THE RIDE
The door flew open and she jumped out of the bus, running with her long hair flowing in the cool-spring breeze. She lept to the gate and holding on to the top rail hollered, "Come Boy!"
Almost immediately a rumble of hooves could be heard from beyond the hill above the sound of the wind whistling through the barren trees. A whinny loudly blared as he crested the hill, long dark mane and tail flowing out behind the chestnut gelding as he raced to the corral in anticipation of treats and play-time. He ran up to her on a full gallop, stopping just short of the gate in a whirl of snow. He nuzzled her with his nose and she leaned forward to give a big hug, and cleverly threw the lead shank of a halter around his neck with a giggle.
He calmly stood still while she haltered him, and obediently followed her over towards the barn where she tied his lead to the top rail. Soon she was out with the brush. She started at his mane and worked her way back and then down, how he loved being brushed.
"There you go Total, that feels good doesn't it" she said while brushing his rump, his lip curling in delight.
She placed the thick soft saddle pad on his withers, sliding it back into position. Then she threw the saddle expertly into place on his back, and tied the cinch.
Total looked back over his shoulder at the horse and rider standing patiently at the corral gate and acknowledged them with a soft whinny.
"It's OK there fella," she said while leading him out of the barn.
She mounted him easily, seeming much older than her 13yrs suggest, and placed her feet in the stirrups. She felt at home again, free of the stress of the school day and general teenager stuff.
As they walked slowly into the field, a gust of cold wind caused her to shiver and roll up the collar of her slicker, and a few flakes of snow began to fall.
The lone rider patiently waited in the field for her, and pulled up alongside her. The little sorrel mare gently nuzzled Total as she walked alongside, and he nuzzled back. They are very familiar with each other.
"I'm very proud of you," said the grizzled cowboy dressed in an old weathered jean jacket, jeans, cowboy boots and an old Indiana Jones type hat, "You really handle him well."
They continue walking silently with the horses shoulder to shoulder, up around the corner of a bush and down an old path through the trees. It was snowing large fluffy flakes now. The trail meandered for another quarter-mile and then opened into a hay field.
"Look at the deer, there's the big guy we saw last year!" said the man, pointing a gloved hand at a nice whitetail buck.
"Wow! What a beauty!" she whispered, horses now standing still with ears cocked forward, "Maybe we'll get him this season."
They all stood silently for several minutes, admiring the magnificent animal.
"I really enjoy these rides with you. You're growing up so quickly, I want you to know how happy it makes me that you love riding here," said the old man. She smiled and rubbed Total's neck.
They sat still admiring the deer for several more minutes,
"Well, I'd better go back," she sighed, "I have lots of homework tonight and only have time for a short ride today."
"That's OK, maybe we'll get in a long ride tomorrow. You sure don't want to let your schooling go down hill," he said, "It really is the most important thing."
With a sigh she turned around and headed for home. The old cowboy pulled up alongside and the horses once again greeted each other with a quick nose-rub.
As she entered the corral the cowboy slowed and turned, "We'll see you next time, I'll watch him for you."
Total turned and whinnied as his companion walked away.
She dismounted and led him into the barn, tying him to the rail. Then she unsaddled him and once again brushed him.
"Good fella," she said while brushing, "I love being able to ride at the end of the day."
She then handed him a few horse-treats, which he slowly savored, eyes half-closed with his favorite buddy draped around his neck in a tight hug.
She walked from the barn with him following, nose to shoulder. She stopped turned to him, "You know, you're my best friend. I just wish Papa was still here to see this. With the way he loved his horses, I'll bet he'd be right here with us."
She turned to gaze at the field with a sigh. It was clean from the new-fallen snow, except for the single set of tracks Total and her had left behind.