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Chapter 88

Ghost Riders In The Sky

"Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel
Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath you could feel
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
For he saw the riders coming hard and he heard their mournful cry"

– Ghost Riders In The Sky by Johnny Cash

The news delivered to him by Nova – initially sent from Ronno – was disturbing enough, but when the Bald Eagle – Spirit's loyal companion – let out a warning cry that men had gathered around their valleys, Bolder felt as though a dark force was moving in on them, fast and hard. Somehow he had this uneasy sensation surging through his veins that the peaceful idyllic times were gone. He had no other choice but to go and see the traps that their enemies had prepared. Part of him hesitated to leave the herd without a band stallion, yet he knew there was no other option. Rain, Esperanza and Nova had insisted that everything would be alright in his absence, but Misty did not look certain. In fact, she seemed very worried about the young stallion's departure. Before leaving, she had questioned him with furrowed eyebrows.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Bolder? We can remain together and hide further in the mountains."

The stallion shook his head. "The Eagle tells me that there are many this time around. I need to see whether we have a chance to escape them at all."

His usually collected, calm voice seemed to crack and shake with each utterance. This only increased Misty's anxiety. "Very well. Stay safe." She whispered, her gaze lingering at him with warmth.

Bolder was slightly taken aback with the gentleness of her eyes. She had always scrutinized him either with a cold glare or a provocative glow in her eyes, but now there was tenderness in them that made him want to stay back and ask her why that was. He decided against it. There was no time for such minor things. Without another thought, Bolder set out at an easy gallop, following after the flying Lord of the Sky as he led the way where the humans had camped the night before. He stopped at a small ridge, overlooking a green dale below, the sight he beheld made his heart beat violently against his chest. The two-leggeds were not around, but the huge, round yards that they had built could entrap up to hundred horses if not more. His eyes bulged wide as he realized that a hunt was being prepared and the traps were already set. He stared helplessly at the Eagle, who looked just as confused, worried and troubled as he.

It was then, the young stallion began to understand that he was still inexperienced as a leader of the herd. "What would Spirit do?" He muttered in desperation.

"It is hard to say..." The Eagle regained his stoic demeanour. "...the son of Strider has never been in this sort of situation before."

Bolder hung his head. He felt like a lost, little colt in that very second. The confinements that he was studying from above indicated that this hunt had been well-planned. What if he moved the band to the mountains only to find the two-leggeds waiting for them there? What if during the winter months, the bipeds had silently and cunningly spent their days observing the mustang behaviour in order to prepare themselves for the drive?

The breeze stirred the blood-bay stallion's auburn forelock and his ears perked as a familiar howl of the wind spoke to him. "The dark horse comes...death is on it's way...The dark horse comes...The rider brings dismay...He's after the soul...He wont let go...The dark horse comes...You cannot run...The dark horse comes...The death race has begun...He comes with hooves striking the stone...Sparks flare up within it's path...He comes for the life...That is your own...The dark horse comes...It's eyes are bloodshot red...The dark horse comes...The sight of which makes you dread, fire flares from every opening...Blood flows free and clear...It is the thing...Of every fear...The dark horse comes...It rides through the night...The dark horse comes...What a troublesome sight...Every worst nightmare...It's hair midnight black...The dark horse comes...upon the ground it leaves no tracks...It moves with silent haste...It deals death...There is no waste...The dark horse comes...Whose rider is death."

Bolder shuddered, all hair rising on his spine as a strange image formed before him. An image of a black stallion rearing, snorting and pawing up the ground, which then elevated him to the sky. "One With The Ghost...A Lone Stallion Cannot Exist..."

Sucking in his breath, his lips turned upward as he eyed the Eagle with determination. "What would Strider do?"

"Sacrifice himself for the herd." Mournful tone emitted from the majestic bird.

Nodding, Bolder swung round and took off at a fast paced canter back to the Cimarron band. His resolution, made him go faster and faster. He threw his head up and spoke to the Eagle. "You must find Spirit, my friend. If I don't make it, he must know that his herd needs him." There was no argument there. The wise bird seemed to agree with him. In a matter of seconds, the Bald Eagle had flapped his wings and turned to another direction. Bolder watched him go with a satisfied nod and continued galloping onwards. Up above him, from the direction of the grazing ground, he suddenly heard a sound that made his coat prickle and the sweat break out behind his ears. He went on with far greater caution than before, circling round a little so that he could look into the grazing ground from the dense cover of some scrub. The green valley lay below him, filled with afternoon sunshine. Running excitedly to and fro, sniffing at every trail, was the half-brother of Misty – Azul. The same stallion he had defeated in the winter and rescued Cloud's fillies from.

