The Retrieval
As Aaron shifted gears and began slowing the truck and trailer down, he couldnt help but let a smile creep across his face and light up his hazel green eyes. In the seat beside him his wife, Stephanie, was bouncing up and down with all the enthusiasm and excitement of a young school girl. Her strawberry blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, but a few wild strands had escaped and framed her face. Her brown eyes shown with joy and excitement as the began to make their way down the drive way to the adoption centers main building."I can't believe it! So much working, then waiting, and then so much driving. Its FINALLY here. Today we pick up our first baby, I cant wait to meet him!" The couple had bought a run down cattle ranch years ago, and through some hard work and sweat and tears, the ranch was finally ready to be home to critters once again.
As the truck pulled to a stop in front of the main barn, Stephanie was out, shutting the door, and practically skipping towards the big building before the wheels had stopped moving. As they finally entered the barn together they looked about. The large quarantine stalls with their open runs behind, held various horses inside of all shades and sizes. A few workers milling about glanced up and smiled, before one inparticular walked over to introduce herlself as the Manager. "Hi, I'm Amy. You guys must be the couple up here from Montana to pick up the stallion", she said with a quick glance and a raised brow at the couples western boots, Aaron's black Stetson hat, and Stephanie's beaded and fringed elk hide coat she wore. "Yes ma'am! We are! Where can we see him?"Stephanie asked, glancing up and down the rows of stalls. Well...you'll have to follow me. We've had to keep him in another building, away from the lovely ladies. Did you bring the paperwork we had asked you to fill out?" Amy reached for the papers as Stephanie quickly pulled them from a green folder she'd brought with her. Glancing over the papers for a few moments, Amy finally nodded her head, looked up, and motioned for the couple to follow her.
Approaching a large field with a run in shed, Amy turned and gave a sarcastic chuckle. "You said you like them a little challenging, right? Something about a better bond in the end, hahaha. Well, this is definately your fella then." With that, Amy hands over a green nylon lead and wishes the couple luck. "Once you manage to catch him, let us know if you need any more help with him". Shaking her head as she walked off, Stephanie thought she heard Amy mummble under her breath about ''that danged devil horse".
Taking a deep breath to calm her excitement, Stephanie slipped into the pasture with the stallion, closing the gate behind her. She slowly walked toward the stallion, trying to take an indirect approach, moving slowly and humming softly to herself. The stallion continued to graze, pretending not to notice the new human. Slowly, quietly, Stephanie made her way to within a few feet of him. Suddenly, the big red pony snorted and threw his head into the air, pinning his ears back. "Hey now, Red, why such a mean face? Shhh, shh, shh. Its okay fella, I just wanna be friends, none of that nonsense now. Come on..." she crooned to him as she eased to within arms reach of him, holding an apple slice out on one palm and the lead rope in the other. As the stallion caught the scent of fresh, juicy, fruit he reached his head out in curiosity. With a swift motion, Stephanie snapped the clasp of the lead onto the stallions halter. In almost the same instant, the pony dropped the apple, squeeling and striking out with a forehoof. Stephanie held tight to the nylon lead as the stallion tried to throw a tantrum, fighting back against the pressure of the rope as hard as he could. Stephanie didn't keep constant pressure against him, instead she just allowed him to rear and back peddle as she followed him. She actually insisted that he keep moving his feet, waiting for him to want to stand still to give the rope some slack. For 10 minutes stallion and woman played their stubborn dance. Aaron sat on the fence, watching in wonder, always amazed at his wife's calm determination and simple way she worked with her animals. He always joked to his veterinary clients that she was his "Critter Whisperer", always helpful to have around when he had an upset animal to work with. With a final snort and sigh, the stallion stopped and stood still, head down. Stephanie immediately let the rope go slack betweeen them. "See now, you made that harder than need be. Everythings okay, youre alright. No big scary people hurt you, ya ol' brute." She attempted to reach out and stroke the stallions glossy ruby colored neck, but he stepped back, avoiding her touch. "Well, I guess that'll come eventually. Be warned lil buddy, if you think YOU are the king of stubborn, you never knew me as a teen. You wont win against me" she chuckled, chattering nonsense to the equine, getting him used to her voice. As Stephanie turned towards the gait, she saw Aaron studying the two of them. "Well, you and him make a nice looking pair, I'll give ya that. Something about your red blonde hair and his red coat compliments each other, haha." Stephanie grinned at him, silently noting that the Stallion was following her now, if not just a tad reluctantly. "You're up, dear. Wanna give him the once over?" It certainly was a nice perk that the man she'd married happened to be the best Veterinarian in the Galton Range area of Montana.
