tle W illy a sk ed . “ W hat a re y o u doin g n o w ?” “M ust y o u a sk s o m any q uestio ns? ” D oc S m it h s a id .

“G ra nd fa th er s a ys it ’ s g o od to a sk q uestio ns.” Doc S m it h p ulle d a lo ng s ilv er o bje ct fr o m h er docto r’s b ag.

“W hat’ s th at fo r? ” lit tle W illy a sk ed .

“H ush !” “Y es, m a’a m . I ’m s o rry .” When D oc S m it h h ad fin is h ed h er e xam in a tio n, s h e put e very th in g b ack in to h er lit tle b la ck b ag. T hen s h e walk ed o ver to th e w in d ow a nd lo oked o ut a t th e fie ld of p ota to es.

Afte r a m om ent s h e a sk ed , “ H ow ’s th e c ro p th is year, W illy ?” “G ra nd fa th er s a ys it ’ s th e b est e ver.” Doc S m it h r u b bed h er w rin k le d fa ce.

“W hat’ s w ro ng w it h h im ?” lit tle W illy a sk ed .

“D o y o u o w e a nyb ody m oney?” s h e a sk ed .

“N o!” lit tle W illy a nsw ere d . “ W hat’ s w ro ng? W hy won’t y o u te ll m e w hat’ s w ro ng?” “T hat’ s ju st it ,” s h e s a id . “ T here is noth in g w ro ng wit h h im .” “Y ou m ean h e’s n o t s ic k ?” “M ed ic ally , h e’s a s h ealt h y a s a n o x. C ould liv e to b e a h und re d if h e w ante d to .” “I d on’t u nd ers ta nd ,” lit tle W illy s a id .

Doc S m it h to ok a d eep b re ath . A nd th en s h e b egan, “It h ap pens w hen a p ers o n g iv es u p . G iv es u p o n lif e .

For w hate ver r e aso n. S ta rts u p here in th e m in d fir s t; th en it s p re ad s to th e b ody. I t’ s a r e al s ic k ness, a ll r ig ht.

And th ere ’s n o c ure e xcep t in th e p ers o n’s o w n m in d .

I’m s o rry , c hild , b ut it a p pears th at y o ur g ra nd fa th er ju st doesn ’t w ant to liv e a nym ore .” Lit tle W illy w as s ile nt fo r a lo ng tim e b efo re h e sp oke. “ B ut w hat a b out… fis h in g… and th e R odeo … and tu rk ey d in ners ? D oesn ’t h e w ant to d o th o se th in gs anym ore ?” Gra nd fa th er s h ut h is e yes a nd te ars r o lle d d ow n h is cheek s a nd d is a p peare d in to h is b eard .

“I’m s u re h e d oes,” D oc S m it h s a id , p uttin g h er a rm aro und lit tle W illy . “ It m ust b e s o m eth in g e ls e .” Lit tle W illy s ta re d a t th e flo or. “ I’ll fin d o ut. I ’ll fin d out w hat’ s w ro ng a nd m ak e it b ette r. Y ou’ll s e e. I ’ll mak e G ra nd fa th er w ant to liv e a gain .” And S earc hlig ht b ark ed lo ud ly . 2 L IT TLE W IL LY A TEN -Y EA R-O LD B O Y c anno t r u n a fa rm . B ut y o u c an’t t e ll a te n-y ear- o ld b oy th at. E sp ecia lly a b oy lik e lit tle W illy .

Gra nd fa th er g re w p ota to es, a nd th at’ s e xactly w hat l it tle W illy w as g o in g to d o.

The h arv est w as ju st w eek s a w ay, a nd lit tle W illy w as s u re th at if th e c ro p w as a g o od o ne, G ra nd fa th er w ould g et w ell. H ad n’t G ra nd fa th er b een o verly c o ncern ed a b out th e c ro p th is y ear? H ad n’t h e in sis te d t h at e very s q uare in ch o f la nd b e p la nte d ? H ad n’t h e g o tte n u p in th e m id dle o f th e n ig ht to c heck th e i r rig atio n? “ G onna b e o ur b est e ver, W illy ,” h e h ad s a id .

A nd h e h ad s a id it o ver a nd o ver a gain .

Yes, a fte r th e h arv est, e very th in g w ould b e a ll r ig ht.

L it tle W illy w as s u re o f it .

But D oc S m it h w asn ’t.

“H e’s g ettin g w ors e ,” s h e s a id th re e w eek s la te r.

“ It’ s b est to fa ce th ese th in gs, W illy . Y our g ra nd fa th er is go in g to d ie .” “H e’ll g et b ette r. Y ou’ll s e e. W ait till a fte r th e harv est.” Doc S m it h s h o ok h er h ead . “ I th in k y o u s h o uld co nsid er le ttin g M rs . P eaco ck in to w n ta k e c are o f h im , lik e s h e d oes th o se o th er s ic k ly fo lk s. H e’ll b e in g o od hand s u ntil th e e nd c o m es.” D oc S m it h s te p ped u p in to th e w ago n. “ Y ou c an c o m e liv e w it h m e u ntil w e m ak e pla ns.” S he lo oked a t S earc hlig ht. “ I’m s u re th ere ’s a fa rm er in th ese p arts w ho n eed s a g o od w ork d og.” Searc hlig ht g ro w le d , c ausin g D oc S m it h ’s h o rs e , Rex, to p ull th e w ago n fo rw ard a fe w fe et.

“B elie ve m e, W illy , it ’ s b ette r th is w ay.” “N o!” s h o ute d lit tle W illy . “ W e’re a fa m ily , d on’t y o u se e? W e g o tta s tic k to geth er!” Searc hlig ht b ark ed lo ud ly , c ausin g th e h o rs e to r e ar up o n h is h in d le gs a nd th en ta k e o ff r u nnin g. D oc S m it h ja m med h er fo ot o n th e b ra k e, b ut it d id n’t d o a ny go od. T he w ago n d is a p peare d d ow n th e r o ad in a clo ud o f d ust.

Lit tle W illy a nd S earc hlig ht lo oked a t e ach o th er a nd th en lit tle W illy b ro ke o ut la ughin g. S earc hlig ht jo in ed him b y b ark in g a gain .

Lit tle W illy k nelt d ow n, to ok S earc hlig ht b y th e e ars , and lo oked d ir e ctly in to h er e yes. S he h ad th e g re enest eyes y o u’v e e ver s e en. “ I w on’t e ver g iv e y o u a w ay.

Ever. I p ro m is e .” H e p ut h is a rm s a ro und th e d og’s str o ng n eck a nd h eld h er tig htly . “ I lo ve y o u, Searc hlig ht.” A nd S earc hlig ht u nd ers to od, fo r s h e h ad heard th o se w ord s m any tim es b efo re .

That e venin g lit tle W illy m ad e a d is c o very .

He w as s it tin g a t th e fo ot o f G ra nd fa th er’s bed pla yin g th e h arm onic a. H e w asn ’t a s g o od a s Gra nd fa th er b y a lo ng s h o t, a nd w henever h e m is se d a no te S earc hlig ht w ould p ut h er h ead b ack a nd h o w l.

Once, w hen lit tle W illy w as w ay o ff k ey, S earc hlig ht actu ally g ra b bed th e h arm onic a in h er m outh a nd r a n out o f th e r o om w it h it .

“D o y o u w ant m e to p la y s o m e m ore ?” lit tle W illy ask ed G ra nd fa th er, k no w in g v ery w ell th at G ra nd fa th er would n o t a nsw er. G ra nd fa th er h ad n o t ta lk ed — no t one w ord — fo r o ver th re e w eek s.

But s o m eth in g h ap pened th at w as a lm ost lik e ta lk in g.

Gra nd fa th er p ut h is h and d ow n o n th e b ed w it h h is palm fa cin g u p w ard . L it tle W illy lo oked a t th e h and fo r a lo ng tim e a nd th en a sk ed , in a w his p er, “ D oes th at mean ‘ y es’? ” Gra nd fa th er c lo se d h is h and s lo w ly , a nd th en o pened it a gain . Lit tle W illy r u sh ed to th e s id e o f th e b ed . H is e yes were w ild w it h e xcit e m ent. “ W hat’ s th e s ig n fo r ‘ n o ’? ” Gra nd fa th er tu rn ed h is h and o ver a nd la id it fla t o n th e b ed . P alm d ow n m eant “ n o .” P alm u p m eant “ y es.” Befo re th e n ig ht w as o ver th ey h ad w ork ed o ut o th er sig nals in th eir h and -a nd -fin ger c o de. O ne fin ger m eant “I’m h ungry .” T w o fin gers m eant “ w ate r.” B ut m ost o f th e tim e lit tle W illy ju st a sk ed q uestio ns th at Gra nd fa th er c o uld a nsw er e it h er “ y es” o r “ n o .” And S earc hlig ht s e em ed to k no w w hat w as g o in g o n, fo r s h e w ould lic k G ra nd fa th er’s h and e very tim e h e mad e a s ig n.

The n ext d ay lit tle W illy b egan to p re p are fo r th e harv est.

There w as a lo t o f w ork to b e d one. T he und erg ro und s h ed — where th e p ota to es w ould be sto re d u ntil th ey c o uld b e s o ld — had to b e c le aned . T he pota to s a ck s h ad to b e in sp ecte d , a nd m end ed if n eed be. T he p lo w h ad to b e s h arp ened . B ut m ost im porta nt, because G ra nd fa th er’s o ld m are h ad d ie d la st w in te r, a ho rs e to p ull th e p lo w h ad to b e lo cate d a nd r e nte d .

It w as g o in g to b e d if fic ult to fin d a h o rs e , b ecause most fa rm ers w ere n o t in te re ste d in o verw ork in g th eir anim als — fo r a ny p ric e.

Gra nd fa th er k ep t h is m oney in a s tr o ngb ox u nd er th e board s in th e c o rn er o f h is b ed ro om . L it tle W illy g o t th e box o ut a nd o pened it . I t w as e m pty ! E xcep t fo r s o m e le tte rs th at lit tle W illy d id n’t b oth er to r e ad .

