Maggie climbed up on Bess and cried, the tears streaming profusely down her face. She sat there for the better part of an hour, till she had cried herself out. Then she hitched up Nell and Bess and drove off, following the faint wagon tracks in the prairie grasses.
"Mumma said these'd lead to town. I do hope she's right. Supplies are running low and winter's coming fast. Yaa! Git up there Bess! take your full share of the work. You lazy girl!" Maggie cracked the whip above Old Bess's ears, forgetting her troubles and chill for a moment.
As the wagon rolled on over the bumpy, end, less prairie Maggie thought. Indeed! There was little else to do.
"I wonder what Pa'd of done," she mused, "It's already October, and a cold October at that, I think he'd stay in town somewhere Pa'd have had a hard time doing that, on our little portion of money, but I'm just one girl. Maybe I'll find somewhere to stay if someone takes a pity on me."
Maggie drove on for miles, till it was to late to go further. She tethered the horses to the back of the wagon and climbed into the wagon bed to sleep till morning. The wolves and coyotes kept her awake most of the night, and she lay awake, thinking of her mother and father away up in heaven. But as the wolves crept closer, she then started to remember things. Things she didn't want to remember, like all the stories her father's friends had told, like about the wolf that weighed hundreds of pounds and was near the size of a horse. Stories she knew were lies, but still they gave her shivers. She crept out of the wagon and, wrapped in a quilt, she climbed up on Nell's wide back and Tried to keep watch. But by midnight she was so drowsy, she nodded right to sleep and the wolves could have howled right in her ear and she'd have stayed fast asleep.
Maggie woke with a jolt at sunrise as a huge gust of wind blew her quilt off her back. She shivered and looked up. Her breath made steam as it and the chilly air met and there was fog so thick she could barely see Nell's ears. The prairie grasses were waving with such force, it stung on her bare legs like a whip when she slid off of Nell. She grabbed a shawl out of the wagon as she sought to hitch up the horses. Something, a hidden instinct perhaps, told her that this was only the beginning of such weather, and she must work hard to reach the town. She climbed on the wagon seat and realized with horror, that the fog hid the trail leading to the town!
"Oh Lord!" Maggie cried, her voice being carried away by the wind, "Be my guide! Help me now Lord! Help me now!"
Maid Mairain & Dawn Rising
2012-08-31 20:12:50
The Show jumpers: Are We In This Together Part 2
By Starwalker123
Later the night Lucy and her parents are eating dinner.
Lucy, “Can I be on the show team?â€
Lucy’s mom and Dad, “Sure.â€
In The Eaton Home Tanner and his family are talking after dinner.
Tanner, “Can I Ride with the show team.â€
Tanner’s Dad and Mom, “Made be.â€
Tanner, “It will be good for me and Miracle.â€
Tanner’s Dad, “Sure.â€
In The Cole Home Mathew and his family are talking after dinner.
Mathew, “Can I Ride with the show team.â€
Mathew’s Dad and Mom, “Made be.â€
Mathew, “Tanner Eaton is riding.â€
Mathew’s Dad, “Sure.â€
In The Clark Home Sammy and her mom are talking after dinner.
Sammy, “Can I Ride with the show team.â€
Sammy’s Mom, “OK.â€
In The Smith Home Kate and her dad are talking after dinner.
Kate, “Can I Ride with the show team.â€
Kate’s Dad, “Sure be safeâ€
The next day in the club room. The whole team is present.
Melinda, “I take it that your parents all said yes.â€
The Kids yell, “Yep.â€
Melinda, “I mailed the forms in, Go Saddle up and meet me is the ring.â€
Lucy and her friends saddle their horses. They meet in the ring. Lucy walks the black Star around the ring next comes Tanner on Miracle then Mathew on Rainy next comes Sammy on Echo last is Kate on Bolt.
Melinda, “Heels down, Shoulders back. Tanner tighten up your reins.â€
Tanner tights the reins,
Melinda, “Good Trot on out.â€
The Horses go in to a trot. Lucy rides Star’s long stride easily. Tanner holds Mircle back as she pulls on the rein.
Melinda, “Two point.â€
The riders take the jumpier position.
Melinda, “Seat and change direction.â€
The kid change still posting trotting.
Melinda, “Work them on the rail.â€
Melinda seat up a 3 foot vertical with Orange and black poles.