The blood-bay stallion stopped quietly. He remembered the words of Azul. "This is not over." He had said to him that cold, bitter day. Was he back for revenge? It was early summer...the time for stallion challenges. Without doubt, he had returned to defeat him and take over the herd. Bolder remained still and waited till he heard the sound of Azul coming. When he knew he was close, he went very silently and hid in thick trees. Azul cantered into view, fierce dark navy head up, ears pricked – listening, not watching the tracks. He seemed to be drenched in sweat. Evidently, he had travelled from far. To stop him from looking down at the tracks and possibly seeing where the Cimarron herd was located, Bolder kicked a rock and sent it bounding down the ridge. Last thing he wished, was to lead Azul to the herd. The navy stallion spun towards the sound. Bolder moved just enough for his blood-bay hide to show through the trees – to show twice – then he stood still.

Azul gathered himself into a dark curve, like an iron hoop, and shot towards the rocky ridge. Bolder watched him, deep-chested, powerful, the great, strong legs stretching over the grass and bushes. Then he went tearing down the ridge, making enough noise for ten, not just for two. He could hear Azul crashing down behind him, the heavier, older horse not managing to take the rough, steep ridge so fast. Just then, he saw that the ridge split into two a little distance below, and he determined to wait, where it divided, and see if Azul would go headlong past him. He hid in a cleft between two immense rocks, having first kicked a collection of boulders down the northernmost ridge. The boulders bounded down as though a small herd of mustangs were flying down the ridge. Azul came, and then hurtled past. Bolder was just going to move out of his cleft in the rocks and go down the other ridge, when all of a sudden he heard Azul's headlong gallop slacken and stop, and, before he could get more than a few yards away from the division in the ridge, Azul, in a fury, was charging upwards, again.

For a second, Bolder heard the echo of a stranger's voice in his ears – 'it will be either you or Azul' – but he could not run away, because then Azul would soon guess that the herd was not with him, and start looking around for the mares' tracks again. He would have to dodge and hide, take up as much time as he could and lead Azul as far as possible from any tracks the herd of Cimarron might have left around the area. After all, he was far too close to their valleys. The lonely stallion might soon tire chasing him and go after the beautiful mares and fillies instead. It would be especially encouraging if he realized that they were without a lead stallion.

Quiet as a ghost, he moved among the rocks, always being careful to leave a way of escape behind as well as in front. Then he stood, trembling with excitement, his rich, blood-bay hide streaked darkly with sweat. Azul was near the top. There was quiet for a minute, perhaps for two minutes, and Bolder did not dare move over to see where his pursuer was. Something that was half a sound, or a sound he half-heard, seemed to be very near him. Then all of a sudden he was staring into Azul's fierce eyes from behind the rock. He just had time to notice the red, fiery flesh inside the dilated, navy nostrils before he had sprung backwards into thick heather scrub, turned round and away. Azul was right behind him. Bolder felt his breath, hot, scorching like a north wind, but he also felt his own strength surge through him.

Azul was straining every ounce of his great strength to get close enough to Bolder to bite or strike. Bolder on the other hand, was calling up reserves of energy that he had never used before, trying to leap away down the rocky slope – to leap away and live. To each horse perhaps that second seemed an hour, or a day, or a lifetime. Suddenly Bolder felt himself, as one steel ball, his legs beneath him filled with an immeasurable power. He sprang, cleaving the air, almost from underneath the bounding navy, gathered himself together as he landed on a rock and sprang again. He was out of reach. A tree branch whipped him across the flanks, he smelt the tang of the leaves. Just behind he could hear Azul's breath, but each leap took him farther out of reach. He knew it was no use getting too far ahead. Soon would come the moment to stop and offer fight, to keep drawing Azul farther and farther away from the herd's tracks, lower and lower down the steep slope so that it would take him hours to climb back.

Azul was too angry to stop and think that it was really the herd of beautiful mares he was after – or perhaps he felt in all his pounding blood that it was better to kill Bolder now. It was time for revenge...the long awaited-revenge. Not once did he stop and think that while he was out here, chasing after a stallion, his other bachelor friends might already come upon the Cimarron herd and their hideout. He went plunging down after Bolder, crashing and stumbling over the boulders. Bolder, nimble and swift, kept just ahead. Right down to the Shoshone River they went, Bolder in the heat of the chase, forgot all about his first and most dangerous enemy – man. And there, on the opposite bank, listening and watching, alert and on fairly fresh horses, were two men. Bolder had seen the shining water and wanted to be in it. He had seen white sand stretching to the water at the crossing, and heather and the big bush dipping to the water from the banks, but as he saw them he saw the men, and everything was instantly blurred by the horror of the situation. All he knew was that it would be better to go downstream for a while, rather than try to get back uphill where the fresh horses would undoubtedly catch them very quickly. This all happened in one second — he saw the river, he saw the men, he forgot Azul, and he turned and fled. Azul saw the men, and he turned, too, and followed Bolder as fast as he could go.

