by Cleo Kelly
Bonnie cantered up to him.
“Help him! He’s going to get hurt. What is wrong with that crazy horse?” She was breathless with fear.
“He’ll be fine if he can hang on. There’s not a thing wrong with that horse. She knows more about rounding up strays than all of us put together. That’s the best fifteen dollars I ever spent!” Baya laughed.
“How can you laugh? He’s going to get hurt.” Slapping him with her reins, she turned Gadfly toward the pinto.
Baya caught the lines and stopped the horse. “He’s going to be fine, Bonnie. Let it go. If we interfere, that pony will explode and he could get hurt. She knows what she’s doing and is doing it as smoothly as herding can be done. He’s too afraid to come off. He’ll even learn something from this. He’s followed under his sister’s care too long.” Baya turned to face the anger in her gaze. “He’s growing up, Bonnie. That mare will suit him to a tee. He hasn’t shown respect for anything, after today he will. He’ll also be doing his first real day’s work. Let him grow, Bonnie.”
She felt tears start and the fear build to an overpowering crescendo. It was too frightening to watch her son’s body slipping in the saddle as he clutched the horn. Yet her heart knew Baya was right and the only way for Daniel to learn was to ride it out.
The mare changed direction mid-stride to run after one of the dark horses that had paused for a mouthful of grass.
Daniel had quit screaming and was huddled in the saddle with a death grip on the pommel.
The pinto bared her teeth as she ran at the stalled horse. Keeping one eye on the painted pony the horse raised its head and raced for the safety of the herd. The little pinto paused, hung her head momentarily, and shook herself all over like a huge dog. Her bit rattled.
Faith rode up on the young colt. She leaned over and said something to her brother.
Daniel drew the reins in and lifted the painted head.
Together they rode after the herd.
“Dang.” Baya’s voice was soft.
“Quit using that word,” Bonnie said sharply, her fear and anger still running in shock waves under the surface.
He just looked at her, amazement written across his face.
“What? What is it now?” She asked her voice more petulant than sharp.
“If I don’t miss my guess Skip will be trained free. That is the best fifteen dollars I’ve ever spent.” He kneed his horse to follow the remuda at a purposeful canter.
Bonnie trotted slowly behind, so the Shetland could keep pace. As they reached the rocks at the bend of the path, a noise made her pause. She stopped and squinted into the shadows searching for the cause.
Beside her, Socks shaggy head came up. The Shetland pony nickered softly and took several steps toward the rocks.
Gadfly’s nose was lifted, the nostrils flaring as she shifted uneasily away. The sound came again and the pony trotted toward it.
Bonnie leaned over the thoroughbred’s long neck, trying to see what interested the pony.
A soft shuffling came from the rocks and a spindly foal came from behind the jumbled limestone.
Socks whinnied again and the little sorrel colt ambled slowly toward the shaggy pony.
They stood with their heads together, sniffing each other and snorting softly.
Hope turned to look at her mother.
Bonnie didn’t know what to do. She moved Gadfly in a large circle around the pony and colt in imitation of Baya’s watchfulness.
The foal looked terrible. Its mane was full of burrs and the thin legs splayed out in all directions.
Bonnie circled the rocks but couldn’t find anything behind them or any reason for the foal to have hidden there.
She moved toward her daughter. “Honey, we need to make Socks follow the rest of the horses down the hill. Can you do that?”
The tousled blonde head nodded. She gathered up the nylon reins in chubby little hands and pulled the pony toward the trail.
The pony moved along at his normal shambling gait.
The colt sidled away, then neighed and ran in circles.
The pony nickered but kept going.
After a weaving, nervous hesitation, the colt followed on stilted wary legs.
Bonnie brought up the rear, careful not to make any noise that would startle the colt.
~*~
Bonnie took the elevated descent slow, keeping an eye on Hope and the foal.
The other horses were gathered at the stream. Some had stopped long enough to guzzle a little water but most were settling down to a trot-walk rhythm that would take them directly to the ranch.