Melinda stands were she wants the kids to line up. “Line up facing me.â€
The Kids line up.
Melinda, “Lucy take this fence.â€
Lucy takes Star out of line and canters a circle then she canters at the fence. One two three up Star soars black legs a blur. Lucy Slow the black and walks back to line.
Melinda, “Good. Tanner.â€
Tanner rides Miracle out of line. He canters straight for the fence. One two Three Miracle goes up and over. Tanner trots back to line.
Melinda, “Good. Mathew.â€
Mathew brings Rainy out of line and canters over the jump.
Melinda, “Heels down more.â€
Mathew, “OK.†Lines back up
Melinda, “Sammy you are up.â€
Sammy rides the 8 year old Echo out. She circles at a canter and goes for the fence. Echo hits a rails as they go over it.
Melinda, “Shorten her stride.â€
Sammy, “Yes Boss.†She rides back to line
Melinda, “Kate.â€
Kate rides out at a walk on Bolt. She puts the big horses into a canter. She takes the big horse for the fence. She shortens her reins and Bolt clears the fence. She takes him back to line.â€
Melinda, “Good now Lucy take it again.â€
30 minutes later the kids lead the horse back to their stalls. They untack and stable them. Lucy and her friends meet back up at the bike rake.
Lucy, “See you tonight Sammy, Kate, see you tomorrow Tanner, Mathew.â€
Sammy, “5:30 sound good.â€
Lucy, “5:30 my place.â€
Sammy yells see ya as she bikes away. Kate bikes off as do Tanner and Mathew. Lucy goes back inside and saddles up Wild. She signs the log that she is going out on Wild on Wild Flower Meadow Trail. She mounts and rides to the gate on to the trails. She opens the gate form Wilds back. She warms the horses up as they trot through the woods. She get to the Meadow and asks for a gallop. The little bay horse bolts forward. Lucy seats deep in the saddle She whispers, “Slow down†and reins Wild back. The little bay slows to canter. She canters across the meadow and slows to a trot. They go back into the woods and loop home it takes an hour. She untacks him and turns him out into the big field. She grooms Honey then she heads home for lunch. Lucy goes in to the kitchen there is a note a counter.
Dear Lucy, Can you let Max out.
Love
Mom
Lucy walks to Max’s Kennel and lets the Black lab puppy outside. Lucy gets out Bread, Turkey and Mustard. She makes the sandwich then she eats. She bikes back to the stable. Melinda see’s Lucy “Go get Honey.â€
Lucy saddles Honey and Leads her to the ring. Lucy runs her hand over the mare’s neck and legs. Lucy clips on the lunge lie and get out the whip. She starts to lunge the mare at a walk. Lucy says, “Walk.†The little mare walks. Lucy Lunge each way in each gait. She put up the lunge line and whip. Lucy mounts Honey and walks down the rail. Honey calls out to a borders horse. Lucy, “Hi she.†She calls out to the broader
The Lady Broader calls back, “Hi Lucy, Hi Honey.â€
Lucy asks Honey for a trot then a canter.
After an hour of riding she puts Honey out with Wild and saddles up Luck. She mounts Luck .
3 weeks Later The Night Before the Sunnyside Stables Classic
The kids groom their Horses.
Melinda, “They Look good.â€
The kid braid their mounts and head home.
The Next day
Starwalker123 & Star
2012-09-03 21:02:42
The miracle horse
part 1
by Amazing123 & Astro
the wind was blowing hard at the meadow.bobby the horse looked to her left.she could smell something in the distance.could it be a car? another horse? no.it was a hurricane heading there way. bobby knew she had to stop the hurricane but she was just a horse! what could she do?she looked sadly at the sky hoping that her life could just hurry up and go. but soon enough out came a rainbow. the sun shone brightly and she could not sense a hurricane for miles.
the night grew quickly that autumn (fall) afternoon.Casandra bobby's owner was grooming her new stallion thunder. she did not care about bobby anymore and she planned to sell her at an auction.
bobby grew depressed when casandra was not around to look after her. casandra still loved bobby but she just did not have any money to board two horses at the farm.
part 2 coming soon
Amazing123 & Astro
2012-09-04 09:43:04
midnight wolf
by destinyvalkyrie
It was a dark night. The moon was clouded over with clouds and a owl was hooting in the background. I was riding my horse, Macadamia through the wiggins estate. I had gone out with him for the day and fell asleep. When i woke up i found that it was late and that i had to get back quickly. I walked with Macka down the trail. I didn’t think this possible but i was lost! I tried to all Pam but there was no signal on my phone. I decided to try and find a place for me to stay the night in with Macka. I wandered a little bit into the forrest. I found a place that was perfect to suit my needs. It was two little saplings that were right next to each other with a wide spread canopy. I collected a few twigs, branches and leaves, piled them across the two trees and huddled close to Macka to keep warm. I wrapped his saddle blanket around the both of us and thank god! I had brought much food and water. as mist rolled in from the hills, i slowly fell asleep...
