Wings For Hooves
On a warm spring morning, a youth was dropped at the side of the road, left to decay in the July heat. Although fate seemed inevitable, an young man in his rusted old pickup truck noticed the stained drooping box that lay strewn with no care. Stepping out of the car he removed the ripped cotton blanket that covered a whining creature. Gasping, he clasped his mouth as his eyes grouped the small body, the body belonging to a small black filly. Her large sea blue eyes stared wildly at his face, her frizzy forelock swinging in her face. Stroking her mane, he softly stroked her neck reassuring her safety and her tension eased. Picking up the box he loaded the small black filly in his truck and drove away.
Placing the small filly inside the barn, she was greeted by an array of small rejected farm animals. Among them was a puny white and brown pinto Shetland with a downy mane and tail, an old washed up female goat and a loud rooster. Stepping from the box, her shaky legs held up the proud body of the filly.
"Hello there youngster, whats your name?" the pinto inquired. "My names Tucker."
"Well, the man in the car said he was naming me Dakota, so I guess I have my name." she nickered softly.
"Interesting name youngster, I think your gonna like it here."
The next day, the man let the the animals out in the field to stretch their legs, the rotting fences barley able to keep in the young filly who tore up the ground as she raced around the enclosed area, kicking up her heels and sprinting back and fourth.
"Hum, that girl sure likes to run, shes got a fire in her heart I have not seen in a very long time, what do you think Sasha?" Tucker chuckled to the white goat.
"I don't know, your the one who has the eye for the winners old Tuck." she responded.
"You know the old man don't race any more, not since his wife died, won't even let his daughter ride anymore." Tucker sighed. "I miss the good old days, watching my apprentices tear up the track, nothing but raw talent and pure heart."
"I guess your right, but you can't hold back that kind of heart." Sasha said solemnly as she turned and walked away.
Trotting to the fence Dakota watched as the thoroughbreds gallop around the large track where the Kentucky Open was held yearly. Her eyes widened as she watched the horses gallop round with speed and grace.
"I want to do that...." she said, looking forlorn. At that moment two young colts cantered over.
"Hi there! What your name?" A young bay horse asked.
"Mines Ranger!" said the larger chestnut shouldering his friend out of the way. "And, eh, this is Scout." he said with a scoff.
"Hi! I am Dakota, whats it like on the track?" Dakota asked round eyed.
"Well, it-" Ranger was cut off by the sound of thundering hooves. "Oh no, Scout we should run."
"Wait why?" Dakota asked confused.
"Ranger!" A large black male horse came thundering down the field. "You stay away from this filly, shes on the wrong side of the fence, she does not deserve your attention. You don't need a pretty face distracting you from whats right, understand?" he said shouting. Ranger cringed in the corner as his fathers teeth snapped at his neck making him gallop from the fences side.
"You stay away from my son, you aren't on the right side, he doesn't need a pretty face like yours to distract him from his objectives, you will never amount to anything, now go, forever."
It had been three years since the day at the fence, and since then she had grown into a proud mare. She had a glossy black coat with four white stockings that trickled up her legs, she also had a long blaze that stretched up her face between her sea blue eyes. Tucker had been training her for the past three years, getting her ready to compete in The Kentucky Open.
"Dad, let me ride her, I know her the best, shes my mare!" the young daughter said forlornly.
"No Colleen, I don't want anything to happen to you like it did your mother, I just can't let it happen." the old man said, tear welling in his eyes.
"Dad, they still call you the best, you have to come back to the track, we can win! Let me ride her." Coleen pleaded with her father. "Dad, I need this, to feel the wind in my hair and the freedom at my back, to know I left it all on the track, knowing I gave it my all I didn't quit even when the odds were against me, that's why I want to race father, that's why." her father looked at her, eyes burning with admiration.
"If were going to do this, were going to do this right, I will teach you have to ride, I think we can win this Coleen."
Walking toward the gate, Dakota was greeted by Ranger and Scout, the two had grown very big after their encounter as foals.
"Hey there sweetheart, haven't seen you around the fence in a while." Ranger said mockingly. "Finally decide you want a real stallion?" pinning back her ears, Dakota tossed her head.
"No Ranger, leave me along, I just came over for a bite to eat, I wouldn't dare even spit in your direction."
"Oh, that hurt, come on sweetheart-" Ranger was cut off by an angry snort.
"Leave her alone Ranger, she doesn't like you, get over it." The three young horses turned around to see a large chestnut stallion cantering over. "I wouldn't even spit in your direction." the horse laughed.
"Shut up Blue," Ranger snarled, eyes burning, "You think anyone likes you? Not on this side, now, why don't you let the better horses talk, we don't need your five cents." with a flick of his tail, Ranger tossed his head and turned back toward Dakota.