Baya circling the group, slowly looking over the stock. He was continually twisting to keep Faith and Daniel in view. His mare and the pinto had a tendency to reel and take after any stragglers that tried to leave and return to the valley.
One old mare kept trying to go back. The brand on her hip was so ancient it was almost unreadable. Her hairy jaw and sway back made her look like a mule. Under the graying hide her bones stuck out starkly.
Bonnie shied away from her scrutiny of Baya and honed in on the faded, aged mare. As if she read his mind, she knew Baya would think the old mare was past her usefulness.
He was checking out Faith and Daniel and counting heads. He didn’t see her or the pony and spun his mare back up the slope, before stopping sharply when they came into sight.
In front of her, the Shetland was moving down the rocky trail.
The scrawny foal followed behind, his nose hovering close to the little pony’s tail.
Bonnie’s tension was easing when she met the relieved expression settling Baya back in the saddle.
“Where’d he come from?” Faith asked as they neared. The green-broke colt under her stroking hand was docile.
By comparison, the pinto moved restlessly stepping toward the strange cavalcade.
Daniel was grimly gripping the saddle horn, his small face determined to stay on the horse.
Behind them, a welcoming nicker caused everyone to look over their shoulders. The old swayback mare jogged toward the three stragglers, her grass gut swaying from side to side.
The colt left the Shetland to run toward his mother.
Immediately, the lead mare turned on him, her teeth bared and blood in her eye.
Baya intercepted and chased her back to the herd. His piercing whistle startled the stallion drinking at the creek. He snorted and began driving the group further down the mountain.
As if on signal, Baya’s mare and the pinto tore after them.
With a moments hesitation, Faith glanced back to Gadfly and the Shetland trotting down the hill. Flashing a smile at her mother, she kneed the gelding to follow the herd.
Bonnie stopped at the stream to let the thoroughbred drink.
Socks walked into the water and proceeded to lie down.
Hope began to cry. The crying was more fretful than scared.
Bonnie rode the tall mare over and bent down. “Can you crawl up here with me?”
The little girl nodded and grabbed her mother’s hand. By scrambling up the saddle and stirrups, she crawled into her mother’s lap.
“You’ve done well, honey,” Her mother comforted. “We’ll be home soon.”
The pony stood up and shook itself like a dog, and Bonnie frowned at him while quoting Baya. “You worthless piece of hide.” She nudged the thoroughbred forward, and they rode down the green hills, heading for the ranch. Bonnie moved Hope to straddle the horse and she began whimpering.
“Hurts, Mommy.” Hope blubbered.
Bonnie thought about the long stretch to the ranch with dread. Tomorrow she’d hurt worse than she did now. The strange burning sensation in her lungs had increased. Her daughter shifted and whimpered, putting pressure on her already aching arms. It had been ages since she’d ridden and the miles they had put in today were already being felt in areas that didn’t heal readily. There were blisters and she knew that at least one of them had burst. As much as she longed for a
hot bath she was dreading the actual pain of getting into the tub.
Baya came riding into view.
A sigh of relief eased from her throat as he rode up to her. “Can you hand her down?” He asked calmly.
She nodded and let the child slip into his waiting arms.
Hope settled against his chest. He lifted her away from the saddle and cradled her tenderly. His gaze met hers over the fussy child. “She may not be an infant but she’s not far from one, either.”
“She did well today, didn’t she?” Bonnie asked in a tired voice.
“You all did.”
They rode in silence for a long way.
“Where are the others?” Bonnie’s worry began to flutter through her.
“They know what to do. They’ll settle the horses into the larger paddock in the valley. When I have had time to cull the ones we need to get rid of, I’ll move them to the pasture across the creek. We’ll have to feed them hay this winter, but they’ll be all right.”
She sighed again. The sound was lonesome in the thin air.
“What’s wrong, Bonnie?”