I awoke suddenly to the howl of a wolf. I huddled closer to Macka to try and share the warmth. I thought i saw the shadow of a bear steal through the moonlit clearing. It must have been my imagination. As i layed my head down to rest yet again, i heard the howl of a wolf. But this time it was frigtnenly close. As i huddled even closer to Macka, i thought i saw the gleam of two green eyes through the darkness coming ever closer. With the body of a big furry wolf’s body coming slowly into focus. I was so scared i couldn’t move. I was terrified. Then the wolf lept at me...
And i woke up. I was in my bed. It was all just a dream...
destinyvalkyrie & Macadamia
2012-09-05 11:24:37
The Freedom I Seek: part one
By: 9966332
I remember a lot of things. The grass and trees I would gallop over and under freely. Mama said she had made a mistake when she had named me Independence. Whenever I was determined or worse mad or trapped, you could see it in my eyes as they blazed like the fire inside me. I also remember the day the grasses and the trees and clear blue lakes were taken away from me. It was one of the hardest days of my life.
That day me and my friends, Rosie, a cherry bay skittish mare, Moonrise, a silvery blue roan, and Fawn, a chesnut appaloosa had been exploring a small rocky hill at the edge of a alpine meadow nestled between rocky cliffs with only one way down and into the valley below, a rocky trail bordering a creek that cut between the cliffs carving the trail so many years ago. We were having the time of our life poking our heads through the thick berry bushes and staying clear away from the black berry bushes that sprinkled the hill side. Unfortunately I had a habit of poking y nose where I don’t belong and I woke up a cougar who had been enjoying the sunshine under an overhang carved in the cliffs.
“COUGAR!†I panted breaking through the bushes into a little open space where Rosie had been nibbling a weed.
“cc-c-ougar…†she broke off by whirling away jumping clean over a black berry bush and pelting down the hill side, “COUGAR!†she finally neighed my friends heads popped up like brown dots on a appaloosas hide. They ran after Rosie and own into the meadow.
I heard a yowl from behind me and I pelted on after them zipping over or around black berry bushes and thick bushes I couldn’t get through. Still the cougar followed me I could hear its growls behind me and every once and awhile a yowl split the air and echoed off the cliff walls.
After scrambling down the last bit of hill that was quite gravely I ran to the other side where my friends had stopped. I wondered why they didn’t run for the trail but I turned my head slightly and saw the cat flicking its thick tail right in front of the entrance.
“We’re all going to die!†Rosie wailed pitifully.
“we’re not going to die!†with a flick of my tail I charged after the cougar rearing and shaking my head, pawing the air to seem as big and dangerous as I could. The cat just hissed and swiped a paw at me. I leapt to the side and whirled just as he leapt at me so I could hit him squarely in the chest. With a yowl of pain the cougar fell.Quickly though I reared and turned giving a good hard kick to his head and that was the end of the cougar.
Nonchalantly I flipped my mane and tail and flicked my head to the trail, “come on lets go, mama will be wondering what's keeping us.†My friends were too stunned to speak but just walked slowly gazing at me like I had come from another world.
We picked our way down the trail; I of course thought nothing of the flurry of grey hide that came from a furious mama who immediately wanted to know of the cause of the scratches on my back.
“A cougar,†I flipped my head up holding it high in front of mamas blazing eyes.
“And how in fact did this cougar get on your back but yet did not kill you?†I felt her brown eyes staring into me, but I had yet to be scared of anything and I wasn’t about to be scared today.
“I broke its ribs then cracked its skull,†a few horses nearby gasped and then listened closer.
“And why did it attack you in the first place?†seriously? Would the questions never end?
