Chapter two: The wrangle
"Hey, pretty girl. We're going to lead you back home if that's alright." Alan said softly. He continued to talk to the animal and managed to wrap the lead rope around her neck. "Come on." He said firmly to the animal. The filly startled at a sudden breeze and bolted. Sam gave the signal to her horse and Charger weaved to block the filly. The filly tried to dodge, so Sam reached her arm out to grab the lead rope and took a tumble off her steed and was all but hugging the filly from the front around her neck.
Alan saw and his mind worked quickly to work out a solution.
"Freeze Sam!" Alan yelled. "Help her Lord," he prayed. If she followed his instruction she would far well. A metallic taste of fear rose in his mouth at the thought of what could happen if she didn't. All the filly had to do was place a well-placed kick to a vital organ or head to severely injure her or worse.
The filly seemed slightly surprised by her falling and backed up to get out of her way. Sam still held on and used the movement of the filly to get her feet under her.
"Whoa! Whoa." She said, pushing the filly backwards, applying pressure to show the filly she was the one to listen to. She had no idea why she wasn't being reared up on by the young horse but perhaps she was surprised by her falling on her. The halter hung from the lead rope, too close to the filly's hooves to be safe. The only way she was likely to get the horse to really obey was to get the halter on her or to lead her with the rope. She had to get it off the ground for both their sakes. She pulled the halter up with one hand, and applied pressure with the rope with the other. Alan was cautiously walking back to his mount in case the filly bolted again.
"Sam." Alan. "Lead her as close to Charger as you can and try and get that halter on her."
Sam shot him a dark look. He sighed and said a prayer to God that she'd figure it out.
The halter finally in her hands and the filly curious but relaxed, she positioned the halter under the nose and then slowly slipped it over the head and fastened it in place. She breathed a sigh of relief. She could feel Alan's gaze on her and hear his sigh.
"Alright, let's head back." Alan said. "You alright, Samantha?"
She smiled a small smile and nodded. He had a feeling she wasn't entirely alright. She winced when she walked towards Charger.
"Samantha…" he said. "What happened?"
His friend winced again.
"On second thought, I think I hurt myself."
"Should I lead the filly?"
"No, I need to walk." She said. She tried to lead the filly but grimaced. "Can you lead Charger?"
"Hamstring?" he asked, after seeing her rub the back of her leg directly under her butt.
She nodded and doubled over. Alan was at her side as quickly as he could dismount and lead both horses to her. He searched her face and checked over the rest of her for any scratches or injuries.
"Samantha, easy. It will pass, deep breaths, breathe." He instructed. There were tears forming in her eyes and her complexion was taking on a green pallor. "Are you feeling nauseous?"
She nodded.
"It's the pain, try to keep breathing. You're going to be ok. You did so well, Sam," Alan said, suppressing the urge to stroke her hair to comfort her.
"Thanks. Let's walk to the stable." She ground out. Alan put a hand on her shoulder and muttered a few words of a prayer under his breath. He tried to get her to stretch it but she was anxious to get moving.
They proceeded slowly, the filly walked behind Sam, who as if by some sort of magic stayed close. It was as if the three beasts knew Sam was hurt as they were compliant and gentle. Alan checked on Sam any time she changed her pace, his eyes on her and he hoped she felt his concern. She was edgy, giving him a pointed look when he asked one time too many how she was. He could tell it was the pain playing with her mood.
When they reached the stable, Anthony was there to meet them. Alan took the filly and put her in her stall and together they groomed and put the horses away. Sam was banished by Alan to a bench until she felt the pain subside.
Sam got up from her sitting position and stretched, glancing at her watch.
"You hungry?" she asked to the boys.
"Yeah!" Anthony yelled.
"I could eat." Alan said. He knew Sam wasn't intending on sharing a meal meant for two with three.
"Picnic?" Alan suggested.
"I'd say in the house. The wind's picking up." Sam interjected. Alan's face fell but he nodded.
"I put the basket you had inside in our fridge, you left the door unlocked to the truck." Anthony said.
"Good job Tony, could you get it for us?"
"We should all go in to wash up a bit." Sam said, gesturing to the dirt and horsehair now on their clothes and skin.
"I agree." Alan said, with an odd smile on his face. He pointed to the concrete floor. "Hey, could you pick that up off the floor?"
Sam turned to where he had pointed.
"What on the floor?" she asked when she saw nothing. She went to turn back and was greeted with water shot at her. She must have seen it and dodged the stream of water. Alan was holding the hose they'd used to fill up the horse's water buckets, with his hand on the trigger.
"Oh, sorry, missed your boots." He said with an impish grin.
"Alan!" Sam exclaimed.
He chuckled and took aim more decisively this time. Sam tensed and braced but spoke her peace.
"Alan, don't you dare!" she demanded.
He stayed resolute, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. She raised her hands in astonishment.
"Put, it, down! I'm hungry and I really would like to not remember this as the time you soaked me at a stranger's house."
His face dropped in acceptance and he placed the hose back.
"Alright, sorry," he said.
"Yeah, I'm sure you are," She teased. "I'm heading to the house." She strode off quicker than Alan thought she could with a formerly pulled hamstring.
"I'll come with you." Alan said, smiling. "I see you're feeling better."
Sam looked at him and her look softened. She smiled and he thought he saw color come up on her cheeks. Alan's father always said you can trust a person who blushes because they won't hold anything essential from you. He felt that with Sam it was certainly true.
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