I am terribly sorry for the almost year long wait for this chapter. I have no excuse. I wasn't really in the mood to write anything and nothing inspired anything for this chapter. Now, I have a cold and am bored. So, I'm attempting to write the chapter. Hope you like it.
Linc tried to get the stallion to obey him and follow the rein commands, but it wasn't working. He wondered why and had just taken a deep breath and straightened in the saddle, when he happened to look straight ahead. Shit. Straight ahead, staring at him in anger, horror, and for one, loathing, were the Ely brothers. His brief pause had made his grip on the reins falter. The stallion below him was allowed to bring his nose from where it was buried in his chest, and he too advantage of that.
Nate, Bryan, Quinn and Kit all watched Linc as he tried to control their youngest brothers' stallion with little success. They noticed when his attention waned and how the horse took advantage of that.
Jake and Kit watched as the black muzzle emerged from the deep chest it was buried in, and then take a breath. They watched as he lightly danced, which looked graceful despite the abundance of weight on his back. They watched as he bowed his neck elegantly. He was a majestic sight, if you forget the man on him. With his neck arched, his thick mane flowed like an obsidian river down his neck and the forelock flowing from between his ears and covering his eyes from time to time. They watched when the stallion stopped dancing and brought his head up, his mane flying beautifully. They watched, and now listened, as the stallion released a loud neigh the reached far and wide. They watched as he reared lightly, and how Linc had to wrap his arms around the elegant neck. The stallion came back down and Linc had to let go before then, as he couldn't reach the neck otherwise.
Linc seemed to get his thoughts in order and strengthened his grip on the reins and tried to steer the stallion away from the Ely's. However, he was too late.
Jake turned around and faced the mountains. Kit and the others noticed and turned to look in the direction Jake had. Nobody heard it, other than Jake, until seconds later. It was thundering. It sounded angry and protective at the same time. Far away, they noticed moving shapes coming towards them, one coming faster than the others. They watched as it got closer, and how the space between the one in the front and the group behind grew the closer the lone one got to them. They watched the dust the flew up from behind the one. They watched as the shape got clearer and clearer, until they knew what it was. They watched as the majestic white stallion came at the black stallion's call. They watched as he thundered his way towards, not them, but to Linc and the black. They watched as Phantom's ears were hidden in his windblown mane, and how his eyes were white and his nostrils flared. They watched as he narrowed in on Linc, his personal tormentor.
Linc couldn't believe it. He finally got to ride the stallion he wanted, well, second to one as he couldn't ride his first choice. Now, it looked like he might be seriously damaged if the white stallion charging at him was any indicator. He released his grip on the reins completely, and was in the process of taking his feet out of the stirrups when he was abruptly thrown off the black stallion. The black had reared suddenly when he felt the reins go completely slack. With his back free, he spun around to the man who had ridden him without permission and had torn his mouth to pieces. He pinned his ears back and bared his teeth, about ready to lunge at the man, when he felt a nip to his hindquarters.
It worked! Was all the black to think when he spun around in anger and was looking at the white stallion who had helped him, and taken him under his wing, so to speak. He nickered towards the elder stallion and without looking back, went over to him and nuzzled his neck and nibbled on some white mane. The white allowed him for a moment, before nudging him away from him and towards people he just noticed were there. It was his new owner and his brothers.
Jake watched as the Phantom came to help his new horse, and how he charged at Linc. How he stopped the black from killing the man and then allowed the black to take comfort from his presence. Then how he nudged him towards him and his brothers. By doing that, they saw the damage done to his delicate mouth. It was all bloody and torn. Jake dismounted from Witch and approached the stallion slowly making his way over to them. He looks exhausted, Jake thought. The stallion stopped a few feet from Jake and watched Jake approach him. Jake closed the few feet between them and held his hand out for the horse to get his scent before he attempted to touch him. He went to the horse's shoulder and put his left arm between his neck and chest, and ran his right hand down the neck and along his shoulder. Jake slowly moved backwards, closer to the horse's head. When the muzzle was just a couple inches off of his shoulder, he reached up and pulled the band over the ears and slowly removed it from the stallion. He reached a hand down and held it under the black's mouth to get the bit when the stallion could release it. When it was out, the horse took a deep, shuddering breath and relaxed a little. The stallion looked at Jake in what seemed like gratitude and lowered his head the few inches to rest his head n Jake's shoulder. Jake reached up both of his hands and ran them down both sides of the sweaty neck.
While that was happening, the Phantom pranced angrily towards Linc and bared his teeth at him. He reared and neighed in anger and pawed the air before landing dangerously close to Linc. Linc was terrified and was just staring up at the horse he tried with everything he had to capture him, just to own him. He's beautiful was all he could think. He sighed in relief and as if he was suddenly boneless, flopped onto the ground.
Jake watched as the Phantom came over to inspect the black that was still resting on his shoulder. He didn't stiffen up when the Phantom came up behind him to sniff at the blacks muzzle and face. He didn't do anything when the Phantom aligned himself beside the black, facing him. He also didn't do anything when the great white muzzle sniffed his face, blew into it, then lowered his head onto his right shoulder. The Phantom backed away a little bit and seemed to stare Jake in the eyes. You are forgiven seemed to be in those wise eyes belonging to the legendary stallion. Then, the white stallion turned on a dime and thundered away, his job done.
Kit, Quinn, Nate, Bryan and Jake turned to watch the white breeze across the land in seconds to gather his herd and led them away, back into the mountains. They still gazed after them as the dust settled after they disappeared.
Jake was the first to turn around and focus his attention on his stallion. He slowly backed away from under the elegant head. He grabbed some thick black mane and led him towards Witch. He placed the bloody bridle over his saddle horn and mounted up. He looked back at his brothers then flicked his eyes towards Linc. They got the message and nodded at him. He put Witch into a walk and started off for home, with the black stallion beside him, his muzzle periodically touching his leg or back.
Again, very sorry for the extremely long wait. I hope this is good and you enjoy it.
I still don't have a name for Harry yet, so...any ideas are welcome.
-Sarah999