“I disturbed its nap on the hill on the other side of high meadow, it wouldn’t let us out so I had to kill it or we would be coming back in pieces not in wholes.†I felt a flicker of admiration coming from mama and tons of it coming in waves from the other horses.
“Fine, but please do be more careful.†The matter was closed but mamas eyes still glared at me to make sure her words actually registered in my brain.
“Yes mama,†I sighed and bent my head away from mother to sample the valley grass.
The afternoon was peaceful but I did take a swim in the lake to ease the flickering pain from my scratches at least they did not harbor me from running or eating.
I had been gazing peacefully at the clouds over head when I picked up a buzzing sound like a large group of bees. When I turned my head toward the sound I saw a dark fleck in the sky no larger than a hawk. The sound though, grew louder and louder and the spot in the sky quickly grew bigger. More of the herd turned from grazing to watch the spot in the sky.
The wind began to pick up when I saw it was not a hawk or even an eagle I wasn’t even sure if it was a bird! Then the bird dipped and flew over us every single one of us spooked and galloped away from the bird and towards the mountains where we could be protected by the cliff walls and rocky crags. But the bird came back and lowered until it was almost on top of us herding us away from the walls of protection.
The bird stayed on us herding us over hills through washes and up onto a plateau. Then as quickly as it had appeared it vanished. Then I heard growling and barking like coyotes and the smell of horses who, yet did not smell like horses, and a thick strong smell followed it and the whiff of a smell like coyotes but yet not, accompanied it.
I saw the smelly thing almost immediately, it was brown and dusty blue and had a dull shine and rumbled like a rock slide. The horses ridden by upright creatures I slightly recognized from the stories mama told of a foal, these were humans and the yippy creatures that were like coyotes were dogs. I didn’t like either of them.
The horses and dogs circled us with the shiny monster going into our midst every once in a while. We were all very nervous, milling like a group of minnows in the lake and streams in the valley so much so that I could not see what else the monster did whenever it approached us until it was going in quite near to me and then the horror played out in front of my eyes.
The monster growled into us and the humans on the back of it flung ropes into the sea of horses. The monster backed away and the humans held onto the rope of a struggling paint yearling named Sky. When the monster was a little away’s from the main herd the humans let go of the rope, of course Sky bolted away only to topple over tripping over his own feet and the rope. A black ring had been pulled out of the monster after him. Though he struggled the ring would only move a little bit and the rope being on his neck it made it hard to pull anything with great strength.
Sparks of fear zipped along my spine but I pushed them away. I hadn’t been afraid of anything yet and I wasn’t about to be now. I would be brave for my friends, my family, and my herd.
More and more horses were caught and put under the same treatment fighting valiantly but were taken down quickly. Slowly the flow of horses brought me closer and closer to the monster until I was a couple horses in front of it. I waited for the humans to snag me but one between me and the monster was taken instead. It approached again and I starting running but was stopped with and incredible force almost taking me to my knees. The rope around my neck was pulled harshly and I knew they were dragging me out. I mustered up my strength and my anger my bits and pieces of fear and my determination and I reared screaming with my ultimate strength I tried pulling away but tipped on the uneven ground and the force on my neck unbalanced me. They ragged me out the rest of the way I tried to get up but the monster was pulling too fast for me to get a grip on the ground it wasn’t till they stopped that I was able to get up and immediately I rose in a series of kicks and bucks trying to free myself. Anger boiled and simmered inside of me at the nerve of being held like this. I was fed up with it all. The next buck was followed by a bolt at the monster in which I lounged at the humans on its back, they back away making weird noises. The monster moved but I kept up with it. Galloping at its side the humans in the back began pushing something and I saw the ring, if it dropped down I would not be able to follow. I jumped at them but the monster hit a bump and the ring toppled out. In a gallop I quickly reached the end of my rope where it flipped me around. And I fell on my side, I stayed there. To exhausted to get up and deal with the terror that I felt for the first time of my life.
TO BE CONTINOUED
9966332 & Indy
2012-09-05 20:31:43
Kidnapped Pony
By: MAC1023
I looked at the horses seeing if anything neded work but then I heard an engine start. This was weird because my parents were on vacation for three more days. I walked from the pasture to the barn and saw a black truck with a trailer. I tried to think of who it could be, but it couldn't be anyone I knew. Suddenly I heard a piercing neigh from the trailer. It was Atlas. It had to be, I knew that neigh.