There w as n o m oney to r e nt a h o rs e .

No m oney fo r a nyth in g e ls e , fo r th at m atte r. L it tle Willy h ad h ad n o id ea th ey w ere b ro ke. E very th in g th ey had n eed ed s in ce G ra nd fa th er to ok s ic k lit tle W illy h ad go tte n a t L este r’s G enera l S to re o n c re d it a gain st th is year’s c ro p.

No w ond er G ra nd fa th er w as s o c o ncern ed . N o wond er h e h ad g o tte n s ic k .

Lit tle W illy h ad to th in k o f s o m eth in g. A nd q uic k .

It w as n o w th e m id dle o f S ep te m ber. T he p ota to es th ey h ad p la nte d in e arly J u ne to ok fr o m n in ety to o ne hund re d tw enty d ays to m atu re , w hic h m eant th ey m ust be h arv este d s o on. B esid es, th e lo nger h e w ait e d , th e more d anger th ere w as th at a n e arly fr e eze w ould destr o y th e c ro p. A nd lit tle W illy w as s u re th at if th e cro p d ie d , G ra nd fa th er w ould d ie to o. A fr ie nd o f G ra nd fa th er’s o ffe re d to h elp , b ut lit tle Willy s a id n o . “ D on’t a ccep t h elp u nle ss y o u c an p ay fo r it ,” G ra nd fa th er h ad a lw ays s a id . “ E sp ecia lly fr o m fr ie nd s.” And th en lit tle W illy r e m em bere d s o m eth in g.

His c o lle ge m oney! H e h ad e no ugh to r e nt a h o rs e , pay fo r h elp , e very th in g. H e to ld G ra nd fa th er a b out h is pla n, b ut G ra nd fa th er s ig nale d “ n o .” L it tle W illy p le ad ed wit h h im . B ut G ra nd fa th er ju st r e p eate d “ n o , n o , n o !” The s it u atio n a p peare d h o pele ss.

But lit tle W illy w as d ete rm in ed . H e w ould d ig u p th e pota to es b y h and if h e h ad to .

And th en S earc hlig ht s o lv ed th e p ro ble m .

She w alk ed o ver a nd s to od in fr o nt o f th e p lo w . I n her m outh w as th e h arn ess s h e w ore d urin g th e w in te r when s h e p ulle d th e s n o w s le d .

Lit tle W illy s h o ok h is h ead . “ D ig gin g u p a fie ld is n o t th e s a m e a s r id in g o ver s n o w ,” h e to ld h er. B ut Searc hlig ht ju st s to od th ere a nd w ould n o t m ove. “ Y ou don’t h ave th e s tr e ngth , g ir l. ” L it tle W illy tr ie d to ta lk her o ut o f it . B ut S earc hlig ht h ad m ad e u p h er m in d .

The p ota to p la nt g ro w s a b out tw o fe et h ig h, b ut th ere are n o p ota to es o n it . T he p ota to es a re all u nd erg ro und .

The p lo w d ig s u p th e p la nts a nd c hurn s th e p ota to es to th e s u rfa ce, w here th ey c an b e p ic k ed u p a nd p ut in to sa ck s.

It to ok lit tle W illy a nd S earc hlig ht o ver te n d ays to co m ple te th e h arv est. B ut th ey m ad e it ! E it h er th e d ir t was s o fte r th an lit tle W illy h ad th o ught, o r S earc hlig ht was s tr o nger, b ecause s h e a ctu ally s e em ed to e njo y hers e lf .

And th e h arv est w as a b ig o ne— clo se to tw o hund re d b ush els p er a cre . A nd e ach b ush el w eig hed aro und s ix ty p ound s.

Lit tle W illy in sp ecte d th e p ota to es, th re w o ut th e b ad ones, a nd p ut th e r e st in to s a ck s. H e th en p ut th e s a ck s in to th e u nd erg ro und s h ed .

Mr. L eek s, a ta ll m an w it h a th in fa ce, r id in g a h o rs e th at w as a ls o ta ll a nd h ad a th in fa ce, c am e o ut to th e fa rm a nd b ought th e p ota to es. L ast y ear G ra nd fa th er had s o ld th e c ro p to M r. L eek s, s o th at’ s w hat lit tle Willy d id th is y ear.

“W e m ad e it , G ra nd fa th er,” lit tle W illy s a id , a s te ars of h ap pin ess r o lle d d ow n h is c heek s. “ S ee?” L it tle W illy held u p tw o h and fu ls o f m oney. “ Y ou c an s to p worry in g. Y ou c an g et b ette r n o w .” Gra nd fa th er p ut h is h and d ow n o n th e b ed . P alm dow n m eant “ n o .” I t w as n o t th e c ro p h e’d b een worrie d a b out. I t w as s o m eth in g e ls e . L it tle W illy h ad been w ro ng a ll a lo ng. 3 S E A R CH LIG HT I T ’S E A SY T O te ll w hen it ’ s w in te r in W yo m in g. T here is s n o w o n e very th in g: th e tr e es, th e h o use s, th e r o ad s, th e f ie ld s, a nd e ven th e p eo ple , if th ey s ta y o uts id e lo ng e no ugh.

It’ s n o t a d ir ty s n o w . I t’ s a c le an, s o ft s n o w th at r e sts l ik e a b la nk et o ver th e e ntir e s ta te . T he a ir is c le ar a nd c ris p , a nd th e r iv ers a re a ll fr o ze n. I t’ s fu n to b e o utd oors a nd s e e th e s n o w fla k es flo at d ow n p ast th e b rim o f y o ur h at, a nd h ear th e s q ueak o f th e fr e sh p ow der u nd er y o ur b oots .

Win te r in W yo m in g c an b e th e m ost b eautif u l tim e o f t h e y ear… if y o u’re r e ad y fo r it .

Lit tle W illy w as r e ad y.

He h ad c ho pped e no ugh w ood. T hey w ould n o t b e c o ld . H e h ad s to ck ed e no ugh fo od. T hey w ould n o t g o h ungry . H e h ad a sk ed L este r a t th e g enera l s to re h o w m uch fo od G ra nd fa th er h ad b ought la st y ear. T hen h e h ad p urc hase d th e s a m e a m ount. T his w ould b e m ore th an e no ugh, b ecause G ra nd fa th er w asn ’t e atin g v ery much th ese d ays.

The c o m in g o f s n o w , a s e arly a s O cto ber, a ls o m eant th e c o m in g o f s c ho ol. B ut lit tle W illy d id n’t m in d . H e lik ed s c ho ol. H ow ever, h is te acher, M is s W illia m s, h ad to ld G ra nd fa th er o nce, “ F ar a s I ’m c o ncern ed , th at b oy of y o urs ju st a sk s to o m any q uestio ns.” G ra nd fa th er had ju st la ughed a nd s a id , “ H ow ’s h e g o nna le arn if h e don’t a sk ?” Then, la te r, G ra nd fa th er h ad s a id to lit tle W illy , “ If yo ur te acher d on’t k no w — yo u a sk m e. I f I d on’t k no w —yo u a sk th e lib ra ry . I f th e lib ra ry d on’t k no w — th en yo u’v e r e ally g o t y o urs e lf a g o od q uestio n!” Gra nd fa th er h ad ta ught lit tle W illy a lo t. B ut n o w lit tle Willy w as o n h is o w n.

Each m orn in g h e w ould g et u p a nd m ak e a fir e . T hen he w ould m ak e o atm eal m ush fo r b re ak fa st. H e a te it .

Searc hlig ht a te it . G ra nd fa th er a te it . H e w ould fe ed Gra nd fa th er a s p oonfu l a t a tim e.

Afte r b re ak fa st lit tle W illy w ould h it c h u p S earc hlig ht to th e s le d . I t w as a n o ld w ooden s le d th at G ra nd fa th er had b ought fr o m th e I n d ia ns. I t w as s o lig ht th at lit tle Willy c o uld p ic k it u p w it h o ne h and . B ut it w as s tr o ng and s tu rd y.

Lit tle W illy r o de o n th e s le d s ta nd in g u p a nd Searc hlig ht w ould p ull h im fiv e m ile s a cro ss th e s n o w - co vere d c o untr y sid e to th e s c ho olh o use , w hic h w as lo cate d o n th e o uts k ir ts o f to w n.

Searc hlig ht lo ved th e s n o w . S he w ould w ait p atie ntly outs id e th e s c ho olh o use a ll d ay lo ng.

And lit tle W illy never m is se d a c hance to r u n o ut b etw een c la sse s a nd pla y w it h h is fr ie nd .

Afte r s c ho ol, th ey w ould g o in to th e to w n o f J a ck so n and r u n e rra nd s. T hey w ould p ic k u p s u p plie s a t Leste r’s G enera l S to re , o r g o to th e p ost o ffic e, o r g o to th e b ank .

Lit tle W illy h ad fif ty d olla rs in a s a vin gs a cco unt a t th e b ank . E very m onth G ra nd fa th er h ad d ep osit e d th e money lit tle W illy h ad e arn ed w ork in g o n th e fa rm .

“D on’t th ank m e,” G ra nd fa th er w ould s a y. “ Y ou e arn ed it . Y ou’re a g o od lit tle w ork er a nd I ’m p ro ud o f y o u.” Gra nd fa th er w ante d lit tle W illy to g o to c o lle ge a nd beco m e e d ucate d . A ll lit tle W illy w ante d to d o w as gro w p ota to es, b ut h e r e sp ecte d h is g ra nd fa th er e no ugh to d o w hate ver h e s a id .

If th ere w ere n o e rra nd s to r u n th at d ay, S earc hlig ht would ju st p ull lit tle W illy u p a nd d ow n M ain S tr e et.