Meanwhile, the calm and quiet with the Cimarron herd did not last long either. Rain had been grazing alongside Misty and their two colts, when she saw Esperanza's head bolting upright, her back stiffening, her nostrils dilating in horror, her ears shifting as forward as ever. It didn't take much for Rain to notice what – or rather who – had startled the palomino lead mare. Six, lonely bachelors were trotting towards them, occasionally they paused midway and let out excited neighs, as though they were in disbelief that the herd was left without a leader. Overprotectiveness kicked in the young paint as she shielded her yearling colt and alerted the other mares. Misty looked ready to rip someone into shreds, but Esperanza swiftly sprang in front of the herd and said. "You must get the herd away. Now!" She was looking into Rain's blue eyes meaningfully. "Lead them somewhere safe. I'll hold them." She spoke hastily before the bachelors could near the herd.

"You cannot fight six stallions all on your own." Rain argued in shock. "You must come with us!"

"If I don't distract them, then they will take over and split us up amongst themselves." There was gravity in the creamy mare's voice. "We won't have a chance to escape then. Do as I say, Rain!" She shoved the paint back and glared at Misty, as though awaiting her to start moving.

Misty, Nova, Willow, Goonda and the other herd members were hesitant to go as they nickered unsurely, but once they spotted that the bachelors were approaching and coming closer, fear gripped them. They turned and quickly set off. Still Rain lingered back, her eyes glistening with tears. "I cannot leave you, Esperanza. I promised Spirit I would watch out for his family."

"It's not your duty to protect me, dear. You have a colt to watch over." The palomino said, pinning her ears back and motioning her to go. "My son believed that you were destined to lead his herd and so do I. Do not disappoint us. Go...they need a lead mare now more than ever."

Rain quivered and nodded as tears rolled down her cheeks, she brushed her nose against Esperanza's forehead, whispered the words of encouragement in her ear and then followed after the departing herd. Esperanza took a deep breath and gracefully, without any fear evident on her elegant features, went forward to meet their unwanted guests. Rain kept glancing back over her shoulder, wondering how on earth would one little mare manage to hold six, muscled desperate stallions. She shivered at the thought of what they might do to her.

"Come on, let's go." She heard Misty's whinny.

Rain focused back on the horses in front of her as they were now looking at her like they looked at Esperanza. Suddenly and unexpectedly, she had become their lead mare. "Mama, what's gonna happen with grandma?" Wanbli's innocent, yet worried nicker chilled her blood. How was she to answer? She herself did not know.

"It's going to be alright, my love." She nuzzled her son's sweet face and then addressed the herd. "Please, stay together."

"Do you have a place in mind where we could hide?" Nova questioned.

Rain stared at Raven's daughter for a moment, then at Willow, then at Goonda and then her blue pools settled on Misty. A soft, dreamy image of a grassy valley by a large cave surfaced up her memories. She remembered that time when she was journeying back to the Lakota village all on her own and where she had hid herself...under the watchful eyes of the bats. The bats had reminded her of the lullaby stories her mother, Sierra, used to sing to her her...stories about her own homeland. "Misty, do you remember where Bonita's herd used to stay?"

Struck at the question, Misty gawked at her with wide eyes. "Why would you?..." She halted, realizing that that there was no time for unnecessary questions. "Yes, Rain...of course, I remember my own homeland." Even if she tried so hard to forget it...the scent of the fresh grass never left her nostrils. And it probably never would.

Rain looked relieved and pleased. "Hide them there, Misty." She said urgently. "I will stay with Esperanza. I can't leave her."

One thing the black mare had learned well was that arguing with her stubborn niece was as useless as beating ones had against a stone wall. "Fine." She grumbled. Nova opened her mouth to protest, but deep inside her heart, she too didn't wish to leave Esperanza alone with those unruly males. Grateful at Rain's loyalty and determination, she promised her. "I will watch Wanbli."

"Thank you, Nova and thank you, Misty." With that, Rain embraced her son, told him to behave and then ran back to the mother of Spirit, while the Cimarron herd hastened after their new lead mare – Misty.