“I was really useless today. You, Faith and Daniel would have been fine without me.”
“We would have missed that nice little sorrel colt.” Baya smiled at her.
Bonnie’s gaze just followed a line between her horse’s ears. Her chest heaved. “I didn’t find it. Socks did. Socks was once used to wean colts from their mother. He would be put in with them so they wouldn’t be too lonely. He must think that is still his job because he walked right up to that colt and brought it down the mountain. I just followed. My four- year- old did better at rounding up animals today than I did.”
“Our four-year-old,” Baya said.
Bonnie stared at him, too surprised to say anything.
Baya was settling into her family…their family.
They had reached the lower pasture and she could see the horses milling around the paddock.
Faith had just shut the gate and Daniel was leaning on his saddle horn watching the old mare and colt.
Baya frowned and pushed his red mare into a canter.
Bonnie followed, keeping up with the smaller horse easily.
“What are you doing with these two?” His voice sounded harsh, and Faith flushed.
“The other horses tried to kill them,” Daniel spoke up with spirit. “My horse got between that big mean one…” He pointed to the large lead mare. “…and these two. Faith opened the gate and let them out. We don’t know why they don’t like them.”
Faith’s gray eyes were steely in her sun-pink face. “I’m putting them with Socks in Skip’s little pasture. The one next to the barn. Phoebe doesn’t like them, either. She’ll terrorize them if we put them with these three. Skip can move in with Gadfly and Lady. He’ll probably be fine now that he knows what to do.”
Under the gaze of his mutinous crew Baya stared at the two animals.
The colt stood head to tail next to his mother. Her tail worked overtime to keep the flies off them both. “That mare will have to go,” he muttered.
Bonnie slipped from her horse to limp toward the old horse.
The mare shifted to face her. At the sound of her voice, the old horse stretched her neck forward while the colt slipped behind the sagging old body.
Bonnie rested her hand on the bony cheek. Her fingers began scratching slowly over the ears, down the cheek, to the hollow underneath.
The sagging gray body stepped forward with a gentle blowing of her nostrils.
Mothers, they recognized each other. The human form of the duo felt tears gather as her equine counterpart snuffled thankfully that all the unreachable itchy places were getting attention.
“We will keep her.” Her voice firmed as she looked up at Baya. “She’s probably given this ranch quite a lot of its riding stock. You can’t throw her away now. She can finish out her life here. She is never to go back to the valley.”
“That is not a good policy, Bonnie.” Baya dismounted. Cradling Hope in one arm, he came to look at the horse’s teeth. “She has to be over twenty if she’s a day. We can’t afford to keep everything.”
Bonnie cast a glance around the children. “We’ll talk about it later.”
He looked into the quiet intent faces of the children before meeting Bonnie’s gaze with grudging acceptance in his nod. “Put the horses up, Faith.” He began to walk away, but turned back.
“Daniel, take care of Lady and Phoebe. Faith can do the other two. Both of you get that wet stuff off Socks. We’ll clean it up tomorrow after it dries a little.” He jerked his head toward the house as Bonnie handed the reins of the bay mare to Faith.
She hesitated before following him to the back porch. Bonnie was expecting him to start an argument the minute they entered the house. He settled Hope on the porch swing before following her into the apartment room.
She paused and waited for him to begin arguing but he walked past her into the kitchen.
“I’ll get some hotdogs and fixings together if you get swimsuits for everyone.” He tossed over his shoulder as he walked by. “We can have a picnic down by the creek. The kids deserve a treat and you can use a break from the kitchen.” He paused in the doorway to glance back at her with a small grin. “Don’t you think that would be fun?”
She nodded mutely, her mouth hanging open.
He started rummaging in the cupboards.
Bonnie went up the back stairs to get the clothing the kids would need. While grabbing beach towels and a quilt out of the closet, she discovered the red plaid picnic basket in a far corner and dug it out, too. She stared sightlessly into her vanity mirror. God, I’m stunned. God, did You see that? He’s planning a family outing. Did You know he would do that?