Lit tle W illy lo ved to lo ok a t all th e p eo ple , e sp ecia lly th e “c it y s lic k ers ,” a s G ra nd fa th er c alle d th em . W hy, th ey did n’t k no w a p ota to fr o m a p eanut, G ra nd fa th er s a id , and th eir h and s w ere a s p in k a nd s o ft a s a b ab y’s . Y ou co uld n’t m is s th e c it y s lic k ers . T hey w ere th e o nes w ho lo oked a s if th ey w ere g o in g to a w ed din g.

At a lit tle b efo re s ix e ach d ay, lit tle W illy w ould posit io n h is s le d in fr o nt o f th e o ld c hurc h o n M ain Str e et. T oday a gain h e w ait e d , e yes g lu ed o n th e b ig churc h c lo ck th at lo om ed h ig h o verh ead .

Searc hlig ht w ait e d to o— ears p erk ed u p , e yes a le rt, le gs s lig htly b ent, r e ad y to s p rin g fo rw ard .

B-O -N -G !

At th e fir s t s tr o ke o f s ix , S earc hlig ht lu nged fo rw ard wit h s u ch fo rc e th at lit tle W illy w as a lm ost th ro w n fr o m th e s le d . S tr a ig ht d ow n M ain S tr e et th ey w ent, th e sle d ’s r u nners b are ly to uchin g th e s n o w . T hey w ere o ne big b lu r a s th ey tu rn ed r ig ht o nto N orth R oad . A nd th ey were a lm ost o ut o f to w n b efo re th e c hurc h c lo ck becam e s ile nt a gain . “G o, S earc hlig ht! G o!” L it tle W illy ’s v o ic e s a ng o ut acro ss th e s n o w y tw ilig ht. A nd d id S earc hlig ht g o ! S he had r u n th is r a ce a h und re d tim es b efo re , a nd s h e k new th e w here ab outs o f e very fa lle n tr e e a nd h id den g ully .

This e nab le d h er to tr a vel a t tr e m end ous s p eed e ven th o ugh it w as g ettin g d ark a nd m ore d angero us.

Lit tle W illy s u ck ed in th e c o ol n ig ht a ir a nd fe lt th e stin g o f th e w in d a gain st h is fa ce. I t w as a r a ce a ll r ig ht.

A r a ce a gain st tim e. A r a ce a gain st th em se lv es. A r a ce th ey a lw ays w on.

The s m all b uild in g u p a head w as G ra nd fa th er’s fa rm ho use . W hen S earc hlig ht s a w it , s h e s e em ed to gath er u p e very o unce o f h er r e m ain in g s tr e ngth . S he fo rg ed a head w it h s u ch s p eed th at th e s le d s e em ed to lif t u p o ff th e g ro und a nd fly .

They w ere s o e xhauste d w hen th ey a rriv ed a t th e ho use th at n eit h er o f th em n o tic ed th e h o rs e tie d u p outs id e.

Lit tle W illy u nhit c hed S earc hlig ht, a nd th en b oth o f th em tu m ble d o ver o nto th eir b ack s in th e s n o w a nd sta re d u p a t th e m oon. S earc hlig ht h ad h er h ead a nd one p aw o n lit tle W illy ’s c hest a nd w as lic k in g th e und ers id e o f h is c hin . L it tle W illy h ad a h o ld o f Searc hlig ht’ s e ar, a nd h e w as g rin nin g.

The o w ner o f th e h o rs e s to od o n th e fr o nt p orc h a nd watc hed th em , ta p pin g h is fo ot im patie ntly . 4 T H E R EA SO N “ G ET O VER H ER E !” T he v o ic e c ut th ro ugh th e a ir lik e th e t w ang o f a r ic o chetin g b ulle t.

Lit tle W illy h ad n ever h eard a v o ic e lik e th at b efo re .

N ot o n th is fa rm . H e c o uld n’t m ove.

But S earc hlig ht s u re c o uld .

The o w ner o f th e v o ic e b are ly h ad tim e to s te p b ack i n to th e h o use a nd c lo se th e d oor.

Searc hlig ht b ark ed a nd s n arle d a nd ju m ped a t th e c lo se d d oor. T hen th e d oor o pened a c ra ck . T he m an s to od in th e o penin g. H e w as h o ld in g a s m all d errin ger a nd p oin tin g it a t S earc hlig ht. H is h and w as s h ak in g.

“D on’t s h o ot! ” lit tle W illy y elle d a s h e r e ached out a nd to uched S earc hlig ht g ently o n th e b ack . T he b ark in g s to pped . “ W ho a re y o u?” “N am e’s C lif fo rd S nyd er. S ta te o f W yo m in g,” th e m an s a id w it h a uth o rit y . H e o pened th e d oor a lit tle f a rth er.

The m an w as d re sse d a s if h e w as g o in g to a wed din g. A c it y s lic k er. H e w as s h o rt, w it h a s m all head a nd a th in , d ro opy m usta che th at r e m in d ed lit tle Willy o f th e la st tim e h e’d d ru nk a g la ss o f m ilk in a hurry .

“W hat d o y o u w ant? ” lit tle W illy a sk ed .

“ Offic ia l b usin ess. C an’t th e o ld m an in sid e ta lk ?” “N ot r e gula r ta lk . W e h ave a c o de. I c an s h o w y o u.” As lit tle W illy r e ached fo r th e d oor, C lif fo rd S nyd er again a im ed h is g un a t S earc hlig ht, w ho h ad b egun to gro w l. “ L eave th at… th in g o uts id e,” h e d em and ed .

“S he’ll b e a ll r ig ht if y o u p ut y o ur g un a w ay.” “N o!” “A re y o u a fr a id o f h er? ” “I’m n o t… afr a id .” “D ogs c an a lw ays te ll w hen s o m eo ne’s a fr a id o f th em .” “Ju st g et in th is h o use th is m in ute !” C lif fo rd S nyd er yelle d , a nd h is fa ce tu rn ed r e d .

Lit tle W illy le ft S earc hlig ht o uts id e. B ut C lif fo rd Snyd er w ould n’t p ut h is g un a w ay u ntil th ey w ere a ll th e way in to G ra nd fa th er’s b ed ro om . A nd th en h e in sis te d th at lit tle W illy s h ut th e d oor.

Gra nd fa th er’s e yes w ere w id e o pen a nd fix ed o n th e ceilin g. H e lo oked m uch o ld er a nd m uch m ore tir e d th an h e h ad th is m orn in g.

“Y ou’re n o b ette r th an o th er fo lk s,” C lif fo rd S nyd er began a s h e lit u p a lo ng, th in c ig ar a nd b le w s m oke to w ard th e c eilin g. “ A nd a nyw ay, it ’ s th e la w . P la in a nd sim ple .” Lit tle W illy d id n’t s a y a nyth in g. H e w as b usy co m bin g G ra nd fa th er’s h air , lik e h e d id e very day w hen he g o t h o m e. W hen h e fin is h ed h e h eld u p th e m ir ro r s o Gra nd fa th er c o uld s e e. “I’m w arn in g y o u,” C lif fo rd S nyd er c o ntin ued . “ If yo u d on’t p ay… we h ave o ur w ays. A nd it ’ s a ll le gal.

All fa ir a nd le gal. Y ou’re n o b ette r th an o th er fo lk s.” “D o w e o w e y o u s o m e m oney, M r. S nyd er? ” lit tle Willy a sk ed .

“T axes, s o n. T axes o n th is fa rm . Y our g ra nd fa th er th ere h asn ’t b een p ayin g th em .” Lit tle W illy w as c o nfu se d .

Taxes? G ra nd fa th er h ad a lw ays p aid e very b ill. A nd alw ays o n tim e. A nd lit tle W illy d id th e s a m e. S o w hat was th is a b out ta xes? G ra nd fa th er h ad n ever m entio ned th em b efo re . T here m ust b e s o m e m is ta k e.

“Is it tr u e?” lit tle W illy a sk ed G ra nd fa th er.

But G ra nd fa th er d id n’t a nsw er. A ppare ntly h e h ad go tte n w ors e d urin g th e d ay. H e d id n’t m ove h is h and , or e ven h is fin gers .

“A sk h im a b out th e le tte rs ,” p ip ed u p C lif fo rd Snyd er.

“W hat le tte rs ? ” “E very y ear w e s e nd a le tte r— a ta x b ill— sh o w in g ho w m uch y o u o w e.” “I’v e n ever s e en o ne,” in sis te d lit tle W illy . “P ro bab ly th re w ’ e m o ut.” “A re y o u s u re … ” b egan lit tle W illy . A nd th en h e re m em bere d th e s tr o ngb ox.

He r e m oved th e b oard s, th en lif te d th e h eavy b ox u p onto th e flo or. H e o pened it a nd r e m oved th e p ap ers .

The p ap ers h e r e m em bere d s e ein g w hen h e h ad lo oked fo r th e m oney to r e nt th e h o rs e .

“A re th ese th e le tte rs ? ” h e a sk ed .

Clif fo rd S nyd er s n atc hed th e le tte rs fr o m lit tle W illy ’s hand a nd e xam in ed th em . “ Y ep , s u re a re ,” h e s a id .

“T hese g o b ack o ver te n y ears .” H e h eld u p o ne o f th e le tte rs . “ T his h ere is th e la st o ne w e s e nt.” Lit tle W illy lo oked a t th e p ap er. T here w ere s o m any fig ure s a nd c o lu m ns a nd n um bers th at h e c o uld n’t m ak e any s e nse o ut o f w hat h e w as lo okin g a t. “ H ow m uch do w e o w e y o u, M r. S nyd er? ” “S ays r ig ht h ere . C le ar a s a b ell. ” T he s h o rt m an ja b bed h is s h o rt fin ger a t th e b otto m o f th e p age.