Clouds of white spray splashed up in the sunlight, as the men forced their horses fast through the river. Then there was a fantastic chase, a chase that would become a part of the legend among men. Bolder knew the country along the river well, and knew, too, many of the little valleys that stretched back into the hills where he and the Cimarron herd had tried to find grass early in the spring. He thought he would keep to these valleys where trees, ferns and logs had fallen, where tea tree grew, covered with hanging leaves and creepers, and the creeks wound invisible through this tangle of dead and living bush. He felt certain that he, so sure-footed and without a heavy man on his back, should be able to race even the far fresher horses through that leg-breaking, neck-breaking country. But all the while, a figure of a black stallion, leaping to his death, kept taking form before his own eyes. No time for that. He must rescue the herd somehow! He hoped and prayed that the Eagle would alert Spirit as quick as possible so that the stallion could return and help them somehow. But another terrible thought came to his mind. What if the son of Strider...his very own cousin had been killed in human battles? He shook his head, no...Spirit was alive and he would come back to where he belonged.

When Bolder was being chased by Azul he had not thought about the men, and now, chased by men, he forgot about Azul. He went at truly breakneck speed along the banks of the river, waiting till he found the particular creek and fern-filled valley up which he intended to turn. He clattered perilously around a rocky outcrop that overhung the foaming water, he forced his way through and over a mass of fallen trees and driftwood left by floods, and all the time he could hear the crashing and clattering behind him of the pursuit. Not much farther, and he could turn away from the river and into the dark cleft of the valley where the bushes and trees were flowering and where there was the hot, steamy smell of rotting fern, and wood, and leaves in the unmoving air. His heart was thundering. How long it was that he had been galloping he did not know. The men were very close as he turned into the valley. He heard a rope whistle, and leapt into a great thicket of tree ferns.

In all the layers of rotten logs and the old fern-trunks that were interlaced, back and forth, over the creek and across the valley floor, even Bolder, who was used to the foresty areas, stumbled and crashed, but he knew the men, with their tame horses, would never get through it as fast as he. There was hope now. He looked back once, just before he plunged into a tangle of the dark-barked branches that was hung with green vines, laced with blanket bush and bracken, and he saw the men, on two bay horses, saw the vivid colour of their check shirts – and then he saw Azul. How was this going to end? If he got away from the men, could he ever get away from Azul? Would he escape only to be killed? It was impossible to go very fast. Often he had to leap from one log to another; often he broke through rotting timbers into water or squelching black soil and steaming leaf mould. The heat was oppressive in this valley where no wind stirred, but the sound behind him of the men and Azul was still there.

The sweat streamed off his blood-bay coat. He knew he must drink soon. He made an enormous effort to get ahead enough to have time to stop and drink. He looked back and could see only one man behind Azul and both he and Azul were sufficiently far behind to give him a moment at a deep, dark pool. As he drank he wondered where the other man was. Without doubt, there were many more. It was only matter of time, till they made their appearance. What was he to do? Bolder drank with gasping gulps and then went on and on, and anyone watching him – seeing the lovely blood-bay stallion leap onto a log, change feet and leap again, dance through a trap of branches lying this way and that – would hardly have known how exhausted he was. But, though he gained more distance from his pursuers, they still kept on coming. The chase was like a fantastic nightmare, slowmoving because none of the horses could go fast through the immense tangle. At last he knew that there was much less noise behind him. He looked around, standing for a moment with heaving flanks, nostrils dilating with every shattering breath. There was only Azul to be seen, and he was still following. That relentless bastard...

Bolder came to a small, peaty clearing. There he stopped and waited, his head thrown up proudly, even though he gasped for breath – at least he could snatch a few minutes' rest while Azul plunged on up the valley through all the entanglement on the ground. As he stood waiting, the last glittering gleam reflected from the sunset died out of the valley. Then a strange green glow began to flow through the deep valley. There Bolder stood, in the little clear patch of ground by the creek, surrounded by the interwoven green bush, with the tall white pillars of trees, and the green light. There he stood, waiting for Azul. Azul came, striving to gallop towards his enemy, but slowed down by all the tangle on the valley floor. His breath was rasping in and out, and Bolder had had time for his own breathing to have lessened to deep, pounding breaths. Azul was exhausted and so was Bolder, but here, with the flowing green light becoming deeper and deeper as evening approached, they must fight. Azul let out a roar of rage and hurled himself at Bolder. It was a strange fight. Both of them exhausted, yet unwilling to let it go. Unwilling to stop and focus on a bigger problem: The men were in their territory.