She looked at the heavy four-poster bed. Moving to sit on the mattress she clasped her hands together and sought calmness. Lord, I’m stunned. He keeps using words I find offensive and then he thinks of something as kind as a picnic.
Her body felt lighter, as though a burden had lifted. Unsure whether to trust this new freedom, she stood and strode around the room. Thank you for this small thing, Lord. Actually, it’s a big thing. Please give me the wisdom to know how to go on. Thank You. Touch Baya. I know he believes, but please let him come to a true knowledge of You. Thank you.
“Bonnie,” the deep voice carried up the stairs. “Are you about ready?”
“Coming!” Thank You again, dear heavenly Father. She whispered the silent prayer as she slipped into a blue tank suit and ran down the stairs to help Baya get the food prepared.
8
Faith and Daniel took turns swinging on the rope and jumping into the water, screaming as the cold water encompassed their overheated bodies.
Bonnie spread the quilt near the well-used stone fire ring in the clearing near the water.
Hope was paddling her feet from the big rock Baya had set her on.
Bonnie pulled Hope’s swimmies out of the picnic basket and began blowing them up. She walked into the water to slip the bright armbands on her littlest child.
The water was freezing.
She shivered even as she enjoyed the coolness after the scorching stickiness of the day. She sighed thankfully as the frigid water numbed her saddle sores.
Baya gathered wood and had a fire blazing in the clearing.
Faith came out of the water and wrapped herself in the beach towel before stumbling to the fire and warming her hands.
“Feels great, huh?” The deep raspy voice sounded just at Bonnie’s ear.
She kept her eyes closed as she nodded. Slowly she submerged her body into the freezing stream, gasping as she felt the water close over her chest. She opened her eyes when she stopped panting and smiled. “Feels wonderful.”
“See me. Mom!” Daniel grabbed the swing and pushed off from the tree. He released the rope with a yell and splashed into the water.
Faith caught the rope and swung off behind him. She surfaced close to her brother and raced hi
m to the bank.
“Come on, Mom,” Daniel yelled. “You do it.”
She waded out of the water. Grabbing the rope Faith held, she walked around the tree trunk and pushed off. Squealing with laughter, she swung out over the water and let go as the rope started its journey back to the bank.
Faith caught the rope and jumped in, splashing her mother as she surfaced.
Daniel followed.
Hope pushed off her rock and tried to swim toward them.
Baya grabbed her hand and waded as he walked toward them in the water.
Bonnie was braced against the tree ready to swing out over the water again. A grin started impishly as she pushed away from the trunk.
He tried to move, but hampered by the Hope’s grip he couldn’t get himself or Hope out of the way of the splash. He released Hope’s hand to dive underwater.
Bonnie swam for the shore and managed to get a lung full of air before he grabbed her feet and pulled her under. He pulled her close and kissed her.
She opened her mouth in surprise, swallowing what felt like a lung full of water. Choking, with tears running down her face, she surfaced.
“You! You!” She shoved at his chest, laughing. Her hands froze as her fingers splayed out over the line of hair there. His warmth spread up her arms, stilling her.
“Here I come!” Daniel hurled through the air toward them.
She shoved Baya with enough force that he fell back into the stream. Laughing, she slipped under the water to avoid the splash. She was still laughing when she surfaced and saw Baya sputtering and shaking water out of his hair.
With a growl he started after her, and Daniel joined the game of tag.
She turned over on her back and began kicking water back at the advancing men. She almost made it to the bank before Baya caught her again.
Daniel swam past and clambered up to sit on one of the flat rocks.
“All right woman, I got you now!” Baya’s gravelly voice held laugher. “Now you’re gonna get it, little lady. I’m gonna make you pay for treatin’ your husband so bad.”
“Yeah, Mom. What were you thinkin’? You already drove one husband off. You wanna get rid of another?” Daniel asked.