"I think you are the one who should be quiet, you think you can intimidate me? No, you are nothing but an arrogant jerk who goes after girls who are way out of your league."
"I am not dealing with you right now, I'm out of here, come on Scout, hes not worth our time." with that, the two stallions trotted away. Turning his head Blue walked over to Dakota.
"Are you okay? I hope they didn't say anything that offended you to bad." Blue asked tenderly.
"They didn't say anything horrible, thanks so much for helping me, I can't be anymore thankful toward you." Dakota said nuzzling Blue's nose. Blushing, Blue licked his lips and hastily nuzzled her back.
"Ah, no problem, anytime," Blue stumbled over his words. "Um, I have to go now, bye Dakota, I hope we can talk again."
"Bye Blue, I will see you later." Dakota smiled and trotted away.
"That incompetent fool! Can you believe what he said to me?" Ranger snarled, making Scout cringe in the corner.
"No, no I can't believe it, what an annoying gelding." Scout giggled.
"Ha! So right he's a gelding! Hes got no-"
"Excuse me Ranger? What are you saying? And who are you saying it about?" Ranger stood stone still, ears adjacent forward.
"Ah, nothing dad, nothings going on." Ranger stammered quickly.
"Were you by the fence again? Why! Son I told you never to go back there again, was I not clear enough?"
"No father, you were more than clear, just, its Dakota! She said she's entering the Kentucky Open." Ranger cried out, desperately trying to change the subject.
"What?" Sir Charles roared making Ranger back up many steps.
"Yes, shes entering next week, she claims she can win it, but I know I will be winning it, father, don't worry." Sir Charles looked down, doubtful of his young sons cocky words.
"I will make sure you win, son, I will make sure of it. Meet me outside the stable on Saturday night, and I will straighten everything out, don't worry son, you won't be losing this race."
"Okay, one, two, three GO!" Dakota sprinted, full speed ahead as Colleen bounced on her back.
"Keep your heels down, give her, her head, let her have the reign and give her, her stride!" Colleen's father instructed as they galloped around the small circular corn field. Sweat dripped down the brow of Mr. Brown as his daughter rounded the final corner. "Come on, come on, come one." he whispered under his breath. A gust of wind blew back Mr. Brown's hat as Dakota galloped by him. "Woo wee! Wow! That was amazing! First quarter mile, 26 seconds!" panting Dakota grinned as she saw Colleen and Mr. Brown high five and talk excitedly about the speed of their mare.
"Dakota, great job, but next time, try and hug the side, it cuts the distance as well as the time right in half, understood? And also, don't look behind you, it doesn't matter what the other horses are doing, always remember, don't look back, leave it all on the track." nodding Dakota nuzzled her thanks as she spotted Blue, the large stallion had an agitated look in his eyes as he flicked his tail, signaling her to come toward the fence.
"I will be right back Tucker, okay?" nodding Tucker flicked his ears, giving her the okay to greet her friend.
"Hi Blue! Whats going on?" Dakota asked cheerily. Blue looked into her eyes, his burning with fear. "Whats wrong Blue, is everything okay?" Dakota's eyes stared intently into his, reading his thoughts.
"No, nothings okay, meet me outside the barn tonight, okay? I can explain everything there." Blue's eyes still held fear, something telling Dakota something was not right, yet something yearned inside her, pushing her to follow the one she loved.
The crisp wind howled outside the raggedy barn Dakota stood in. The soft snoozes of the farm animals sounded round' her. Unlatching the heavy clip that corralled her in, Dakota silently walked to the door, but was halted by a voice.
"Where are you going youngster?" Whipping around Dakota saw Kayla, staring at her, grinning. "You have a race tomorrow, you can't go lumbering in the night, you have to rest!" Dakota looked at her hooves and chuckled.
"Please Kayla, I have to meet Blue, he says it important, I can't just leave him out there." Kayla's large brown eyes softened as she stared into her sea blue eyes.
"Oh youngster, true love triumphs over all, go, go to your stallion, make things right, but come back and get a good nights sleep, I wish you luck youngster." And with that Dakota turned tail and trotted out of the barn. The chilled wind blew back her mane, and at that moment, something ominous trickled up her legs and along her spine, something screaming at her to not go, but ignoring her instinct she shook it off and started up the way.
The moonlight path covered in rocks led to that large white barn, where in the dimming light, stood that shadow of a stallion. Lifting her hoof off the ground, she sniffed the air, sensing something was deathly wrong.
"Blue?" she called out. A bloodcurdling laughing rang out of the shadows.
"Well, well, well, who do we have here," Ranger stepped out, and evil grin spreading across his face. "What are you doing over here sweetheart, your on the wrong side of the fence."
To Be Continued
