Day One
It began on a day like any other, just like all the ones before. I woke up and had my signature orange juice and cottage cheese breakfast and headed out the door to check on my horse, Kimber, in the luscious green pasture with Fawn at my heels. A thunderous noise rumbled in the distance as we reached the pasture'a gate. "Fawn, what is that?" I asked the dog as she laid her ears back and raised her hackles. The noise grew louder and more distinct. "A helicopter!" I exclaimed as it came into view flying low to the mountain. "But what is it doing...?" It was flying so low I was scared for it's pilot and was positive it was crashing. That is, I was scared until I realized what it was doing... "Mustangs!" That's what it was doing the annual mustang round up, which I despised. Surely there were more humane ways to bring in mustangs, chasing them down on horse back for example to give the healthy ones a chance to get away and not get hurt. Just as I thought that very thought, the world turned slow motion... A gorgeous palomino, appaloosa rocketed off the edge of a small ledge and went down.
"SAM!!!" I yelled for one of the ranches many hands. "Saddle up and bring the medical kit!"
"Yes'm, Miss Pine," he said as he reacted without question and went to fetch his roping horse.
I whistled for Kimber and sprinted to grab a bridle and saddle from the huge, wooden barn.
"So where we headed to in such a hurry little miss?" Sam questioned as I swung into my saddle.
"A mustang might be injured on the mountain and I would like to see what our options are regarding it."
"Ah... Another mustang?" He flatly questioned as I left him in a cloud of dust. He, loyal as always, followed me up to the ridge where I last saw the mustang.
•••
"Really miss, it's almost sunset and we really should be heading home," Sam was almost to the point of begging and the greying man never did such a thing. After a full day of riding and searching, we had come up with nothing. No tracks, no hairs, no mustang.
"Alright, I giv... Woah!" I exclaimed as Kimber spooked. "What are you doing, Horse?!" She whinnied and stretched out her neck against the tie-down to smell the air and flick her ears. She began pawing and cried out again with Sam's mount doing the same.
"Well, ya reckon that we should let them lead us? Maybe they found it," Sam asked. I trust his logic so I nodded and loosened the reigns.
More quickly than I would have thought possible, Kimber found the mustang. On the ground was a muddy, traumatized creature, barely distinguishable as a horse.
"Easy fella," I cooed as the whites of his eye became visible to me. He was shaking so badly, I didn't believe he would be able to stand.
"Sam, please see if you can ease the rope over his neck," I asked of my loyal hand in a gentle voice.
He attempted twice, with the mustang thrashing and shaking his both times to remove the rope easing over his mussle. That's when Kimber leaned over and touched noses with him. His shakes immediately calmed down. She touched her nose to his flank and blew warm, moist air over his back, then touched his withers. His trembling began again, and from the back of Kimber, I didn't know what was happening. Then he stood.
"Miss...? The plan?" Sam questioned me.
"Do you believe he will follow Kimber?" I asked.
"Who knows, but we can leave the gait open tonight to see?"
"Okay, let's go." With that we set off at a slow walk back to the ranch.
•••
When we got back to the ranch at dusk, there was no sign of the mustang.
The gait remained open to our ranch that night.
Highlights:
Mustang was located and met Kimber.
It is noted the mustang is male.
The mustang does not appreciate ropes.