Atlas was my 16.2 hand horse. He was all black, with a white blaze and four white socks. He was my eventing horse; I used him for Dressage, Cross-Country, and Show Jumping. He was a state champion, and I was going to Nationals in only a few months.
I ran over to the trailer and the car started and pulled down our driveway. The realization of what was happening hit me like being punched in the stomach. Atlas was being kidnapped. I ran after the trailer but it was driving too fast. I didn’t know what to do. I had to get Atlas back he was my horse!
I saw Rex grazing in the pasture next to me and I ran to it and threw open the gate. Rex was an ex-racehorse, but he could still run fast. I hoped onto him and kicked him. He took off galloping and I gripped onto his mane and leaned forward. I bounced all over but I didn’t care. I had to get Atlas back. Rex ran after the trailer. We weren’t that far away from it, considering that the car couldn’t drive too fast. I squinted and saw the license plate. The trailer turned down the road and I stopped Rex. It was useless, I had to get more help.
When we got back home I put Rex away and called my aunt and trainer. A while later they both came and I told them everything.
“So they just came and stole Atlas?†my trainer, Marie, asked.
“Yeah I was inside and then I came out side to look at the horses and then I saw the trailer and Atlas was already inside!†I exclaimed.
Marie and my aunt decided that since I saw the license plate number, that we should call the police. We gave them the number and they said that they would keep an eye out for it.
“It’s not fair!†I wailed. I started to cry and Marie hugged me. “They’ll never find him! They don’t care just because he’s a horse!â€
“It’s okay Elizabeth. We’ll get him back,†my aunt said.
“But how?†I cried.
“Do you know anyone who was interested in Atlas?†she asked.
I sniffed. “There were some people at a show who asked about him.†It was at the State Championship after the jump-off and I had a clear round. I remembered that a man and woman came up to me and asked about him. I said that he wasn’t for sale. I remembered thinking that the man was creepy because he had a tattoo on his arm. I told my aunt and Marie and they nodded.
“Did you get any other information about them?†my aunt asked.
“No,†I said in a whisper.
“Well there’s a jumping show in the next town,†Marie said. “We could go there. Maybe they took him there to compete.â€
I nodded and we got into her car and drove there. It was about an hour drive and we got our seats in the bleachers. I looked around for anyone suspicious. We watched the jumping and none of the horses were Atlas. They were all chestnut or bay colored.
I stood up to leave when something caught my eye. A big black horse entered the arena. It had 2 white socks and no face markings. I sighed, it wasn’t Atlas. I sat down to watch anyways. The rider was a man and he kicked the horse. The horse galloped to the first fence and threw his head up as he was about to jump. He knocked one of the poles down with his hind legs.
The man hit him with the crop and the horse’s ears flattened. He kicked him and they galloped to the next jump. They soared over it and it reminded me of Atlas and how he jumped. They jumped a few more fences and the horse jumped very similar to how Atlas did. The man kicked the horse again and the horse bucked. The man hit him with the crop and I jumped up. Atlas hated the crop.
He kicked him again and the horse ran into a jump, making the poles fly everywhere. The man jerked on his bit and the horse whinnied. I gasped. That was Atlas’s neigh.
“It’s Atlas!†I said to Marie.
“Elizabeth, wait!†she called as I ran down the bleachers. The man kicked the horse out of the arena and I ran to the outside of it.
The man dismounted and kicked the horse. He reared and neighed again. I wanted to run out and grab the horse, but I stayed by the fence and crouched down. Another man came and grabbed the reins.
“This is the State Champion horse?†the rider exclaimed. The other man nodded and then groaned.
“He sure doesn’t act like it.†He turned and my hand flew to my mouth. He had a tattoo. He was the same man that asked me about Atlas at the show!
“Well what’s the use of him now? I’m not riding him in any more shows if he’s gonna act like that! I didn’t even finish the course!â€
“We’ll just shoot him then. I’ll load him up and take him to the woods. A shot there won’t be noticed. It’s hunting season anyways.â€
I ran back to Marie’s car. My aunt and Marie were standing there talking.
“It’s him! They said he was the State Champion! And the tattoo! They’re gonna shoot him! Have to go now!†I exclaimed.
“Whoa, slow down!†Marie said. I sighed and grabbed her keys. I got in and started the engine. They got in and I took off. The only woods I could think of were twenty minutes away from here. I drove their and got out of the car. I paced for a while and tried to think of where they would be. I grew frantic, and took off running into the woods.