Lit tle W illy ’s e yes p opped o pen. “ F iv e h und re d dolla rs ! W e o w e y o u fiv e h und re d d olla rs ? ” Clif fo rd S nyd er n o dded , r o ck in g fo rw ard o nto h is to es, m ak in g h im se lf ta lle r. “ A nd if y o u d on’t p ay,” h e sa id , “ I fig ure th is h ere fa rm is ju st a b out w orth — ” “Y ou c an’t ta k e o ur fa rm a w ay!” lit tle W illy sc re am ed , a nd S earc hlig ht b egan b ark in g o uts id e.

“O h, y es, w e c an,” C lif fo rd S nyd er s a id , s m ilin g, exp osin g h is y ello w , to bacco -sta in ed te eth . 5 T H E W AY T HE N EX T D AY lit tle W illy m et th e s it u atio n h ead o n. O r, a t le ast, h e w ante d to . B ut h e w asn ’t s u re ju st w hat to d o.

Where w as h e g o in g to g et fiv e h und re d d olla rs ?

Gra nd fa th er h ad a lw ays s a id , “ W here th ere ’s a w ill, t h ere ’s a w ay.” L it tle W illy h ad th e w ill. N ow a ll h e h ad t o d o w as fin d th e w ay.

“O f a ll th e s tu p id th in gs,” c rie d D oc S m it h . “ N ot p ayin g h is ta xes. L et th is b e a le sso n to y o u, W illy .” “B ut th e p ota to es b are ly b rin g in e no ugh m oney to l iv e o n,” e xp la in ed lit tle W illy . “ W e w ent b ro ke la st y ear.” “D oesn ’t m atte r. T axes g o tta b e p aid , w heth er w e l ik e it o r n o t. A nd b elie ve m e, I d on’t k no w o f a nyb ody w ho lik es it .” “T hen w hy d o w e h ave th em in th e fir s t p la ce?” “B ecause it ’ s th e w ay th e S ta te g ets it s m oney.” “W hy d on’t th ey g ro w p ota to es lik e G ra nd fa th er does? ” Doc S m it h la ughed . “ T hey h ave m ore im porta nt th in gs to d o th an g ro w p ota to es,” s h e e xp la in ed .

“L ik e w hat? ” “L ik e… ta k in g c are o f u s.” “G ra nd fa th er s a ys w e s h o uld ta k e c are o f o urs e lv es.” “B ut n o t a ll p eo ple ca n ta k e c are o f th em se lv es. L ik e th e s ic k . L ik e y o ur g ra nd fa th er.” “I c an ta k e c are o f h im . H e to ok c are o f m e w hen my m oth er d ie d . N ow I ’m ta k in g c are o f h im .” “B ut w hat if s o m eth in g s h o uld h ap pen to y o u?” “O h… ” L it tle W illy th o ught a b out th is .

They w alk ed o ver to th e s le d , w here S earc hlig ht w as wait in g, D oc S m it h ’s h ig h b oots s in k in g in to th e s o ft sn o w w it h e ach s te p .

Lit tle W illy b ru sh ed th e s n o w o ff S earc hlig ht’ s b ack .

Then h e a sk ed , “ O win g a ll th is m oney is th e r e aso n Gra nd fa th er g o t s ic k , is n ’t it ? ” “I b elie ve it is , W illy ,” s h e a gre ed .

“S o if I p ay th e ta xes, G ra nd fa th er w ill g et b ette r, won’t h e?” Doc S m it h r u b bed th e w rin k le s b elo w h er e yes. “Y ou ju st b ette r d o w hat I to ld y o u b efo re , le t M rs .

Peaco ck ta k e c are o f y o ur g ra nd fa th er a nd — ” “B ut h e w ill, h e’ll g et b ette r, w on’t h e?” “Y es, I ’m s u re h e w ould . B ut, c hild , w here a re y o u go in g to g et fiv e h und re d d olla rs ? ” “I d on’t k no w . B ut I w ill. Y ou’ll s e e.” That a fte rn o on lit tle W illy s te p ped in to th e b ank wearin g h is b lu e s u it a nd h is b lu e tie . H is hair w as s o slic k ed d ow n th at it lo oked lik e w et p ain t. H e a sk ed to se e M r. F oste r, th e p re sid ent o f th e b ank . Mr. F oste r w as a b ig m an w it h a b ig c ig ar s tu ck r ig ht in th e c ente r o f h is b ig m outh . W hen h e ta lk ed , th e c ig ar bobble d u p a nd d ow n, a nd lit tle W illy w ond ere d w hy th e a sh d id n’t fa ll o ff th e e nd o f it .

Lit tle W illy s h o w ed M r. F oste r th e p ap ers fr o m Gra nd fa th er’s s tr o ngb ox a nd to ld h im e very th in g Clif fo rd S nyd er, th e ta x m an, h ad s a id .

“S ell, ” M r. F oste r r e co m mend ed a fte r s tu d yin g th e pap ers . T he c ig ar b obble d u p a nd d ow n. “ S ell th e fa rm and p ay th e ta xes. I f y o u d on’t, th ey c an ta k e th e fa rm aw ay fr o m y o u. T hey h ave th e r ig ht.” “I’ll b e e le ven n ext y ear. I ’ll g ro w m ore p ota to es th an a nyb ody’s e ver s e en. Y ou’ll s e e… ” “Y ou n eed fiv e h und re d d olla rs , W illy . D o y o u k no w ho w m uch th at is ? A nd a nyw ay, th ere is n ’t e no ugh tim e.

Of c o urs e , th e b ank c o uld lo an y o u th e m oney, b ut h o w co uld y o u p ay it b ack ? T hen w hat a b out n ext y ear? N o.

I s a y s e ll b efo re y o u e nd u p w it h n o th in g.” T he c ig ar a sh fe ll o nto th e d esk .

“I h ave fif ty d olla rs in m y s a vin gs a cco unt.” “I’m s o rry , W illy ,” M r. F oste r s a id a s h e w ip ed th e ash o ff o nto th e flo or. As lit tle W illy w alk ed o ut o f th e b ank w it h h is h ead dow n, S earc hlig ht g re ete d h im b y p la cin g tw o m ud dy paw s o n h is c hest. L it tle W illy s m ile d a nd g ra b bed Searc hlig ht a ro und th e n eck a nd s q ueeze d h er a s h ard as h e c o uld . “ W e’ll d o it , g ir l. Y ou a nd m e. W e’ll fin d th e w ay.” The n ext d ay lit tle W illy ta lk ed to e very b ody h e co uld th in k o f. H e ta lk ed w it h h is te acher, M is s Willia m s. H e ta lk ed w it h L este r a t th e g enera l s to re . H e even ta lk ed w it h H ank , w ho s w ep t u p o ver a t th e p ost offic e.

They a ll a gre ed … se ll th e fa rm . T hat w as th e o nly answ er.

There w as o nly o ne p ers o n le ft to ta lk to . I f o nly h e co uld . “ S ho uld w e s e ll? ” lit tle W illy a sk ed .

Palm u p m eant “ y es.” P alm d ow n m eant “ n o .” Gra nd fa th er’s h and la y m otio nle ss o n th e b ed .

Searc hlig ht b ark ed . G ra nd fa th er’s fin gers tw it c hed . B ut th at w as a ll.

Thin gs lo oked h o pele ss.

And th en lit tle W illy fo und th e w ay.

He w as a t L este r’s G enera l S to re w hen it h ap pened . When h e s a w th e p oste r.

Every F eb ru ary th e N atio nal D ogsle d R aces w ere held in J a ck so n, W yo m in g. P eo ple c am e fr o m a ll o ver to e nte r th e r a ce, a nd s o m e o f th e fin est d og te am s in th e c o untr y w ere r e p re se nte d . I t w as a n o pen r a ce— any n um ber o f d ogs c o uld b e e nte re d . E ven o ne. T he ra ce c o vere d te n m ile s o f s n o w -c o vere d c o untr y sid e, sta rtin g a nd e nd in g o n M ain S tr e et r ig ht in fr o nt o f th e old c hurc h. T here w as a c ash p riz e fo r th e w in ner. T he am ount v arie d fr o m y ear to y ear. T his y ear it ju st hap pened to b e fiv e h und re d d olla rs . “S ure ,” L este r s a id a s h e p rie d th e n ail lo ose a nd hand ed lit tle W illy th e p oste r. “ I’ll p ic k u p a no th er a t th e mayo r’s o ffic e.” L este r w as s k in ny b ut s tr o ng, w ore a whit e a p ro n, a nd ta lk ed w it h s a liv a o n h is lip s. “ G onna be a g o od o ne th is y ear. T hey s a y th at m ounta in m an, th e I n d ia n calle d S to ne F ox, m ig ht c o m e. N ever lo st a ra ce. N o w ond er, w it h fiv e S am oyed s.” But lit tle W illy w asn ’t lis te nin g a s h e r a n o ut o f th e sto re , c lu tc hin g th e p oste r in h is h and . “ T hank y o u, Leste r. T hank y o u!” Gra nd fa th er’s e yes w ere fix ed o n th e c eilin g. L it tle Willy h ad to s ta nd o n h is to es in o rd er to p osit io n th e poste r d ir e ctly in fr o nt o f G ra nd fa th er’s fa ce.

“I’ll w in !” lit tle W illy s a id . “ Y ou’ll s e e. T hey’ll n ever ta k e th is fa rm a w ay.” Searc hlig ht b ark ed a nd p ut o ne p aw u p o n th e b ed .

Gra nd fa th er c lo se d h is e yes, s q ueezin g o ut a te ar th at ro lle d d ow n a nd fille d u p h is e ar. L it tle W illy g ave Gra nd fa th er a b ig h ug, a nd S earc hlig ht b ark ed a gain . 6 S T O NE F O X L IT TLE W IL LY W EN T to s e e M ayo r S m ile y a t th e c it y h all b uild in g in to w n to s ig n u p fo r th e r a ce.

The m ayo r’s o ffic e w as la rg e a nd s m elle d lik e h air t o nic . T he m ayo r s a t in a b rig ht r e d c hair w it h h is fe et o n h is d esk . T here w as n o th in g o n th e d esk e xcep t th e m ayo r’s fe et.

