The next morning, I woke up in a flurry of noise. Light shone into the barn brighter than usual, and tempest was squealing for attention over her stall door.
I got up, pulled the straw out of my hair and went to the filly.
"Easy girl, calm down. whats the matter?"
Tempest nudged my stomach, and let me leave the stall without a fight. I slumped into the morning sunlight, and saw Dad talking with Dallas on the porch.
I walked up, and smiled when Dallas put a hand on my shoulder.
"mornin' sunshine." Dad said, picking a piece of straw out of my hair.
"Fell asleep in the barn?" Dallas asked.
"yeah. I spent the night with Tempest." I laughed.
"Some sleepover." Dad said.
I nodded.
"Get inside and freshen up. Then you can help me and Dal get some cows closer to home." Dad told me, and pushed me towards the door.
I went upstairs and showered, then put on a fresh outfit before coming back downstairs and eating the toast Gram shoved in front of me. I ate eagerly, then left the house to walk beside Dallas.
"Bryanna said she wants you to take Witch instead of Ace."
I rolled my eyes, and nodded. I had been dreading this all last night. But somehow I knew this was going to happen.
I went into the barn corral, and patted Ace on my way to Jake's black Quarter Horse.
"Witch. here girl." i called.
Her head came up, and she reluctantly plodded towards me. I grabbed her halter, and lead the mare out of the corral and cross tied her in the barn. I saddled and bridled here, and soon lead her outside, where Dallas and Dad waited, sitting on Tank and Strawberry.
I placed my foot in the stirrup, and swung up into the saddle. I once again felt on top of the world. I looked at Dad, who nodded with approval.
I lifted the reins, and Witch fell in step with Tank.
"She's not bad if you got a firm hand Sam. just remember you're always the boss. Otherwise she'll get smart on you and dump ya' somehwere."
I nodded.
We found half a dozen cows grazing too far from the ranch in a small clearing through a small patch of woods. Their calves lay napping in the morning sun at their feet.
As we approached, Witch's ears pricked forward, and her gait came in quick, high footed steps. I slapped her neck to make her calm down.
She listened.
I had seen Jake do it when she was acting up.
"You cant be going all gung-ho everytime you see a cow Witchie. Didnt Jake every teach you that? Or are you just testing me?" I spoke to the mare.
"Sam, go circle 'em and bring them towards us." Dallas ordered. I nodded, and sent Witch in a wide circle around the back of the small group.
Then I took my hat off and flapped it at them.
"C'mon momma's!" I yipped, and the calves jumped up, tails waving like flags.
Witch obeyed when I asked her to trot, and when one cow contemplated rebellion, She nipped it like a troublesome colt on the hindquarters. The white-faced hereford mooed and chased after her buddies, with her calf at her side.
I kept Witch at the back of the group as Dad and Dal took up the sides.
"good mare." i told Witch, patting her neck.
By the time Jake got back, he'll get suspicious when Witch begs him for pats and scratches. He doesnt baby his mount, but I believed that Witch deserved physical praise for her work. She shouldnt be punished because her rider isnt affectionate.
Witch didnt seem to mind being in the back much. Except when we came to the river, and the cows rolled their eyes and backed right into her broad chest. Then she lunged and left savage bites on their rumps.
After we had waded all the way across the shallow La Charla, the cattle saw the rest of their herd and trotted with tails straight up to greet them. Witch was happy to get rid of them.
Dallas, Dad and I went back out, and found 2 more cows that seemed fit on staying in the shade of the big oak tree far from the ranch, just bordering Aspen Creek.
Witch was getting a workout keeping the cow from getting passed her, back to the shade. I didnt blame the poor cow, who was heavy with a calf in her belly. The day had turned unusually warm. It was only spring break.
I just held onto the saddle horn and swayed with the big black mare as she jumped and skidded to corner the cow.
The hereford finally gave up, and let out a loud sigh before following the other cow back towards River bend.
When we finished, it was a little past 1:00. We rode across the bridge just as Gram came out of the house with a pitcher of lemonade and cups. We dismounted, and left the horses ground tied while gram gave us each a full glass.
I had mine gone in seconds, and Dad wasnt far behind.
"let me take those." Gram grabbed out cups, and went back inside mumbling something about fruit salad for lunch.
Bryanna came out to greet Dad with a kiss.
"Sam, dont unsaddle Witch. Just loosen her cinch, because we'll be riding out after we have lunch." she told me, going to pet the mare on the neck.
After lunch, I helped Bryanna tack up Popcorn. She didnt want to take penny, because Witch didnt get along with her. Actually Witch didnt really like any mares at all.
Just before We mounted up, Gram came out on the porch and told me to come get the telephone.
I ran inside and grabbed it.
"hello?"
"Sam?"
"hey Jake." I said, smiling.
"How's Witch?" he asked calmly.
"I'm fine Jake. I've been having a good week also..." I replied sarcastically.
"thats good. Sorry, uh...how's your filly?" he asked, trying to sound nice.
"Well, I stayed the night in the barn with her last night accidentally. I fell asleep in her stall."
"Wyatt was mad?" he asked.
"no."
"Oh...how's Witch?"
"Good. She's nice to me because I pet her." I said.
"Dont coddle my horse!" he said, getting mad.
"Bryanna is going with me to gallop her in a little bit."
"Dont fall off. She's a lotta horse Sam."
"I know. I found that out today. She also doesnt like cattle."
"She likes 'em when they listen. She bites 'em when they dont."
"I know."
"You leavin' now?" he asked.
"I was about to until you called."
"oh...well I guess I'll talk to you later then." He said slowly.
"When are you coming back again?"
"in 4 days. me and Mom are doin' pretty good. I think U of N might except me."
"Thats good....I miss you Jake." I said quickly, nervously.
"Miss you too brat. I gotta go. You take care of my mare now. And I dont wanna come back and see bows in her hair!" he said.
I laughed, and we hung up.
I ran outside and mounted up. Bryanna and I rode for about an hour before we reached the edge of war drum flats.
"you wanna just go, or jog first?" She asked me.
"lets jog first." I said, nervously nudging Witch with my heels.
Bryanna and Popcorn trotted beside us, and moved into a lope when we did.
"are we going or what?" bryanna asked smiling.
I nodded, and touched Witch with my heels once again. She leaped into a full gallop, stretching so far that her belly almost touched the ground.
We lost Bryanna and Popcorn in the first few strides, and were running solo now across the land. Witch's neck was out and level, and her ears were pinned back. She did everything she could to make herself go faster. I leaned low on her neck, smiling into the wind. Witch was fast, and I might not be in complete control right now; but I was having fun. So was she.
We covered ground fast, and I watched the world slip past at dangerous speed. I saw the pond about a mile ahead, where the wild ones drank. today there were no mustangs. We would stop and drink, if i could ever slow Witch down. She was still running flat out when we came upon the small body of water.
When I gently tugged on the reins, Witch didnt hesitate to slow to a fast lope, and then a slow, easy rocking-chair jog.
We circled wide back to the pond, and bryanna was approaching it at a lope on Popcorn.
Witch stopped across the pond from the gelding, and i dismounted to rest Witch's legs. her neck was wet, and a small amount of foam collected at her bit. That meant she was having a good time.
After the horses drank, we mounted back up and walked back across the plain.
"You looked like Zorro galloping like that. I thought Witch was running away with you!" bryanna said, her excitement bubbling in her voice.
"It was fun! I can't believe how fast we were going. Now when I gallop Ace I'm going to feel like a bulldog instead of a greyhound!" I laughed, and bryanna laughed with me...