“Elizabeth!†my aunt called. I ignored her and kept on running. I needed to find Atlas. I ran until I was out of breath. I sat down and tried to slow down my breathing. I walked a little ways more and I found a clearing. And in the middle of the clearing was a trailer and a black truck. It was them.
I ducked behind a tree and watched as the rider unloaded Atlas. He danced around him and neighed. I closed my eyes tightly. I had to think of something to do fast. I watched in horror as the man with the tattoo took out a shotgun from the front seat. The rider tried to keep Atlas still, but he kept on moving. I heard a clicking sound and I burst out from behind the tree. I jumped onto the shoulders of the man with a tattoo and I heard a shot. He threw me off his shoulders and I fell to the ground.
Everything that happened next was a blur. I heard another gunshot and heard Atlas scream. I saw him rear and I moved out of the way. Then I heard a human scream and Atlas screamed again. I heard a car and then someone was helping me up. I opened my eyes and the world was spinning. I held my head and saw Marie gripping my shoulders.
“What happened?†I asked.
“We took off after you and saw you jump on the guy with the tattoo. And he fired a shot, but it went into the trees. And the rider kicked Atlas in the leg. He reared and kicked the rider. Then the man tried to shoot Atlas again, and then they both took off in the truck.â€
“Is he okay?†I asked. I slowly walked over to Atlas. His head was low and he was favoring his right front leg. I walked over to him and took the reins. I stroked his neck and he neighed weakly.
I blinked back tears and bent down to look at his leg. I felt heat coming from it and I looked to Marie.
* * * * *
A few days later I watched Atlas in the pasture. He was grazing and I smiled. We had the vet come out and we found out that Atlas had ripped a tendon. He would be able to be ridden again, but not for a very long time. I decided to retire him from eventing. He would be happy in the pasture. But maybe when he was better I could do some riding, maybe bareback.
The police never did find the men who stole him. But it didn’t matter to me. Atlas was back, and that was all that mattered.
MAC1023 & King
2012-09-08 21:15:30
Deidre sent chills down her spine as she ran from the dark house and into the night air. Horses smelt of in the air as she ran fast as her legs would carry her. She heard the whistle of Angie, and slid to a gulling stop. She glanced over her shoulder, caping robe gliding over the gravel road. She looked back up to the sizteen stables she had in her own barn, there where three main barns in Eagle Farms. Deidre flicked her eyes to the first which had her tall morgan mare looking over the door, wide amber eyes sparkling. She felt a smile creep over her straight lips, and she walked to the mare who'd greeted her. It was around eleven; she had a sleepover tomorrow so she had to watch her mare carefully with the girls. Worst case scenario, she'd go missing or get lame from over riding. deidre's long, curly blonde hair swept over her shoulder as she pushed it out of her bright blue eyes. She stroked Angie, and went around to grab her halter and leadrope. She pushed the door open and Angie thrust her head into Deidre's chest. She blinks, and she pulls her head into the halter willingly. Deidre leads her into the stables, and into the courtyard. She eyes the ivy covered walls of the barn, New Zealand countryside had enough unicorns knew! Deidre turns the mare and jogs her out for the night, and then sets her back with a crisp golden apple and some sugar cubes as a sweet surprise. She goes into the house and creeps to her room, closing her eyes and drifting to sleep.
(TO BE CONTINUED.... :3 How was it?)
Seltzer & Angie
2012-09-09 19:55:32
Shila and The Thief Part 3
By Danielle Rose
"Mom! Dad! Somebody found Maybelle!"I shouted as I burst in to the Kitchen where Dad was on the phone. He put a finger to his lips, signaling me to be quiet. I put my book bag down on the floor next to the stairs, and went to the fridge to find a snack. Upon opening the door, Dad hung up the phone, and said,"Somebody found Maybelle." He went to the computer, and got up a map of Minnesota.
"I know,"I said as I took a bag of baby carrots out of the fridge, and sat down at the table to snack on my favorite vegetable."Thats what I was going to tell you when I came in. She's in Rochester. Only a couple hours away. We could go get her Saturday." I finished the carrots, and threw away the plastic bag.
