48 Hours a Day

Zhang Heng initially thought that Lightning was a pony. And Wendy did say so as well. However, he ignored the fact that Wendy said she had been taming Lightning since she was seven years old. Five years later, Lightning had grown into an adult horse with a tall body, shiny fur, and strong muscles. It was filled with vitality and strength.

In contrast, Radish looked like a value-added purchase or a gift after he bought something.

“If you wish to receive a portion of your pay, you can go to my ranch to pick a horse…”

“No need,” Zhang Heng interrupted, “I’m a sentimental man. For now, I will continue to ride my steed. You are right. We should depart earlier.”

“You have the final say.” Wendy mounted her horse; her speed and smoothness made it look like she had done it a thousand times.

Zhang Heng jumped on his horse.

The sun was only rising over the horizon, and most of the countryfolk were still fast asleep. Hence, no one noticed the two leaving.

To Zhang Heng’s surprise, Wendy behaved really well along the way. Other than answering every question that Zhang Heng posed, she silently rode her horse and said nothing. Half a day had passed, the two only completed half of the journey to the next town. Wendy could not help but speak out.

“Sir, you don’t have to worry about me. Just speed up. I promise I will not be left behind.” “As you can see, my horse is ancient. I don’t think it can survive a ride of such great distance,” Zhang Heng said. Wendy wanted to reply, but she decided not to say it in the end.

“What do you want to say?” “Your horse is old, but it is not that old. It would eat the grass on the ground secretly every two steps it makes. I think it is far from reaching its limit.”

“Do you know horses well?” Zhang Heng raised his eyebrows.

“Yes, to be precise, my father knows horses very well. Our family’s ranch may not be the largest in Lincoln County, but my father has to be the one most acquainted with horses within a hundred miles. He taught me everything about these magnificent beasts.”

Zhang Heng thought for a while. “How about revising the contract we agreed on earlier?”

“What?” Wendy became nervous when she heard that.

It was out of sheer desperation that she hired Zhang Heng to search for her father. After all, the man had been missing for many days, and she couldn’t afford to wait any longer. However, not many outsiders were in Lincoln County, and it was rare to find an excellent marksman. Wendy had had never met Zhang Heng before, so she did not know what kind of person he was. Although she tried to remain as calm as possible, they were no longer at the hotel. In other words, if Zhang Heng wished to hurt her right now, there was nothing she could do about it.

Throughout the journey, Wendy silently held a knife in her pocket. Zhang Heng noticed she was holding a weapon, but it did not bother him. “You teach me about horses, and you can deduct ten dollars from my pay,” he offered.

“You want to know more about horses?” Wendy was baffled by Zhang Heng’s request. Shen then let go of the knife, “What do you want to know?”

“Various aspects, including how to pick, raise, ride, how to calm a grumpy horse, and what are spurs.” Zhang Heng pointed at the wheel-like contraption behind his boots. Having read about it in novels and seen it in western movies, he knew that they were used to stimulate the horse to run faster. It allowed the rider to free up their hands to gun down their enemies.

That said, he had no idea how to use it.

These were more advanced techniques, and he could not learn them that night from the bailiff.

“I’m happy to share this knowledge with you, but most of them are very basic. I’m worried that you might get impatient,” Wendy said cautiously.

“No. I won’t.”

As an amateur, Zhang Heng was happy that someone was willing to teach him.

“Where do we start?” This was the first time Wendy faced such a weird request.

“It’s better to start with types of horses.” Zhang Heng pointed at Lightning, “What breed is your horse?”

Wendy stroked her mane and said, “Lightning is an Indian colt. It was first brought to the American continent by Spanish colonists. It thrives here and has finally become what it is today. It is seven years old this year, equivalent to a middle-aged human. And it is my best partner.”

“How about my horse?” Zhang Heng then pointed at Radish and asked.

Wendy looked at Radish carefully for a while and said, “I want to take back what I said earlier. It is actually not too bad of a breed. If I read correctly, it should be a Hungarian hybrid, considered a stable breed of hybrid horses. Usually, hybrids are very smart, and after some training, they can often complete tasks that other horses cannot complete. Besides that, they have strong self-control.”

“Really? I don’t see any self-control in it.” Zhang Heng looked at the undisciplined Radish, who walked a few steps away and lowered its head to gnaw on some weeds on the ground.

“You have to learn to control it, and it is indeed getting old. I estimate it is almost twenty-five to twenty-six years old.” “What about riding it?”

After a while, Wendy confirmed that Zhang Heng knew next to nothing about horses. She found it really hard to believe. Several men on the east coast knew nothing about riding horses, and these usually traveled in carriages and trains. However, in the west, especially in the more remote areas where trains were not reachable, most men had to learn how to ride horses, especially where Wendy lived. Countless equestrian masters were living around her.

Zhang Heng had never said that he could ride a horse. He came to Lincoln County alone. Coupled with his superb marksmanship and a cowboy outfit, people subconsciously thought that he was a master horseman. Thus, half a day into the journey, Wendy now felt that she had hired the wrong man for the job.

But it was too late to change her mind now.

Wendy could only comfort herself. At least she felt safer. And if Zhang Heng did intend any harm, he would be unable to catch up to her.

These thoughts clouded Wendy’s mind, but she did not express them. Having the patience of a saint, she slowly imparted all kinds of information Zhang Heng wanted to know as they went on their way. Initially, he wanted to learn about western culture, but it turned out that it was something Wendy knew nothing about.

According to her words, apart from a family outing, this was the first time she had strayed so far away without her family. In the past, she was only active in Lincoln County or, more precise, only her ranch and county seat.

Zhang Heng suddenly remembered a question and asked Wendy, “Does your mother know that you are looking for your father?”

“Yes, sir,” Wendy replied calmly, “I left her a note.”

“That means you snuck out.”

“No, I left a note.”

“Which is why we call such behavior as sneaking out. You didn’t tell your mother about it because you knew she wouldn’t have agreed.”