A Bright Tomorrow by Gilbert Morris Page A

trim figure. “Well, miss—” Amos hesitated. “Thunder’s a good horse, but a bit of a handful at times.”
    â€œOh, dear!”
    Amos saw her distress and quickly attempted to put her at ease. “I could get you a gentle animal, miss.”
    â€œWould you?” The woman’s relieved smile came at once. “I think that might be better.” When Amos led Thunder toward the line of stables, she fell into step beside him. “I’m sorry to be so much trouble.”
    â€œNo trouble, miss,” Amos replied. “Won’t take but a second, and Lady will give you no problem.” He tied Thunder and led the small mare out of the stall.
    As he put the saddle on, the young woman laughed shortly. “I’m not really a part of the secretary’s party. I guess I’m a party-crasher.” Seeing Amos’s look of surprise, she smiled and introduced herself. “My name is Virginia Powers. I’m a reporter for the Journal.”
    Amos had cinched the saddle and was slipping the bridle on, but at her announcement, he stopped dead still and turned to stare at the young woman.
    She laughed then, a delightful tinkling sound, and gave him a roguish look. “I know what you’re thinking,” she said. “She doesn’t look like a reporter!”
    Amos was forced to smile. He shrugged, continuing to fasten the bridle. “To be truthful, I didn’t know there were any women reporters. But I guess that’s about the best job in the whole world.”
    Struck by Amos’s comment, Virginia Powers narrowed her gaze. “You think so? Are you interested in becoming a writer?”
    Amos nodded but didn’t elaborate, saying only, “Let me help you up, Miss Powers.” He waited until she approached, and when she stood beside him, noticed that she was pale. A thought occurred to him. “Have you ever ridden a horse?”
    â€œNo…and I’m scared to death of that beast!”
    Amos stared at her, then shook his head. “You don’t have to ride, do you?”
    â€œYes!” An intense determination fueled Virginia Powers, one that did not hide her fear, however. She took a deep breath and then looked up at Amos. “I’m not actually a reporter…not yet anyway,” she confessed. “William Randolph Hearst is my uncle. Do you know who he is?”
    â€œYes, Miss Powers,” Amos answered. “I’ve read a lot about him.”
    Everybody in New York knew about the man who had dropped like a bombshell into the life of the city. Hearst had used his family fortune to buy the New York Journal and had started a crusade to make it the most successful newspaper in the country. These tactics included the use of enormous black headlines, colored paper, full-page editorials, illustrations, and colorful cartoons. The rivalry between Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer for supremacy in the newspaper world had become so heated that almost everyone in the state kept up with it.
    Virginia shrugged her shoulders and her lips grew firm. “It’s like you thought…there aren’t any women reporters. But I kept after my uncle until last week he finally agreed to give me a chance.” She eyed the mare with apprehension. “He said if I could get an interview with Mr. Roosevelt, he’d put me on the staff…so, you see, I’ve just got to get on that horse!”
    â€œYou can do it, Miss Powers,” Amos said quickly. “Look, let me help you on, and I’ll ride right beside you, all right?”
    â€œOh, would you?” Virginia’s smile was brilliant. “What’s your name?”
    â€œAmos Stuart. Now, put your foot in my hand…that’s it—” She was a small woman, and he lifted her slowly and carefully upward. “Just put your leg over the saddle. That’s it. See how steady Lady is? Now take the reins and let me get mounted—” Amos quickly