"I know, I was just talking to the lady that found Maybelle,"Dad said, as he studied the quickest way to get to Rochester."The only time they'll be free is Friday at 3:00. So, I'm sorry, you can't go with us." He got up out of the chair, and went over to the printer to print off the map to Rochester.
"Thats okay,"I said,my joy outweighing my disappointment."At least we got one horse back."
I grabbed a Honey gold apple from the bowl, and went out to the barn to tack up my horse, Nikki. I went to the tack room, and got out my English saddle, a clean saddle pad, Nikki's bridle and her girth. A brush box was already outside the stall, so all I had to do was go to the pasture and catch Nikki. Now that was the only difficult thing about Nikki. She was a pain to catch. But with a Honey gold apple, the only kind she would except, I had her in the barn within five minutes.
I quickly ran a brush over her, and swiped a comb through her mane and tail, before laying the saddle and pad gently on Nikki's back. I tightened the girth until it was tight enough, and
replaced her halter with the bridle. I led her outside, and mounted the old horse. She started off at a trot with my command down the path that led to the "Dryad Tree", as I called it. It was hollow, and had an opening just like a door so you could go in. We rode along the path for a while, then I heard the sound of sticks breaking, and a boy on a horse walked onto the path. I recognized him as the boy who had sat next to me on the school bus.
"Jason Curtly, right?"I said as I pulled Nikki up beside Jason's tall gray.
"Yeah,"Jason said, still very shy."Leslie Brandon?"
"Lexi."
"Yeah, sorry."
I urged Nikki forward with my heels, and continued trotting down the path to the Dryad Tree. Jason turned back to the direction he had come from, and soon disappeared into the trees.
The next day...
"I'm off!"I said to Dad, who was eating Oreo's and peanut butter, as I bounded through the kitchen, out the door, and down the driveway to the waiting bus. I climbed in, and sat down in the back row. At the next stop,Jason gt on the bus with another boy, Duke Curtly.
"Hi,"Jason said, as he sat down next to me. Duke settled back into the roomy seat, and pulled out his CD player.
"Are you two brothers or something?"I asked Jason, knowing Duke was too busy listening to "Smile".
"No,"Jason replied, scratching the back of his neck."Dukes my cousin, and I'm staying with him for a while. I wanted to keep doing school, so I just sit in on the classes."
Silence.
The bus stopped at the school, and the children poured out of the bus, and into the school. A couple kids were playing tag, or Cops and Robbers, but most of them were already inside.
The school hours flew by quickly, and as I hopped off the bus, and practically flew to the house, I couldn't help squealing with joy that Maybelle was coming home.
"House key,"I said, as I felt the doorknob for the tiny lever that opened up a little door on the knob. Inside the knob was the house key. I unlocked the door, and put the key back, closing the little knob door on the way.
"Any messages for Mom, or Dad?"I said, pushing the button on the answering machine, and putting down my book bag on the kitchen table.
The first message was for Naaman, the second for Dad from the feed store, and the third for me from Mom and Dad.
"Hi, Honey. Um, hey, we're not going to be home for a couple of hours, probably around ten. So, just sit tight, and be in bed by nine. Thats all,
see ya." And then the answering machine beeped.
"Okay, six and a half hours with the house to myself." I got a string cheese stick from the fridge, and went out to Naamans cottage to tell him about his message. I went back in the house, and did my homework.
By nine, I was in bed, and fast asleep. I dreamed that there was a BIG storm, and there was a car going down a forest road. Lightning struck a tree, and the tree fell onto the car.
Then I woke up to bright sunshine in my face. I sat up in bed, and swung my legs over the side without getting the sheets off my legs. I did that, and then stretched while yawning before falling back on the bed. The next instant, I was out of bed, and getting clothes on to go out to the barn.
"Maybelle's here!"I shouted, and whipped a brush through my hair. I slid down the railing on the stairs, and, after grabbing a red apple from the bowl, tore down the porch steps, and out to the barn. When I got to Maybelle's stall, I stopped dead in my tracks, staring into the empty stall where Maybelle should have been.
"They would have put her away right when they got home,"I said, frantically searching the other stalls for the pretty Thoroughbred mare.
I ran outside to see if they had put her in one of thee paddocks, and stopped dead again. My parents car, and the trailer weren't even in the driveway!
Where were they?!
