‘Ladies and Gentlemen: We have just landed at the Salt Lake City International Airport and we are now taxiing to the SLC Terminal 2. Welcome to Slat Lake City, Utah! For your safety…’
Xander looked up from the window boredly as the announcement started. He couldn’t wait to get off this plane. It had seemed like the longest hour and fifteen minutes of his life. He wanted to get out, get on the road and go get his horse. His horse. Not his moms, not his dads, not even one he had to share with his siblings. His horse. Leaning back into the chair as the plane sat idly waiting for a spot to open up he sighed and put in his headphones. He knew of course that what he was about to do was going to be difficult, time consuming and would require patience and responsibility. But he wanted to at least try. He had saved up his money for the past three years to try. And now today was the day. Closing his eyes he focused on the music he had playing trying to calm his mix of excitement and nerves, which he had been hiding the whole way here. He could still however still hear bits and pieces of the flight attendant as she continued her welcoming speech.
‘On behalf of Southwest Airlines, Captain Arron, First Officer Lee, this has been Jessica with Caleb, Sarah, and Michael, thanking you for flying with us. It was indeed a pleasure to have you onboard and we hope to see you again soon on one of your future flights…’
Blah, Blah blah… Hurry up… he thought impatiently as someone suddenly jolted his arm. Opening his eyes he half glared at the person sitting next to him. She was a little shorter than him with blonde hair that fell in waves and one blue eye and one that was half blue and half black. She was also his younger sister. Rubbing his arm he scowled at her playful pokes. “What is it Samy? What do you want.” Samy pouted slightly and pulled out one of the headphones.
“Aren’t you excited? Or are you gonna be in a sour mood all day long.” She complained in a teasing voice before grinning at him. “Lighten up, todays supposed to be fun, remember?”
“Yeah!” An excited shout came from behind him and another blonde head peeked over the seat. The ten year old boy beamed at them happily. “Isn’t it gonna be great Xan? We’re getting a horse!”
“I’m getting a horse. Now sit down before you get hurt.” Xander mumbled shaking his head. “Aren’t you listening to a single thing they’re saying about seat belts.”
“Nope!” another almost identical head chimed in and half hung herself over Samy’s seat next to her twin. “And you aren’t listening either.” She smirked at him playfully. “Plus its not like we’re moving.” She added just as the plane gave a small jolt forward towards a gate.
“Gabriel. Sypris. Sit down.” Xan smiled slightly and looked back out the window as he listened to the twins and their mother debate the seating situation behind him.
‘Once again, from Southwest Airlines, thank you and welcome to Salt Lake City!’
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“Come on, Come on, Come on!!!!” Samy shouted as she jumped out of the car. “Hurry up! We’re late!” She paced by the car impatiently as the twins followed her out nearly stumbling on each other. Xander got out of the car and looked around calmly. Inside he was a ball of nerves, but he wasn’t going to let Samy see. He’d never hear the end of it. Cottonwood Wild Horse Ranch. It was huge. He had never seen so many horses in one place. He looked up a little hesitantly at Cate and Jay, though by now he didn’t really have to “look up” much anymore as he was about his parents height. “So… what now…” he asked a little unsure.
“Now we find where your horse is.” Cate smiled and ruffled his hair before he could duck and walked towards the others. “Samantha, calm down. Gabriel, Sypris slow down. Come on guys…”
Xander gazed around as they walked towards where they had been directed to find his horse. There were tons of horses. And so many different breeds. Some he recognized, others he had no idea on. His aunts had horses, but he was not really an expert on them. Yet. He assumed from the look of the horses they were passing, that most of these were the mustangs from the round up. “Wow!” Gabriel said and tugged on his sleeve. “Look at all the horses Xan!” his blue eyes were a lite with curiosity and wonder. “Its bigger than aunt Katy’s!” Sypris added catching up to Gabriel’s side and taking his hand. “This place is enormous!” Xan nodded smiling. “That it is.” He agreed then went to where his parents had stopped.
They had approached a pin that held a brownish colored mare. She stood with her head held high and her ears swiveling to catch every possible sound. Xander tilted his head slightly as he watched her. She looked pretty, well proportioned, maybe a tad jumpy, but overall not to bad. Her color seemed a little strange though.
“Is that her?” Gabriel asked and went to hang on the fence, but Cate held him back. “Whys it so splotchy brown?” he looked back at where he had been talking to Jay, Sypris and Samy. “I thought you said she was gray.” He looked at them doubtfully.
Sypris grinned at him and skipped over. “Its dirt you dummy.” She told her twin and watched the mare. “She’s dirty.”
Xander returned his gaze to the mare. He was starting to see hints of her color under the mud and her beautiful chocolaty eyes from beneath her matted forelock. I like her, he though quietly to himself.
“What will you name her?” Samy asked coming to stand next to him and watch the horse as well. Xander gave a small shrug as he stayed quiet lost in thought. After a few minutes he looked down at her. “Angel. I think I’ll call her Angel.”
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Xander watched a little disappointedly as his parents caught and loaded Angel into the trailer they brought. He had wanted to help, but he had gotten a firm ‘no’ with the reasoning of ‘we don’t want you to get hurt’. He sighed frustrated. He was going to train the horse, which would require physical interaction. Why did it matter when he started working with it? It was true though that his parents were more experienced with horses and through their slow calm work and encouragement they were able to load the mustang with little incident.
“So… how exactly are you planning to do this?” Samy asked giving him a curious look. He scowled again. Why did everyone doubt him? Sure it would be difficult, but he was sure he could do this.
“Well, first I have to gain her trust. Then I’m gonna train her to now be so scared of things. And then Ill train her to let me ride her” he responded as he headed for the car.
“That’s really basic Xan…” she mumbled but followed him shaking her head uncertainly.
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The drive to the ranch seemed to fly by. When they got there they unloaded Angel and put her out into a secure pasture to let her settle in. She ran the perimeter bucking and tossing her head excitably. They planned to stay at this ranch for the duration of Angel’s training and then taking her back to her permanent home back in California.
The ranch they were staying at belong to Xander’s Uncle Cain and Liam. Apparently they had acquired it a while back, but only recently started actively keeping horses. It was one of the reasons they had allowed them to house Angel here as ther was plenty of room.
After greetings were done Xander went and stood by the fence watching his mustang. She eyed him cautiously and purposely kept to the opposite side of the pasture to him. He waited curious to see if anything would happen, but whenever she seemed to start having an interest in him she would spin on her heels and bolt to the other side. As night fell his dad came out and stood next to him.
“Come on kiddo. Time for bed, she’ll be fine for the night.” Jay smiled at him then studied Angel. “She’s going to be a feisty one.” He commented idly “But I’m sure you can handle it”
Xan smiled. “Really?” he asked giving him a sideways glance. It was the first encouraging thing he’d heard about his planning yet. Jay laughed softly and nodded then turned to head inside motioning for Xander to follow. With one last look at his Angel he hesitantly followed his father inside. Night Angel, see you tomorrow.
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Comments: Oh boy, what a dirty gal. We'll need to fix that. Note to judges/artists there is a dirt/mud layer so I have not touched the coloring, it is just underneath.
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