It was a weird fight between two horses that were too tired to hurt each other, a fight that went on, in silence, till they both dropped down at the farthest corners of the clearing, unable to move. Night came then, and the green light became grey, and then darkness covered the two stallions where they lay. It was Bolder who gasped first. "Listen, I wish not to kill you. The two-leggeds are here...they have built large traps. We have to stick together if we want to remain free."

"You don't wish to kill me..." Azul repeated with a sardonic laugh as he panted hard on the ground. "...my six friends are probably dividing your mares amongst themselves and you wish not to kill me...you are so foolish and naive." He laughed again.

It were these words that put an end to Bolder's exhaustion as he desperately leapt on to his feet and charged full speed ahead, galloping hard and fast towards the Cimarron herd.

The six bachelors were almost playing with Esperanza. They ignored her every word of caution and instead lashed at her. They circled her like hyenas, hungry and determined, harassing and teasing her with crude jokes. The bachelors discovering that the band was nowhere in sight, unleashed their frustration on the mare. Some tried to bite her, some kicked, the others straight up attempted to jump at her. Esperanza fought like she had never fought before. Her creamy hide was drenched with sweat as she kicked at the stallion, who attempted to mount her. Surprised at the mare's resilience, the bachelors saw her as a sweet challenge. It would be fun to see her break. The temperature was rising and both Esperanza and the agitated males were soaked. Gasping for breath, Esperanza wondered how long would it take for them to tire of her. Just when the palomino mare considered that she should just stand and let them have their way with her, a galloping sound of pounding hooves reached her ears. Before she had time to blink, someone had charged like a whirlwind amongst their mix, double-barreling the stallions to fend off their unwanted advances.

"Rain?!" The mother of Spirit shrieked in disbelief.

"I'm not leaving you!" The paint mare said firmly as she positioned herself in front of the tired old mare and glared threateningly at the stallions.

One chestnut stallion grinned when he beheld the sight of Rain. "You see this boys? We have not one, but two little beauties to play with. I think taming this fiery thing will be the most enjoyable." He stepped forward to get closer to her, but the furious paint slashed the side of his face with her teeth. This action infuriated the burly chestnut, he screamed and swung his legs at Rain's side, but Esperanza was quick to push the paint out of the way.

"I think it's time we show them who is on top." The chestnut suggested, insulted and annoyed that his blow had been dodged.

"Gladly." Another smiled menacingly. The six of them split up into two groups. The three stallions circled Rain and another three circled Esperanza.

"You shouldn't have come back." Esperanza cried mournfully, knowing full well what awaited them.

But Rain stood firm in her decision. "We're in this together."

"Why don't you fight someone your own size?" A tough, strong and powerful neigh caught everyone's attention. A creamy stallion, illuminated by the moon's rays stood with a raging expression.

"Cloud." Both Esperanza and Rain let out a relieved sigh. Now all six of the bachelors turned on him. Esperanza's eyes darted behind Cloud as she looked for his herd, but they were nowhere to be seen. He probably hid them somewhere before rushing to their rescue. Still...how could one stallion, who was also nearing advanced years, defeat six younger stallions?

Her question did not need to be answered, for she felt Rain nudging him and from another direction, she spotted Bolder rushing towards them like there was no tomorrow. He appeared as though nothing that was transpiring before his own eyes seemed to matter anymore. Something far more greater was occurring...something far more dangerous.

"They're coming!" The young stallion cried on top of his lungs, his face conveying horror. "The riders! There's many of them! Run! All of you!"

It was then all the mustangs stared behind the blood-bay and like ghosts, gleaming in the moonlight, in their view came many men on horseback. They were charging at them with whips, lassos and foaming dogs. They were yelling and whistling, but for a moment in that ghastly night, their enemies seemed as though they were thundering from the dark sky itself. It was as if the death and destruction were in the sky.

Only few more chapters to go.

The part with Esperanza and Rain was inspired by a true story of a courageous, brave, warrior mare – Rikki of Fish Springs. When her herd was stolen by a rival stallion, her lead stallion returned to fight him. While the two stallions fought for Rikki and the herd, Rikki and her family were tag-teamed by three bachelors. Rikki fought them like a stallion with the assistance of her little niece, Fury (Fury left the comfort of her mother and brother to help Rikki) and defended her herd. It was a sight to behold! She won the hearts of many that day, including mine. She was a fearless warrior and still is. Unfortunately, Rikki and her herd were trapped by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) in 2019 and lost their freedom. Luckily, they were adopted by a wonderful family, who will keep Rikki and her small herd together in a vast land where they can run free. Rikki proved that mares can be just as powerful, strong, loyal and determined to keep their family safe as any stallion. This chapter is dedicated to you, my warrior queen!