Chapter 1: Heading West
The dusty streets of the small southern town of Miradero were vacant for everyone was crowded in the town stands watching the rodeo one woman in particular rode around the ring. Her wild dark brown hair flowing in the wind as she rode her white stallion, her sun kissed skin gleamed in the evening light as she sang in Spanish.
"Escuche el viento soplar ver la poderosa águila volar Siente el sol en su cara Confía en que"
As day turned to day the woman rode over to her husband kissing him on the cheek. "Encontrarás tu caminoy cuando la noche es fría y oscura Sepa que tiene fuego en su corazón" She sang smiling at her husband.
The red-haired man smiled up at his wife before turning to look at their son sitting in his lap. The boy had his fathers red hair and pale skin, but he had his mothers green eyes. He was different then most children, but the woman loved her son despite his differences.
She held her little sons small hand smiling. Remember to always be fearless mi hijo. She brushed a strand of hair from his face as she climbed back onto her horse and started to sing again this time in English.
"Be strong, be brave"
"Let courage lead the way"
"Stand tall and know who you are"
She sang as she rode up a ramp. Her horse reared up fireworks exploded behind them.
"Wild heart, wild soul"
"Roam free to the unknown"
"And know that you have everything you need"
"to be fearless..."
Over the next few days of the rodeo the woman rode performing incredible leaps through the air her vibrant magenta dress standing out against the gold fabric roof above her. However that day everything changed. She leapt through the air on her horse.
"Be strong, be brave"
"Let courage lead the way"
"Stand tall and know who you are"
"Wild heart, wild soul"
"Roam free to the unknownnnnn!"
People screamed horrified. People shouted as the rushed about the ring. There had been an accident. And the beautiful rider, Milagro Navarro-Prescott was no more.
16 years later:
Sunlight streamed through the window the tan walls awash with a gold glow. A cluttered desk sat in the corner littered with drawings and paintings a calendar hung on the wall a date was circled in red ink...Todays date.
"Hunter, you awake bud?" A red-haired man opened the door the same man from the rodeo all those days ago except now he was slightly older a few grey hairs shone through the red. He saw a lump under the blankets.
"Hunter come on bud its time to get up." A tired mumble came from under the blankets. " Ok if you say so, Its to bad I made...Chocolate chip pancakes." Pancakes, where! The teen said instantly shooting out of bed, his red hair a mess.
"Aha, got ya!" The teen collapsed back onto his bed. "I cant believe I fell for that." Come on bud come down for breakfast, I wasn't kidding about those pancakes. "I'll be down in a minute." Ok don't take to long, alright? "Todays a big day today."
The teen stayed lying on his bed for a few more minutes before he sat up. He turned and looked at the calendar. "I guess todays the day. How I wish it wasn't." Hunter climbed down from his bed and walked towards the door.
He froze however when he saw his reflection in his bedroom mirror. He wasn't like other people. He had slightly twisted face as well as an equally twisted spine. The hump made it almost difficult to sleep sometimes so he always lied on his side.
He shook his head and walked into the landing the sunlight filtering through the upstairs window. He walked downstairs his father sat on the other end of the table a cup of coffee in hand.
After the finished breakfast, the packed up the car and started the long journey to his aunt and uncles house. He hadn't really wanted to go but his dad thought it would be good for him to spend the summer out in the desert get some fresh air, a change of scenery is what he'd called it.
School had been hard for him this year It had been the fifth school he'd been this year. He kept getting bullied and no matter what his dad did it didn't seem to go away so easily. So they were going to spend the summer with his uncle in the town of Miradero.
It was a small dusty old town in between Texas and Mexico. His father used to take him here when he was little even long after his mothers death. However they'd stopped going as he got older. He wasn't sure why. Maybe the memory of his mothers death was to painful for him.
His mother had been the star of the towns annual rodeo she used to perform tricks on her horse. Unfortunately one of her trick cost her, her life! He however remembered only two thing about his mother. A song she used to always sing during her shows and the words "Be Fearless."
How he wished he could be fearless like his mother. He'd never even been on a horse. He remembered so many times begging his father to teach him how to ride. But his father refused. Probably frightened he'd end up like his mother.
He heard the whiny of a horse drift through the open window. He sat up instantly. He peered through the open window. At first he couldn't see anything but then...He saw it! A large golden tan horse with a wild black mane ran through the fields next to them.
" Dad! Dad! Look!" A horse. The boys father looked at the window and smiled. "A wild Mustang." He said smiling. Mustang? Yeah you'll see a lot of wild horses running through these hills and fields. Wow. The horse's eyes met his before he disappeared.
A few people walked around the town as his father stopped to ask for directions. "Excuse me, sir. I'm looking for the old Prescott house." The old man walked over he seemed to be the towns sheriff.
" Well I'll be, Nathen Prescott!" Oh, Fernando I almost didn't recognize you. You're the sheriff now I see. Yep. His eyes traveled to the back of the car locking on Hunter. "And is that little Hunter. Why the last time I saw him he was just a little baby has it really been this long?
"He's got his mothers eyes." Yes, Yes he does. Nathen said smiling. He shook his head. So? "Oh right well its up that hill cant miss it. I'm surprised you don't remember it." It's been a while. "Well your brothers taken nice care of it while you where gone. Hope you'll stick around for the annual summer rodeo. See ya later.
Rodeo? "like the ones mom used to be in? Can we go?! Pleeeeeeaseee!" We'll see. Lets just get to the house first. The teen thought about the wild horse he'd seen back in the fields. Would he ever see that horse again?
"Were here." He looked out the window at the . Rickety yet beautiful old farmhouse it walls painted a pale cheerful yellow. He stepped out of the car to take in the scenery. He could see the town below and beyond that sloping green hills and tall dark mountains.
Hunter watched his father struggle with unloading there bags from the car. "Need a hand with that stranger" Hunter turned to see a man who looked a lot like his father walking toward them.
Unlike his father his uncles hair was more dark brown then red, and he had blue eyes instead of green. "Good to see you Nate." You to Charlie. His uncle turned to look at him and smiled. And I know who you are. Last time I saw you, you were this small, now look at ya...All grown up...If your mother could see ya I know she'd be proud.
The teen smiled nervously. "Now come on I know your cousin's been dying to see ya. She been pestering me nonstop asking me when you guys would get here. The smell of something delicious cooking wafted through the air.
"Smells good, doesn't it?" If its one thing your aunt knows how to do its cook. "Lucky sweetheart can you come here?" Coming papa. A little girl with long dark brown hair ran into the room, her hair falling down her back in waves.
"Can you help you cousin take his bags upstairs ." Ok, follow me. His young cosoun led him the stairs to a medium sized room at the end of the room. There where horses painted on the white walls and horse statues on the dresser.
"Papa said you liked horse so- Its perfect, Thanks. "I'll let you get settled in then, your probably tired. Diners at 6. See ya latter. He collapsed on the bed tired, however before he could drift to sleep something caught his eye.
He could see what looked to be light coming from a crack in the wall. He walked over and peered inside surprised by what he saw. On the other side was another room. He pulled the dresser back to reveal a smaller room. It must have been his mothers because it had what looked like colorful dresses and riding gear.
He picked up a picture of his mother from a chest. He smiled at the smiling woman in the picture. "She looks happy." I wish I'd known her. He sighed walking back into his room setting the picture down next to his bed.
That night he tossed and turned restlessly in his sleep. All he could think about was that horse. He wonder if his mother had ever rode a horse like that. He wished she were here. He'd give anything to see her. However Hunter's summer was about to get interesting.