On-Site Vet Exam
Aaron swung the gate open to allow Stephanie to bring the pony through. Alright, babe, you know the drill. Walk him down and back, then do it again at a trot. Think you can manage it?" Stephanie gave a sarcastic laugh. He knew dang well she could handle any horse, better than he could usually. Turning to the pony she gave a soft cluck and started to walk down the flat drive. He walked compliently beside her, but she could feel him giving her the eye, and pinning and un pinning his ears. Several times she had to stick her elbow out and edge him over, he definately had no ground manners or personal space boundaries. She would have to work with him on that once he was settled in at home. Turning back to walk towards Aaron, Stephanie suggested, "Hey, since you seem to think we make a red headed pair, why dont we call this fella Red? I think its simple and suits him. Red, for fire and passion, and anger too sometimes haha."
"Whatever you want, sweety. His walk seems steady and even. Let me see his action at a trot, please" Aaron said.Turning down the drive, the woman clucked her tongue and broke into a jog, encouraging the stud to do the same. A few strides in, over come with a spurt of energy, the stud began throwing up his heals. Stephanie laughed, trying to stay out of his way and still keep him moving. Seemingly satisfied with his little outburst, Red snorted, shook his head and settled back into a trot, slowing to a stop as the once again approached Aaron.
"So far so good, he seems to be completely sound and of good health. Just a few more things to look over and we can take him to the trailer" Aaron remarked, his eyes running appreciatively over the stallions healthy, muscular frame. He proceeded to run deft, practiced hands first down one leg, then the other, feeling for any warms spots or abnormal tissue. As he approached the final hind leg, he narrowly missed a flying hoof. "AAAAahahaha! No! We wont have none of that!" Aaron scolded as he firmly smacked the studs fleshy hindquarters. Done with his exam of the limbs, Aaron pulled his stethescope out from his jacket and began to listen for the horses vitals. After a few moments of listening, and warding off a few wayward nips, the handsome young vet stood up straight, with a big grin on his face. "Well honey, I think we have ourselves the ranches first horse. He seems fit as a fiddle and proper sound. We might need to get him on a deworming regimine, but Id say other than that he gets a 100% physical pass. He could use an attitude tune up though" he said jokingly. At the good news, Stephanie's brown eyes lit up, and she had to stop herself from doing a happy dance right there on the spot and startling the pony. "Alright then, are we ready to load up and start the treck home? Lets go!", she suggested.
After a short game of push-me/pull-me, and dodg'em hooves, the couple managed to get Red loaded into the back of their stock trailer. A fresh net of hay hung in front to give him somethng to eat and play with, but for now the stud had no interest in eating. As the truck and trailer slowly made its way back down the drive, they passed a field where a pair of mares were out grazing. Suddenly, the stallion in the trailer began to trumpet and bugle frantically, sounds of hooves striking metal ringing out from behind the truck. The mares heads shot up in the air, and they neighed in response before cantering to the fence line, trying to follow the trailer. The air was filled with the sounds of the mares squeeling and the stallions trumpeting. Stephanie looked out the rear view mirror, feeling a pang of sadness for the animals and a tad bit guilty for seperating them. From Red's reaction, and that of the mares, they must have been the herd he was found swimming with when they were round-up.
Once they turned back onto the main road towards home, the commotion in the trailer slowly ceased. All that could be heard was the country music station playing on low, the occassional snort or hoof stomp in the trailer, and the soft whir of tires against the damp pavement. As she looked out the window, Stephanie saw small snowflakes starting to fall. Perfectly content now that she had her horse in tow, and worn out from the excitement and adventure of the few days, the young woman sleepy closed her eyes, leaning her head over onto her husbands lap. Dreams of the future with her new "Red" floated through her mind as she feel asleep, resting up for her shift to drive. Only 3 more days, and Red would be running around the pastures at his new home.