Danielle Rose & Dandy
2012-09-13 08:08:00
The Everything Pony
By: gabby33384
Today is a new day, with a new adventure waiting for me just past this gate. Currently I'm standing here in my paddock waiting for my girl to come, I know she will come soon because the church bells in town have just chimed in the hour of 3 in the afternoon. I know that is when she gets home every day, after five years I have come to expect it.
Sure enough, I see her running down the hill towards me with my bridle on her shoulder. I whinny to her and she runs faster, jumping onto the gate "Hi Rocky boy!" she says cheerfully. She hops off the gate and enters my paddock, walking up to me and wrapping her arms around my neck "How are you my bonny boy? Are you ready to go riding?" she asks. I merely blink, as it's all a pony can do, and she smiles brightly, putting my bridle on my head and leading me towards the barn.
As she brushes me she sings. I don't know exactly what she sings of, but it sounds nice. When she finishes brushing me she quickly puts on my saddle and pulls herself onto my back. I wonder what we'll be doing today, as I have done so many things before. I've been a racehorse in the Kentucky Derby, a show jumper in the Olympics, I've even been an Indian pony galloping through the woods with my girl riding me bareback. Yes, I've been many things, but what shall I be today?
We ride around on the lawn for a little while. There is nothing new about this lawn, or the field I'm being directed into now. I know there shall be something new today though, I know she's just warming me up, getting me ready! I begin prancing and chomping at the bit in anticipation, oh what shall I get to do today? As we near the end of the field, I can spot two boys walking up the hill on the trail. My girl shortens the reins and lowers herself closer to my neck "Alright my bonny boy, steady now. Nice and quiet" she tells me. I pull on the bit as she holds me tightly, we round the field and step onto the dirt trail.
Suddenly I feel her loosen the reins and nudge me, letting me launch myself into a gallop. We fly up that hill, getting closer and closer to the boys. At the sound of my hooves pounding the ground one of the boys turns around and spots us. The girl urges me on faster, yelling out "CHARGE!". The boys scramble out of the way as I thunder closer and closer to them.
The two of us fly past them, kicking up dust and pebbles behind us. I can feel her shift in the saddle as she turns to look back at them. She laughs as she pulls on my reins to slow me down, but I don't want to slow down! That was so exhilarating! I want to do it again and again! Finally though I'm forced to listen to her and I slow into a trot as she pats and strokes my neck "Good boy Rocky! Good Boy!" she says happily.
"You're a good little war pony aren't you?" she asks me as she finally gets me to slow to a walk. I turn an ear back towards her, to show that I'm listening to her. My other ear I continue to flicker around, listening for those boys in case they come back and I am sent into action once more. They never come back though, and we finish our ride in peace.
She untacks me and grooms my coat, feeding me peppermint treats and kissing my nose.She feeds me my grain, throws some hay over the fence, and makes sure I have plenty of water. When she has left I stand in my paddock and begin to fall asleep, dreaming of being a war pony. I can practically see it all now, the fit and shining stallions charging into the fray, their riders' sabers flashing in the sun as they gallop after the enemy. And I can see myself with them, galloping ahead of all those war horses, with my girl encouraging me as I fearlessly charge on.
What a glorious thing it would be, when I came back to my stable after chasing the enemy away. I'd get loads of peppermint treats for a job well done, then a nice cooling bath in the evening, finishing off with a long grooming session that would leave my fiery chestnut coat practically glowing! I'd be treated like a soldier, a hero! What a wonderful thing it would be!
I'm woken up by the early morning sunlight hitting my face. Not long after this my girl comes and feeds me breakfast. There's no hint to what we might be doing today, but I've come to expect this. I eat my grain and head out into my paddock to wait for my girl to come home from school.
Today is a new day, with a new adventure waiting for me just past this gate. Currently I'm standing here in my paddock waiting for my girl to come, I know she will come soon because the church bells in town have just chimed in the hour of 3 in the afternoon. I wonder what I'll be today? Perhaps today, I'll just be the everything pony. Or better yet, perhaps today I'll just be Rocky. Because in reality, that is all I am. I'm no racehorse, no war horse, not even an Olympian. I am Rocky. But as Rocky, I see no problem in letting my girl dream her sweet dreams. And for certain, I have no problem going along for the ride.
This is Club Pony Pals, the official Pony Pals game and virtual horse world. Here you can adopt, ride and care for the pony you always wanted. Our site is based on the Scholastic books about three girls by Jeanne Betancourt.