“W e h ave a r a ce fo r y o u y o ungste rs o ne h o ur b efo re .” M ayo r S m ile y m opped s w eat fr o m h is n eck w it h a s ilk h and kerc hie f, a lt h o ugh lit tle W illy th o ught it w as q uit e c o ol in th e r o om .

“I w anna e nte r th e re a l r a ce, M r. M ayo r.” “Y ou m ust b e fu nnin g, b oy.” T he m ayo r la ughed t w ic e a nd b lo tte d h is n eck . “ A nyw ay, th ere ’s a n e ntr a nce fe e.” “H ow m uch?” “F if ty d olla rs .” Lit tle W illy w as s tu nned . T hat w as a lo t o f m oney j u st to e nte r a r a ce. B ut h e w as d ete rm in ed . H e r a n acro ss th e s tr e et to th e b ank .

“D on’t b e s tu p id ,” M r. F oste r to ld lit tle W illy . “ T his is n o t a r a ce fo r a m ate urs . S om e o f th e b est d og te am s in th e N orth w est w ill b e e nte rin g.” “I h ave S earc hlig ht! W e g o fa st a s lig htn in g. R eally , Mr. F oste r, w e d o.” Mr. F oste r s h o ok h is h ead . “ Y ou d on’t s ta nd a chance o f w in nin g.” “Y es, w e d o!” “W illy … th e m oney in y o ur s a vin gs a cco unt is fo r yo ur c o lle ge e d ucatio n. Y ou k no w I c an’t g iv e it to yo u.” “Y ou h ave to .” “I d o?” “It’ s my m oney!” Lit tle W illy le ft th e b ank w it h a s ta ck o f te n-d olla r go ld p ie ces— fiv e o f th em , to b e e xact.

He w alk ed in to th e m ayo r’s o ffic e a nd p lo pped th e co in s d ow n o n th e m ayo r’s d esk . “ M e a nd S earc hlig ht are g o nna w in th at fiv e h und re d d olla rs , M r. M ayo r.

You’ll s e e. E very b ody’ll s e e.” Mayo r S m ile y c o unte d th e m oney, w ip ed h is n eck , and e nte re d lit tle W illy in th e r a ce.

When lit tle W illy s te p ped o ut o f th e c it y h all build in g, he fe lt te n fe et ta ll. H e lo oked u p a nd d ow n th e s n o w - co vere d s tr e et. H e w as g rin nin g fr o m e ar to e ar.

Searc hlig ht w alk ed o ver a nd s to od in fr o nt o f th e s le d , wait in g to b e h it c hed u p . B ut lit tle W illy w asn ’t r e ad y to go y et. H e p ut h is th um bs in h is b elt lo ops a nd le t th e su n w arm h is fa ce.

He fe lt g re at. I n h is p ock et w as a m ap M ayo r S m ile y had g iv en h im s h o w in g th e te n m ile s th e r a ce c o vere d . Dow n M ain S tr e et, r ig ht o n N orth R oad — lit tle W illy co uld h ard ly h o ld b ack h is e xcit e m ent.

Fiv e m ile s o f th e r a ce h e tr a vele d e very d ay a nd knew w it h h is e yes c lo se d . T he la st fiv e m ile s w ere back in to to w n a lo ng S outh R oad , w hic h w as m ostly str a ig ht a nd fla t. I t’ s s p eed th at w ould c o unt h ere , a nd wit h th e le ad h e k new h e c o uld g et in th e fir s t fiv e m ile s, lit tle W illy w as s u re h e c o uld w in .

As lit tle W illy h it c hed S earc hlig ht to th e s le d , so m eth in g d ow n a t th e e nd o f th e s tr e et— so m e m ovin g obje cts — caught h is e ye. T hey w ere d if fic ult to s e e because th ey w ere a ll w hit e . T here w ere fiv e o f th em .

And th ey w ere b eautif u l. I n fa ct, th ey w ere th e m ost beautif u l S am oyed s lit tle W illy h ad e ver s e en.

The d ogs h eld th eir h ead s u p p ro ud ly a nd s tr u tte d in unis o n. T hey p ulle d a la rg e b ut lig htly c o nstr u cte d s le d .

They a ls o p ulle d a la rg e— but b y n o m eans lig htly co nstr u cte d — man. W ay d ow n a t th e e nd o f th e s tr e et th e m an lo oked n o rm al, b ut a s th e s le d g o t c lo se r, th e man g o t b ig ger a nd b ig ger.

The m an w as a n I n d ia n— dre sse d in fu rs a nd le ath er, wit h m occasin s th at c am e a ll th e w ay u p to h is k nees. His s k in w as d ark , h is h air w as d ark , a nd h e w ore a dark -c o lo re d h ead band . H is e yes s p ark le d in th e su nlig ht, b ut th e r e st o f h is fa ce w as a s h ard a s s to ne.

The s le d c am e to a s to p r ig ht n ext to lit tle Willy . T he boy’s m outh h ung o pen a s h e tilt e d h is h ead w ay b ack to lo ok u p a t th e m an. L it tle W illy h ad n ever s e en a gia nt b efo re .

“G osh ,” lit tle W illy g asp ed .

The I n d ia n lo oked a t lit tle W illy . H is fa ce w as s o lid gra nit e , b ut h is e yes w ere a liv e a nd c unnin g.

“H ow dy,” lit tle W illy b lu rte d o ut, a nd h e g ave a nerv o us s m ile .

But th e I n d ia n s a id n o th in g. H is e yes s h if te d to Searc hlig ht, w ho le t o ut a s o ft m oan b ut d id n o t b ark .

The G ia nt w alk ed in to th e c it y h all b uild in g.

Word th at S to ne F ox h ad e nte re d th e r a ce s p re ad th ro ugho ut th e to w n o f J a ck so n w it h in th e h o ur, a nd th ro ugho ut th e s ta te o f W yo m in g w it h in th e d ay.

Sto rie s a nd le gend s a b out th e a w eso m e m ounta in man fo llo w ed s h o rtly . L it tle W illy h eard m any o f th em a t Leste r’s G enera l S to re . “W as th is tim e in D enver h e s n ap ped a m an’s b ack wit h tw o fin gers ,” s a id D usty , th e to w n d ru nk . B ut no body b elie ved h im , r e ally .

Lit tle W illy le arn ed th at n o w hit e m an h ad e ver h eard Sto ne F ox ta lk . S to ne F ox r e fu se d to s p eak w it h th e whit e m an b ecause o f th e tr e atm ent h is p eo ple h ad re ceiv ed . H is tr ib e, th e S ho sh o ne, w ho w ere p eacefu l se ed g ath ere rs , h ad b een fo rc ed to le ave U ta h a nd se ttle o n a r e se rv atio n in W yo m in g w it h a no th er tr ib e calle d th e A ra p aho .

Sto ne F ox’s d re am w as fo r h is p eo ple to r e tu rn to th eir h o m ela nd . S to ne F ox w as u sin g th e m oney h e w on fr o m r a cin g to s im ply b uy th e la nd b ack . H e h ad alr e ad y p urc hase d fo ur fa rm s a nd o ver tw o h und re d acre s.

That S to ne F ox w as s m art, a ll r ig ht.

In th e n ext w eek lit tle W illy a nd S earc hlig ht w ent over th e te n-m ile tr a ck e very d ay, u ntil th ey k new e very in ch o f it b y h eart.

Sto ne F ox h ard ly p ra ctic ed a t a ll. I n fa ct, lit tle W illy only s a w S to ne F ox d o th e c o urs e o nce, a nd th en h e su re w asn ’t g o in g v ery fa st.

The r a ce w as s c hed ule d fo r S atu rd ay m orn in g a t te n o’c lo ck . O nly n in e s le d s w ere e nte re d . M ayo r S m ile y had h o ped fo r m ore c o nte sta nts , b ut a fte r S to ne F ox had e nte re d , w ell… yo u c o uld n’t b la m e p eo ple fo r wantin g to s a ve th eir m oney.

It w as tr u e S to ne F ox h ad n ever lo st a r a ce. B ut lit tle Willy w asn ’t w orrie d . H e h ad m ad e u p h is m in d to w in .

And n o th in g w as g o in g to s to p h im . N ot e ven S to ne Fox. 7 T H E M EETIN G I T W AS F RID AY n ig ht, th e n ig ht b efo re th e r a ce, w hen it h ap pened .

Gra nd fa th er w as o ut o f m ed ic in e. L it tle W illy w ent to s e e D oc S m it h .

“H ere .” D oc S m it h h and ed lit tle W illy a p ie ce o f p ap er w it h s o m e s c rib blin g o n it . “ T ak e th is to L este r r ig ht a w ay.” “B ut it ’ s n ig httim e. T he s to re ’s c lo se d .” “Ju st k no ck o n th e b ack d oor. H e’ll h ear y o u.” “B ut… are y o u s u re it ’ s a ll r ig ht? ” “Y es. L este r k no w s I m ay h ave to c all o n h im a ny t im e— day o r n ig ht. P eo ple d on’t a lw ays g et s ic k ju st d urin g w ork in g h o urs , n o w , d o th ey?” “N o, I g uess th ey d on’t.” L it tle W illy h ead ed fo r th e d oor. H e s u re w is h ed h e c o uld s ta y a nd h ave s o m e o f t h at c in nam on c ak e D oc S m it h w as b ak in g in th e o ven.

I t s m elle d m ig hty g o od. B ut G ra nd fa th er n eed ed h is m ed ic in e. A nd , a nyw ay, h e w ould n’t th in k o f s ta yin g wit h o ut b ein g a sk ed .

“O ne o th er th in g, W illy ,” D oc S m it h s a id .

