by Nancy M Bell
“Did Chance ask you to feel out the situation?” Laurel eyed her friend.
Carly shrugged. “Sort of,” she admitted. “He’s been different since I got hurt. I don’t think he’s drinking anymore and he’s not so angry all the time. Almost like he used to be before he started acting like an ass.”
“As long as he keeps his hands off me and doesn’t act like he owns me, I don’t care what he does. And like I said, it’s up to Dad.” She turned her attention back to Coal. “It was worth it, all the mess, I mean. It makes me so happy to see them like this, free like they’re supposed to be. Joey, I can never thank your dad and everyone enough for letting them stay here.”
Joey laughed. “I think Dad enjoys coming out here and watching them as much as I do.”
“Have you heard from Coll lately,” Carly changed the subject.
“We email almost every day. He’s already planning on coming back next summer and maybe Gort and Aisling too. That would be so great, to have them all here. And you could finally meet them.” Laurel’s eyes shone.
“It would be awesome,” Carly agreed.
“Totally,” Joey said.
The End
Author’s Note
There are still wild horses roaming in Alberta and British Columbia as well as the ponies on Sable Island off Nova Scotia. I have taken some liberties with this story moving Coal’s band to near Pincher Creek. Most of the wild horses in Alberta are near Sundre and Nordegg as well as the Ghost River herd.
There are two organizations that advocate on behalf of the wildies. Help Alberta Wildies (HAW) A group of concerned Alberta citizens and their friends from all over the world helping to save our Wild Horses along the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies. @helpalbertawildies. The other group is Wild Horses of Alberta Society (WHOAS). The latter group is in favour of regulated culls and birth control for the mares, Help Alberta Wildies is staunchly opposed to the culls and I fear I must agree with them. However, any group advocating for the horses is a good thing. If you want to learn more about Alberta’s wild horses, you can search the internet for these two groups. Help Alberta Wildies is also on Facebook.
Well I have given Coal and his band a happy ending, in reality, the wildies of Alberta do not get a happy ending in most cases. They are rounded up with no real supervision except by the special interest groups who advocate for them and who have no power to stop any cruelty or mismanagement. Pregnant mares have been run through deep snow and foals have died from over exertion and panic. The Alberta Government officials maintain that the horses have no natural predators, but in reality they are prey for wolves, cougars and coyotes to name a few. There is also the harsh Alberta winters, wild fires, and ticks, which in sufficient numbers can drain enough blood to kill a foal and make a grown horse anemic.
The wild horses in the United States are also facing persecution. There are many Facebook groups dedicated to them as well, if you are an American and interested in supporting them please look up The Cloud Foundation and Wild in North Dakota.
More Books by this author from BWL Publishing Inc.
Canadian Historical Brides Series
His Brother’s Bride ~ Ontario
Landmark Roses – writing as Marie Rafter
The Cornwall Adventures
Laurel’s Quest ~ Book One
A Step Beyond ~ Book Two
Go Gently ~ Book Three
The Alberta Adventures
Wild Horse Rescue ~ Book One
Romance
Storm’s Refuge A Longview Romance Book One
Come Hell or High Water A Longview Romance Book Two
A Longview Wedding Book Three
A Longview Christmas Seasonal Novella
Arabella’s Secret Series
The Selkie’s Song ~ Book One
Arabella Dreams ~ Book Two
Co-Authored with Pat Dale
The Last Cowboy
Henrietta’s Heart
The Teddy Dialogues
She’s Driving Me Crazy
Historical Horror
By N.M. Bell
No Absolution
Nancy M Bell has publishing credits in poetry, fiction and non-fiction. Nancy has presented at the Surrey International Writers Conference, When Words Collide, and the Writers Guild of Alberta Conference. She loves writing fiction and poetry and following wherever her muse takes her.
Please visit her webpage http://www.nancymbell.ca
You can find her on Facebook at http://facebook.com/NancyMBell
Follow on twitter: @emilypikkasso