Welcome Home
An unexpected rainstorm had moved its way down from the mountains, splattering big wet drops against the truck's windshield. It'd had been a long 4 days of driving, but Stephanie and Aaron made the final turn down the road towards their ranch. Even though the skies were grey, nothing could dampen the excitement in the air. The trucks tires hit the gravel of their drive way, sending small stones scattering. Watching from the porch, Fernando had spotted the familiar pickup coming down the path. Leaping up, the red Aussie jumped down the porch stairs in a single bound and raced his way down the drive way, excitedly following the trailer as they slowed to a halt near the barn. From inside the stock trailer, Red gave a snort and stomped his hoof, as if to say "Finally We're here!" Aaron hastily headed towards the barn to ready a stall, holding his hands above his head in an attempt to shield off some of the rain drops. Stephanie opened the back gate on the trailer, only to be greeted by a flying pair of heels. Turning to look behind him, ears pinned to his head, Red eyed the woman as she cautiously hopped into the trailer with a lead rope. As soon as all 4 hooves were on firm ground the sturdy pony shook himself, like a large wet dog. He tilted his head into the air, his velveteen nostrils working the air, taking in all the new smells. The rain didnt seem to phase him, as the droplets began to bead up and roll off his seal-like coat. Stephanie tried to hurry along towards the barn, but her new charge seemed to be in no hurry to go indoors. As they approached the wide entry, Red halted. "Come on now, its raining. Lets get inside. There's yummy food and fresh hay waiting!", Stephanie coaxed. Red snorted and tossed his head a few times, seemingly indifferent to her pleading. It wasn't until Aaron came around the corner, shaking a bucket full of oats and grain, that Red decide he just might be interested in going indoors. Slipping his halter off over his ears once they were inside a stall, Stephanie gave him an affectionate pat on the rump, which earned her a glare and a quick flash of teeth, as the stud threatened to nip. With a sigh, Stephanie leaned against the door of the large, heavily bedded stall. She watched as her handsome horse paced a few small circles in his stall before digging hungrily into his feed bucket. He watched her from the corner of his eye the entire time, his flaxen colored forelock falling just over deep chocolate eyes; eyes that were full of mistrust and apprehension. Stephanie knew she had a challenge ahead of her, but she was determined to make friends with this equine and to make his life on DreamCatcher Ranch a pleasant one. It was already getting towards evening time, and Aaron was likely looking forward to a home cooked meal after all the fast food they'd eaten on the road trip. "Goodnight, Red", Steph called over her shoulder as she made her way out of the barn towards the cabin, where Fernando was already waiting for her on the porch.
Always Wild
Sitting in her rocking chair on the front porch, Stephanie absent-mindedly fidgetting with the fringes of her leather jacket. Her soulful brown eyes watched the dreamcatchers that hung off the porch roof slowly spin and sway in the air current. Her mind was focused on her stallion, Red. It had been several months since her and Aaron had brought him home. She thought, given some time, that the pony would settle in and come around. But he hadn't. Red still pinned his ears when humans came around, and he had even managed a bite or two, not to mention that one had to always be cautious and aware anytime you go near his hind quarters.Stephanie shifted her glance to the pasture just past the shade trees in front of the cabin. Red sat grazing several hundred yards away, seemingly content for the moment. His flaxen tail swished against his red and white painted rump. He was a beautiful specimen, a very handsome pony indeed. She and Aaron had taken to letting him stay in the front pasture. It had been many weeks since the last time they'd forced him reluctantly into his stall, trying to bring him out of the increasingly cool, wet weather. The couple still went out to the pasture with the occassional treat and a few brushes, but if Red allowed them to approach him at all, it was usually very short lived. Once the food was gone and his curiousity had run out, he'd wander off to some far reaches of the field. Today was the day. Stephanie and Aaron had decided that Red would be his happiest when not forced to try to fit into the humans world. Aaron was the one who had suggested that the stocky, resilient stallion would enjoy the Cattle Fields. There he would have hundreds of acres to roam, from the low grassy fields all the way up into the mountains, and not a human in site. Stephanie had been reluctant. After all, Red was their first horse at the ranch, and so wanted so badly to "fix" his quirks and make him her loyal companion. But it wasnt fair, thats what she wanted, and it was obvious that her pony had other ideas of happiness.
Standing up from the rocker, Stephanie whistled for Fernando to follow as she made her way towards the pasture's gate, where a nylon lead rope hung from the nearest post. Pulling a carrot from her jacket pocket, the strawberry-blonde made her way into the field, whistling for the pony. After a moment of consideration, he ambled his way over, eagerly reaching for the carrot once he was within reach. Stephanie snapped the lead to his halter as he crunched the vegetable, small, slobbery bits falling from his whiskered lips. Horse and woman lazily made their way down the dirt path, towards the mountains. Red occassionaly lowered his head, snorting and sniffing at smells along the way. Walking through the gate, Stephanie sighed as she turned towards her animal. Reaching for his halter, she fended off the pony's teeth with an elbow as she unbuckled the headstall. Reaching into her jacket, she pulled out one more treat, this time one of her homemade apple flavored horse cookies. As Red turned to gobble up the goodies, she stroked his white face a few times. All right grump, I guess this is it for awhile. I imagine we wont see you for a little while, you've got alot of places to check out now. Flicking his ears back and forth as he listened to her, Red focused on her with big, brown eyes, giving the lady a look as if to say "You aren't so bad, after all.". The stallion turned then, and glanced towards the mountains. Low, grey clouds were starting to gather among the peaks. Either rain or snow was on its way, it was hard to tell which it may be, this time of year. At first, the small stud simply started walking away. Suddenly, after only several yards, he tucked his head between his knees and let out a series of bucks, squealing and snorting in delight. With that, he was off at a gallop, to excited to look back. Stephanie couldnt help but chuckle, and even though she was still a little sad, she smiled knowing that this, indeed, was the best way for Red to enjoy his life on DreamCatcher Ranch.
Looking forward to having his ornery, cantankerous butt on my ranch