“Y es, m a’a m ?” “I m ig ht a s w ell s a y th is n o w a s la te r. I t’ s a b out th e ra ce to m orro w .” “Y es, m a’a m ?” “F ir s t, I w ant y o u to k no w th at I th in k y o u’re a d arn fo ol fo r u sin g y o ur c o lle ge m oney to e nte r th at r a ce.” Lit tle W illy ’s e yes lo oked to th e flo or. “ Y es, m a’a m .” “B ut, s in ce it ’ s a lr e ad y b een d one, I a ls o w ant y o u to kno w th at I ’ll b e r o otin g fo r y o u.” Lit tle W illy lo oked u p . “ Y ou w ill? ” “W in , W illy . W in th at r a ce to m orro w .” Lit tle W illy b eam ed . H e tr ie d to s p eak , b ut c o uld n’t fin d th e w ord s. E m barra sse d , h e b ack ed o ver to th e door, g ave a lit tle w ave, th en tu rn ed q uic k ly to le ave.

“A nd , W illy … ” “Y es, m a’a m ?” “If y o u s ta y a m in ute , y o u c an h ave s o m e o f th at cin nam on c ak e I ’v e g o t in th e o ven.” “Y es, m a’a m !” Late r, o n h is w ay to to w n, lit tle W illy s a ng a t th e to p of h is lu ngs. T he s le d ’s r u nners c ut th ro ugh th e s n o w wit h a s w is h . T his w as a tr e achero us r o ad a t n ig ht, b ut th e m oon w as o ut a nd S earc hlig ht c o uld s e e w ell. A nd , anyw ay, th ey k new th is r o ad b y h eart. N oth in g w as go in g to h ap pen.

Leste r g ave lit tle W illy a b ig b ottle o f w hat lo oked lik e d ir ty m ilk .

“H ow ’s y o ur g ra nd fa th er d oin g?” L este r a sk ed .

“N ot s o g o od. B ut a fte r I w in th e r a ce to m orro w , he’ll g et b ette r. D oc S m it h th in k s s o to o.” Leste r s m ile d . “ I a d m ir e y o u, W illy . Y ou g o t a h eap of c o ura ge, g o in g u p a gain st th e lik es o f S to ne F ox.

You k no w h e’s n ever lo st, d on’t y o u?” “Y es, I k no w . T hank y o u fo r th e m ed ic in e.” Lit tle W illy w aved g o od-b ye a s S earc hlig ht s ta rte d off d ow n M ain S tr e et.

Leste r w atc hed th e d ep artin g s le d fo r a lo ng tim e befo re h e y elle d , “ G ood lu ck , s o n!” On h is w ay o ut o f to w n, a lo ng N orth R oad , lit tle Willy h eard d ogs b ark in g. T he s o und s c am e fr o m th e old d ese rte d b arn n ear th e s c ho olh o use .

Lit tle W illy d ecid ed to in vestig ate . He s q ueak ed o pen th e b arn d oor a nd p eek ed in . I t was d ark in sid e a nd h e c o uld n’t s e e a nyth in g. H e co uld n’t h ear a nyth in g e it h er. T he d ogs h ad s to pped bark in g.

He w ent in sid e th e b arn .

Lit tle W illy ’s e yes to ok a w hile to g et u se d to th e dark , a nd th en h e s a w th em . T he fiv e S am oyed s. T hey were in th e c o rn er o f th e b arn o n a b ed o f s tr a w . T hey were lo okin g a t h im . T hey w ere s o b eautif u l th at lit tle Willy c o uld n’t k eep fr o m s m ilin g.

Lit tle W illy lo ved d ogs. H e h ad to s e e th e S am oyed s up c lo se . T hey s h o w ed n o a la rm a s h e a p pro ached , o r as h e h eld o ut h is h and to p et th em .

And th en it h ap pened .

There w as a m ovem ent th ro ugh th e d ark ness to lit tle Willy ’s r ig ht. A s w eep in g m otio n, fa st a t fir s t; th en it ap peare d to s lo w a nd s to p. B ut it d id n’t s to p. A h and hit lit tle W illy r ig ht in th e fa ce, s e nd in g h im o ver back w ard .

“I d id n’t m ean a ny h arm , M r. S to ne F ox,” lit tle W illy sa id a s h e p ic k ed h im se lf u p o ff th e g ro und , h o ld in g a hand o ver h is e ye. Sto ne F ox s to od ta ll in th e d ark ness a nd sa id no th in g. S earc hlig ht b ark ed o uts id e. T he S am oyed s bark ed in r e tu rn . Lit tle W illy c o ntin ued , “ I’m g o in g to r a ce a gain st y o u to m orro w . I k no w h o w y o u w anna w in , b ut… I w anna win to o. I g o tta w in . I f I d on’t, th ey’re g o nna ta k e a w ay our fa rm . T hey h ave th e r ig ht. G ra nd fa th er s a ys th at th o se th at w ant to b ad e no ugh, w ill. S o I w ill. I ’ll w in .

I’m g o nna b eat y o u.” Sto ne F ox r e m ain ed m otio nle ss. A nd s ile nt.

Lit tle W illy b ack ed o ver to th e b arn d oor, s till ho ld in g h is e ye. “ I’m s o rry w e b oth c an’t w in ,” h e s a id .

Then h e p ush ed o pen th e b arn d oor a nd le ft, c lo sin g th e door b ehin d h im .

In th e b arn , S to ne F ox s to od u nm ovin g fo r a no th er mom ent; th en h e r e ached o ut w it h o ne m assiv e h and and g ently p ette d o ne o f th e S am oyed s.

That n ig ht lit tle W illy c o uld n’t s le ep — his e ye w as killin g h im . A nd w hen lit tle W illy c o uld n’t sle ep , Searc hlig ht c o uld n’t s le ep . B oth to sse d a nd tu rn ed fo r ho urs , a nd w henever lit tle W illy lo oked o ver to s e e if Searc hlig ht w as a sle ep , s h e’d ju st b e ly in g th ere w it h her e yes w id e o pen, s ta rin g b ack a t h im .

Lit tle W illy n eed ed h is r e st. S o d id S earc hlig ht.

Tom orro w w as g o in g to b e a b ig d ay. T he b ig gest d ay of th eir liv es. 8 T H E D AY T HE D AY O F th e r a ce a rriv ed .

Lit tle W illy g o t u p e arly . H e c o uld n’t s e e o ut o f h is r ig ht e ye. I t w as s w olle n s h ut.

As h e fe d G ra nd fa th er h is o atm eal, h e tr ie d to h id e h is e ye w it h h is h and o r b y tu rn in g a w ay, b ut h e w as s u re G ra nd fa th er s a w it ju st th e s a m e.

Afte r a d din g m ore w ood to th e fir e , lit tle W illy k is se d G ra nd fa th er, h it c hed u p S earc hlig ht, a nd s ta rte d o ff fo r t o w n.

At th e e d ge o f th eir p ro perty h e s to pped th e s le d fo r a m om ent a nd lo oked b ack a t th e fa rm ho use . T he r o of w as c o vere d w it h fr e sh ly fa lle n s n o w . A tr a il o f s m oke e sc ap ed fr o m th e sto ne c him ney. T he ja gged p eak s o f t h e T eto n M ounta in s s h o t u p in th e b ack gro und to w ard t h e c le ar b lu e s k y o verh ead . “ Y es, s ir ,” h e r e m em bere d G ra nd fa th er s a yin g. “ T here a re s o m e th in gs in th is w orld w orth d yin g fo r.” Lit tle W illy lo ved th is c o untr y . H e lo ved to h ik e a nd to fis h a nd to c am p o ut b y a la k e. B ut h e d id n o t lik e to hunt. H e lo ved a nim als to o m uch to b e a h unte r.

He h ad k ille d a b ir d o nce w it h a s lin gsh o t. B ut th at had b een w hen h e w as o nly s ix y ears o ld . A nd th at h ad been e no ugh. I n fa ct, to th is d ay, h e s till r e m em bere d th e s p ot w here th e p oor th in g w as b urie d .

Lost in h is th o ughts , lit tle W illy g o t to to w n b efo re h e knew it . A s h e tu rn ed o nto M ain S tr e et, h e b ro ught th e sle d to a n a b ru p t h alt .

He c o uld n’t b elie ve w hat h e s a w .

Main S tr e et w as ja m med w it h p eo ple , lin ed u p o n both s id es o f th e s tr e et. T here w ere p eo ple on r o ofto ps and p eo ple h angin g o ut o f w in d ow s. L it tle W illy h ad n’t exp ecte d s u ch a b ig tu rn o ut. T hey m ust h ave a ll c o m e to s e e S to ne F ox.

Searc hlig ht p ulle d th e s le d d ow n M ain S tr e et p ast th e cro w d. L it tle W illy s a w M is s W illia m s, h is te acher, a nd Mr. F oste r fr o m th e b ank , a nd H ank fr o m th e p ost offic e. A nd th ere w ere D oc S m it h a nd M ayo r S m ile y and D usty th e d ru nk . T he c it y s lic k ers w ere th ere . A nd even C lif fo rd S nyd er, th e ta x m an, w as th ere .

Every b ody. Leste r c am e o ut o f th e c ro w d a nd w alk ed a lo ngsid e lit tle W illy fo r a w hile . I t w as o ne o f th e fe w tim es lit tle Willy h ad e ver s e en L este r w it h o ut h is w hit e a p ro n.

“Y ou c an d o it , W illy . Y ou c an b eat h im ,” L este r kep t s a yin g o ver a nd o ver a gain .

They h ad a r a ce fo r th e y o ungste rs fir s t, a nd th e cro w d c heere d a nd r o ote d fo r th eir fa vo rit e s. I t w as a sh o rt r a ce. J u st d ow n to th e e nd o f M ain Str e et a nd back . L it tle W illy d id n’t s e e w ho w on. I t d id n’t m atte r. And th en it w as tim e.

The o ld c hurc h c lo ck s h o w ed a fe w m in ute s b efo re te n a s th e c o nte sta nts p osit io ned th em se lv es d ir e ctly beneath th e lo ng b anner th at s tr e tc hed a cro ss th e s tr e et.

They s to od n in e a b re ast. S to ne F ox in th e m id dle . L it tle Willy r ig ht n ext to h im .

Lit tle W illy h ad r e ad a ll a b out th e o th er c o nte sta nts in th e n ew sp ap er. T hey w ere a ll w ell- k no w n m ounta in men w it h g o od r a cin g r e co rd s a nd e xcelle nt d og te am s.

But, e ven s o , a ll b ets w ere o n S to ne F ox. T he o dds were a s h ig h a s a h und re d to o ne th at h e’d w in .

Not o ne c ent h ad b een b et o n lit tle W illy a nd Searc hlig ht.

“W hat h ap pened to W illy ’s e ye?” D oc S m it h a sk ed Leste r.

“B um ped it th is m orn in g w hen h e g o t u p , he to ld m e.

Ju st n erv o us. G ot a r ig ht to b e.” L este r w as c hew in g o n his h and , h is e yes g lu ed o n S to ne F ox. “ B ig I n d ia n,” h e whis p ere d to h im se lf .

Alt h o ugh lit tle W illy ’s e ye w as b la ck , p uffy , a nd sw olle n s h ut, h e s till fe lt lik e a w in ner. H e w as s m ilin g.

Searc hlig ht k new th e r o ute a s w ell a s h e d id , s o it r e ally did n’t m atte r if h e c o uld s e e a t a ll. T hey w ere g o in g to win to day, a nd th at w as fin al. B oth o f th em k new it .

Sto ne F ox lo oked b ig ger th an e ver s ta nd in g n ext to lit tle W illy . I n fa ct, th e to p o f lit tle W illy ’s h ead w as dead e ven w it h S to ne F ox’s w ais t.

“M orn in g, M r. S to ne F ox,” lit tle W illy s a id , lo okin g pra ctic ally s tr a ig ht u p . “ S ure ’s a n ic e d ay fo r a r a ce.” Sto ne F ox m ust h ave h eard lit tle W illy , b ut h e d id n o t lo ok a t h im . H is fa ce w as fr o ze n lik e ic e, a nd h is e yes se em ed to la ck th at s p ark le lit tle W illy r e m em bere d se ein g b efo re .

The c ro w d b ecam e s ile nt a s M ayo r S m ile y s te p ped out in to th e s tr e et.

Mis s W illia m s c le nched h er h and s to geth er u ntil h er knuck le s tu rn ed w hit e . L este r’s m outh h ung o pen, h is lip s w et. M r. F oste r b egan c hew in g h is c ig ar. H ank sta re d w it h o ut b lin k in g. D oc S m it h h eld h er h ead u p pro ud ly . D usty to ok a p ow erfu l s w ig fr o m a w his k ey bottle . C lif fo rd S nyd er r e m oved a g o ld w atc h fr o m h is vest p ock et a nd c heck ed th e tim e.

Tensio n fille d th e a ir .

Lit tle W illy ’s th ro at b ecam e d ry . H is h and s s ta rte d to sw eat. H e c o uld fe el h is h eart th um pin g.

Mayo r S m ile y r a is e d a p is to l to th e s k y a nd fir e d .

The r a ce h ad b egun! 9 T H E R ACE S EA RCH LIG HT S P R A NG F O RW ARD w it h s u ch fo rc e th at l it tle W illy c o uld n’t h ang o n. I f it w ere n’t fo r a lu ck y g ra b , h e w ould h ave fa lle n o ff th e s le d fo r s u re .

In w hat s e em ed o nly s e co nd s, lit tle W illy a nd S earc hlig ht h ad tr a vele d d ow n M ain S tr e et, tu rn ed o nto N orth R oad , a nd w ere g o ne. F ar, fa r a head o f th e o th ers . T hey w ere w in nin g. A t le ast fo r th e m om ent.

Sto ne F ox s ta rte d o ff d ead la st. H e w ent s o s lo w ly d ow n M ain S tr e et th at e very o ne w as s u re s o m eth in g m ust b e w ro ng.

Sw is h ! L it tle W illy ’s s le d fle w b y th e sc ho olh o use o n t h e o uts k ir ts o f to w n, a nd th en b y th e o ld d ese rte d b arn .

Sw is h ! S w is h ! S w is h ! O th er r a cers fo llo w ed in h o t p urs u it .

“G o, S earc hlig ht! G o!” lit tle W illy s a ng o ut. T he c o ld w in d p re sse d a gain st h is fa ce, c ausin g h is g o od e ye to s h ut a lm ost c o m ple te ly . T he s n o w w as w ell p ack ed . I t was g o in g to b e a fa st r a ce to day. T he fa ste st th ey h ad ever r u n.

The r o ad w as fu ll o f d angero us tw is ts a nd tu rn s, b ut lit tle W illy d id n o t h ave to s lo w d ow n a s th e o th er ra cers d id . W it h o nly o ne d og a nd a s m all s le d , h e w as ab le to ta k e th e s h arp tu rn s a t fu ll s p eed w it h o ut r is k o f slid in g o ff th e r o ad o r lo sin g c o ntr o l.

There fo re , w it h e ach tu rn , lit tle W illy p ulle d fa rth er and fa rth er a head .

Sw is h ! T he s le d r o und ed a c o rn er, s e nd in g s n o w fly in g. L it tle W illy w as s m ilin g. T his w as fu n!

About th re e m ile s o ut o f to w n th e r o ad m ad e a h alf cir c le a ro und a fr o ze n la k e. I n ste ad o f fo llo w in g th e tu rn , lit tle W illy to ok a s h o rtc ut r ig ht a cro ss th e la k e.

This w as tr ic k y g o in g, b ut S earc hlig ht h ad d one it m any tim es b efo re .

Lit tle W illy h ad a sk ed M ayo r S m ile y if h e w as perm it te d to g o a cro ss th e la k e, n o t w antin g to b e dis q ualif ie d . “ A s lo ng a s y o u le ave to w n h ead in g n o rth and c o m e b ack o n S outh R oad ,” th e m ayo r h ad s a id , “a nyth in g g o es!” None o f th e o th er r a cers a tte m pte d to c ro ss th e la k e. Not e ven S to ne F ox. T he r is k o f fa llin g th ro ugh th e ic e was ju st to o g re at.

Lit tle W illy ’s le ad in cre ase d .

Sto ne F ox w as s till r u nnin g in la st p la ce. B ut h e w as pic k in g u p s p eed .

At th e e nd o f fiv e m ile s, lit tle W illy w as s o fa r o ut in fr o nt th at h e c o uld n’t s e e a nyb ody b ehin d h im w hen h e lo oked b ack .

He k new , h o w ever, th at th e r e tu rn fiv e m ile s, g o in g back in to to w n, w ould n o t b e th is e asy .

The tr a il a lo ng South R oad w as p ra ctic ally s tr a ig ht a nd v ery s m ooth , and S to ne F ox w as s u re to c lo se th e g ap . B ut b y h o w much? L it tle W illy d id n’t k no w .

Doc S m it h ’s h o use fle w b y o n th e r ig ht. T he ta ll tr e es su rro und in g h er c ab in s e em ed lik e o ne s o lid w all.

Gra nd fa th er’s fa rm w as c o m in g u p n ext.

When S earc hlig ht s a w th e fa rm ho use , s h e s ta rte d to pic k u p s p eed . “ N o, g ir l, ” lit tle W illy y elle d . “ N ot y et.” As th ey a p pro ached th e fa rm ho use , lit tle W illy th o ught h e s a w s o m eo ne in G ra nd fa th er’s b ed ro om win d ow . I t w as d if fic ult to s e e w it h o nly o ne g o od e ye.

The s o m eo ne w as a m an. W it h a fu ll b eard . It c o uld n’t b e. B ut it w as! I t w as G ra nd fa th er!

Gra nd fa th er w as s it tin g u p in b ed . H e w as lo okin g o ut th e w in d ow .

Lit tle W illy w as s o e xcit e d h e c o uld n’t th in k str a ig ht.

He s ta rte d to s to p th e s le d , b ut G ra nd fa th er in d ic ate d no , w avin g h im o n. “ O f c o urs e ,” lit tle W illy s a id to him se lf . “ I m ust fin is h th e r a ce. I h aven’t w on y et.” “G o, S earc hlig ht! ” lit tle W illy s h rie k ed . “ G o, g ir l! ” Gra nd fa th er w as b ette r. T ears o f jo y r o lle d d ow n lit tle W illy ’s s m ilin g fa ce. E very th in g w as g o in g to b e a ll rig ht.

And th en S to ne F ox m ad e h is m ove.

One b y o ne h e b egan to p ass th e o th er r a cers . H e went fr o m la st p la ce to e ig hth . T hen fr o m e ig hth p la ce to s e venth . T hen fr o m s e venth to s ix th . S ix th to fif th .

He p asse d th e o th ers a s if th ey w ere s ta nd in g s till.

He w ent fr o m fif th p la ce to fo urth . T hen to th ir d .

Then to s e co nd .

Until o nly lit tle W illy r e m ain ed .

But lit tle W illy s till h ad a g o od le ad . I n fa ct, it w as n o t until th e la st tw o m ile s o f th e r a ce th at S to ne F ox g o t h is fir s t g lim pse o f lit tle W illy s in ce th e r a ce h ad b egun. The fiv e S am oyed s lo oked m agnif ic ent a s th ey moved e ffo rtle ssly a cro ss th e s n o w . S to ne F ox w as gain in g, a nd h e w as g ain in g fa st. A nd lit tle W illy w asn ’t aw are o f it .

Look b ack , lit tle W illy ! L ook b ack !

But lit tle W illy d id n’t lo ok b ack . H e w as b usy th in k in g a b out G ra nd fa th er. H e c o uld h ear h im la ughin g… and p la yin g h is h arm onic a… Fin ally lit tle W illy g la nced b ack o ver h is s h o uld er. H e co uld n’t b elie ve w hat h e s a w ! S to ne F ox w as n early o n to p o f h im !

This m ad e lit tle W illy m ad . M ad a t h im se lf . W hy had n’t h e lo oked b ack m ore o fte n? W hat w as h e doin g? H e h ad n’t w on y et. W ell, n o tim e to th in k o f th at no w . H e h ad a r a ce to w in .

“G o, S earc hlig ht! G o, g ir l! ” But S to ne F ox k ep t g ain in g. S ile ntly . S te ad ily . “G o, S earc hlig ht! G o!” The le ad S am oyed p asse d lit tle W illy a nd p ulle d u p even w it h S earc hlig ht. T hen it w as a n o se a head . B ut th at w as a ll. S earc hlig ht m oved fo rw ard , in chin g her no se a head . T hen th e S am oyed r e gain ed th e le ad . T hen Searc hlig ht… When y o u e nte r th e to w n o f J a ck so n o n S outh R oad , th e fir s t b uild in gs c o m e in to v ie w a b out a h alf a m ile aw ay. W heth er S earc hlig ht to ok th o se b uild in gs to b e Gra nd fa th er’s fa rm ho use a gain , n o o ne c an b e s u re , b ut it w as a t th is tim e th at s h e p oure d o n th e s te am .

Lit tle W illy ’s s le d s e em ed to lif t u p o ff th e g ro und and fly . S to ne F ox w as le ft b ehin d .

But n o t th at fa r b ehin d . 1 0 T H E F IN IS H L IN E T HE C RO W D C H EER ED m ad ly w hen th ey s a w lit tle W illy c o m e in to v ie w a t th e fa r e nd o f M ain S tr e et, a nd e ven m ore m ad ly w hen th ey s a w th at S to ne F ox w as r ig ht o n h is ta il.

“G o, S earc hlig ht! G o!” Searc hlig ht fo rg ed a head . B ut S to ne F ox w as g ain in g!

“G o, S earc hlig ht! G o!” lit tle W illy c rie d o ut.

Searc hlig ht g ave it e very th in g s h e h ad .

She w as a h und re d fe et fr o m th e fin is h lin e w hen h er h eart b urs t. S he d ie d in sta ntly . T here w as n o s u ffe rin g.

The s le d a nd lit tle W illy tu m ble d o ver h er, slid a lo ng t h e s n o w fo r a w hile , th en c am e to a s to p a b out te n fe et f r o m th e fin is h lin e. I t h ad s ta rte d to s n o w — whit e s n o w fla k es la nd ed o n S earc hlig ht’ s d ark fu r a s s h e la y m otio nle ss o n th e g ro und .

The c ro w d b ecam e d eath ly s ile nt.

Leste r’s e yes lo oked to th e g ro und . M is s W illia m s had h er h and s o ver h er m outh . M r. F oste r’s c ig ar la y on th e s n o w . D oc S m it h s ta rte d to r u n o ut to lit tle W illy , but s to pped . M ayo r S m ile y lo oked s h o ck ed a nd help le ss. A nd s o d id H ank a nd D usty , a nd s o d id th e cit y s lic k ers , a nd s o d id C lif fo rd S nyd er, th e ta x m an.

Sto ne F ox b ro ught h is s le d to a s to p a lo ngsid e lit tle Willy . H e s to od ta ll in th e ic y w in d a nd lo oked d ow n a t th e y o ung c halle nger, a nd a t th e d og th at la y lim p in h is arm s.

“Is s h e d ead , M r. S to ne F ox? I s s h e d ead ?” lit tle Willy a sk ed , lo okin g u p a t S to ne F ox w it h h is o ne g o od eye. Sto ne F ox k nelt d ow n a nd p ut o ne m assiv e h and o n Searc hlig ht’ s c hest. H e fe lt n o h eartb eat. H e lo oked a t lit tle W illy , a nd th e b oy u nd ers to od.

Lit tle W illy s q ueeze d S earc hlig ht w it h a ll h is m ig ht.

“Y ou d id r e al g o od, g ir l. R eal g o od. I ’m r e al p ro ud o f yo u. Y ou r e st n o w . J u st r e st.” L it tle W illy b egan to bru sh th e s n o w o ff S earc hlig ht’ s b ack .

Sto ne F ox s to od u p s lo w ly .

No o ne s p oke. N o o ne m oved . A ll e yes w ere o n th e In d ia n, th e o ne c alle d S to ne F ox, th e o ne w ho h ad never lo st a r a ce, a nd w ho n o w h ad a no th er v ic to ry wit h in h is g ra sp .

But S to ne F ox d id n o th in g.

He ju st s to od th ere . L ik e a m ounta in .

His e yes s h if te d to h is o w n d ogs, th en to th e fin is h lin e, th en b ack to lit tle W illy , h o ld in g S earc hlig ht.

Wit h th e h eel o f h is m occasin S to ne F ox d re w a lo ng lin e in th e s n o w . T hen h e w alk ed b ack o ver to h is s le d and p ulle d o ut h is r if le .

Dow n a t th e e nd o f M ain S tr e et, th e o th er r a cers began to a p pear. A s th ey a p pro ached , S to ne F ox fir e d his r if le in to th e a ir . T hey c am e to a s to p. Sto ne F ox s p oke.

“A nyo ne c ro sse s th is lin e— I s h o ot.” And th ere w asn ’t a nyb ody w ho d id n’t b elie ve h im .

Sto ne F ox n o dded to th e b oy.

The to w n lo oked o n in s ile nce a s lit tle W illy , c arry in g Searc hlig ht, w alk ed th e la st te n fe et a nd a cro ss th e fin is h lin e. T HE I D EA F O R T H IS S T O RY C A M E F R O M A R OCK Y M OUNTA IN L EG EN D T H AT W AS T O LD T O M E I N 1 974 B Y B OB H UDSO N O VER A C U P O F C O FFEE A T H UDSO N’S C AFÉ I N I DAHO F ALLS , I DAHO . A LT H OUGH S TO NE F OX A ND T H E O TH ER C H ARA CTER S A RE P U RELY F IC TIT IO US A ND O F M Y C REA TIO N, T H E T RA GIC E N DIN G T O T H IS S T O RY B ELO NGS T O T H E L EG EN D A ND I S R EPO RTED T O H AVE A CTU ALLY H APPEN ED . A ck n ow le d gm en ts I w ould lik e t o p ay c re d it t o A ndre w J . G ala m bos f o r t h e m any id ea s a nd c o ncep ts o f h is , b ase d o n h is t h eo ry o f p rim ary p ro perty a nd t h e s c ie n ce o f v olit io n, t h at a ppea r in t h is b ook.

I w ould lik e t o e x pre ss m y s in cere g ra tit u de t o M artin T ahse , w it h out w hom t h is b ook w ould n ot h ave b een w rit te n . I a m a ls o g ra te fu l t o B arb ara F en to n, m y e d it o r, f o r h er s o lic it o us g uid ance a nd c o ntr ib utio ns; K en G ard in er, m y b ro th er, f o r i n sp ir in g m e t o b eco m e a w rit e r; S ylv ia H ir sc h , m y a gen t, f o r e n co ura gin g m e t h ro ugh t h e y ea rs; a nd G lo ria , m y w if e , f o r p ro vid in g t h e t r a nquilit y e v ery w rit e r d re a m s o f. A bout t h e A uth or J O HN R EYN OLD S G AR DIN ER ( 1 944–2006), w ho d esc rib ed h im se lf a s a n “ a uth o r, e ngin eer, in vento r, r o ck -a nd -ro ll s in ger, d oor- to -d oor s a le sm an, s o ngw rit e r, a nd S anta C la us,” tr a vele d w id ely t h ro ugho ut h is lif e . B orn in C alif o rn ia , h e liv ed in I re la nd , G erm any, I ta ly , E l S alv ad or, E ngla nd , a nd M exic o . H e h eard th e le gend th at in sp ir e d ST O NE F O X w hile in I d aho a nd it b ecam e h is fir s t p ub lis h ed w ork .

H is o th er w ork s in clu d e HOW T O L IV E A L IF E T H AT’S N OT B O RIN G .

V is it w ww.A uth o rT ra ck er.c o m fo r e xclu siv e i n fo rm atio n o n y o ur fa vo rit e H arp erC ollin s a uth o r. C re dit s C over a rt © 2 010 b y W ayne M cL oughlin C over d esig n b y E rin F it z sim mons C opyrig ht S T O NE F O X . C opyrig ht © 1 980 b y J o hn R eyno ld s G ard in er. I llu str a tio ns c o pyrig ht © 2 003 b y G re g H arg re aves. A ll r ig hts r e se rv ed u nd er I n te rn atio nal a nd P an-A meric an C opyrig ht C onventio ns. B y p aym ent o f t h e r e q uir e d fe es, y o u h ave b een g ra nte d th e n o n- e xclu siv e, n o n-tr a nsfe ra b le r ig ht to a ccess a nd r e ad th e t e xt o f th is e -b ook o n-sc re en. N o p art o f th is te xt m ay b e r e p ro duced , tr a nsm it te d , d ow n-lo ad ed , d eco m pile d , r e vers e e ngin eere d , o r s to re d in o r in tr o duced in to a ny i n fo rm atio n s to ra ge a nd r e tr ie val s y ste m , in a ny fo rm o r b y a ny m eans, w heth er e le ctr o nic o r m echanic al, n o w k no w n o r h ere in afte r in vente d , w it h o ut th e e xp re ss w rit te n p erm is sio n o f H arp erC ollin s e -b ooks.

L ib ra ry o f C ongre ss C ata lo gin g-in -P ub lic atio n D ata G ard in er, J o hn R eyno ld s.

S to ne F ox.

p . c m .

S um mary : L it tle W illy h o pes to p ay th e b ack ta xes o n his g ra nd fa th er’s fa rm w it h th e p urs e fr o m a d og s le d ra ce h e e nte rs .

IS B N 9 78-0 -0 6-4 40132-6 [1 . S le d d og r a cin g— Fic tio n.] I . H arg re aves, G re g, ill.

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