yeah, when i said brunette in my last chapter, i actually meant mustard. i renamed her in a different story, so yeah...once again, my chapter was deleted, so im writing this for the second time. wont be as good as it was before :(


"Dunder, Dunder, Dunder. You're a smart pony, what on earth should I do with this thing?" Mustang dangled the rattlesnake rattle by its leather boot lace in front of the horse. She was sitting on the fence in the back of the lodging house. She loved all the guys, but sometimes it was nice to get away from them. She heard laughter from the building and couldn't help but smile. She had considered moving to one of the girls' lodging houses, but she was welcome here and couldn't ask for friends more perfect. Dunder sniffed the rattle and nipped at it. "Hey! I'm not trying that hard to get rid of it!" She dropped it into her pocket and grabbed her horse's ears and rubbed her face against his. "Oh my gorgeous baby, what would I do without you." She sat up and tickled his muzzle while he lazily nipped at her fingers. "You're the perfect guy, you know that? How bout you an me ditch dis town and ride off inta the sunset somewhere?"

"Yeh talkin ta me? Oh no, must be da horse, right?" Mustang turned to see Kid Blink approching. He climbed the fence and sat down beside her.

"Yeah, sorry," she laughed. The sat in silence for a little while, Dunder nibbling at their shoes. "So, we talked ta yer friend at da tracks today, afta yeh left." She looked up at him, confused. "Da rattlesnake guy. Calls himself Rattler. He was real interested in ya. Said it was because you were da foist person in a long time ta actually listen to him. I told him you were good at dat, but ta watch out, cause yeh're a pretty good talker too." She smiled and pushed him. Neither spoke for another moment. "We should probably go inside. It's gettin dark an yeh know how Dutchy gets when yer otta his sight for more dan thoity seconds." Laughing, they climbed back over the fence.

"Good night handsome," she called to Dunder over her shoulder.

"Awww, yer talkin ta da horse again, aren'tcha?"

"I thought that was obvious, since yer da only otha one out heah." Blink stopped walking and crossed his arms, but a smile played on his lips.

"Dat sounded like an insult!"

"Good, it was supposed to!" She hadn't stopped and didn't even turn around. He ran forward, grabbed her arm, and lifted her over his shoulder. "Hey! No wonda yeh don have a goilfriend! Yeh can't take an insult!"

"So dat's da secret, is it? Let em insult me?" He set her back on her feet. "I'll have you know dere are girls linin up ta go out wid me!"

"Ha! I'll believe dat when I see it!"

"Well open your eyes."

"Oh, you mean dat line," she said, pointing to a random spot somewhere in the distance, "no, dey ain't lookin fer you Blink, dey're heah fer Davey." Mustang laughed and ran inside, Blink close behind. It was common knowledge that Mustang thought Dave was some sort of creature that crawled out from under a rock, no matter what he said to her. They tripped up the stairs to the bunk room where the rest of the newsies were. Racetrack, Jack, Dutchy, and some others were sitting on the floor playing poker. She walked up and covered Dutchy's eyes from behind. "Guess who!"

"I dunno. Uhhh...Mush?" he said, thiking of a random name. Mush, who was sitting right across from him, looked up. Mustang leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.

"Nope." She sat down beside him.

"Oh, that's good. Wouldn't want him ta kiss me." The others laughed. Mustang leaned her chin on his shoulder, looking at his hand. She looked at the money in the middle and at the money he had left in front of him. She sat back and hit him in the back of the head.

"You idiot. Gamble away yer rent too, why dontcha? What's wrong wid you?" Dutchy glared at her, fixing his glasses. Racetrack, who had already folded, raised his eyebrows. Whispers went around the circle. Jack smiled and pushed a few more coins in. Then he lay his cards on the table.

"Better keep her away from yeh next time, huh?" Jack started to pull the money towards him, but Dutchy put a hand on top. He lay his cards down to reveal a royal flush.

"Better not listen ta her next time she messes wid yer mind, huh?" He pulled the money in front of him and placed an arm around Mustang's shoulders. "I, on da otha hand, think I'll keep my poker buddy." He kissed her on the cheek. "Best I've done all night. Think I'm done now." He pocketed the money and stood. "Nighty night."

The next day, Mustang went with Racetrack to the races again. She had managed to convince Dutchy and Kid Blink that she could manage if she were attacked. Besides, she had Racetrack. That one was less than reassuring. So, while Racetrack headed to the betting booth, Mustang worked her way down to the corner of the stands right next to the starting gate.

"Hiya Mustang."

"How da ya know my name?"

"Talked ta Kid Blink an Racetrack about yeh yesterday."

"Oh no, whad they say?" Rattler smiled.

"Nothin too terrible. I was wonderin somethin." She sat down next to him. "You have a horse, right?" She nodded. "Ya a decent rider?" She nodded again. "Any chance yeh'd be interested in racin?" Her mouth fell open.

"What?" She stared at him, wide eyed.

"See, I talked ta da ownas of a horse named Firebird. She's not been gettin along well wid her current jockey an traina. I told em I'd work wid er fer free if dey'd let me pick my jockey. Dey said sure, if I really wanted to. Pretty sure dey was plannin ta send er ta auction anyway."

"Wait, dis racehorse is a mare?" He nodded. "An yer trainin her?" Another nod. "An you want me ta be da jockey?"

"If yer interested."

"I'm interested. How about dis. Gimme a little time ta talk it ova wid someone an I'll be right back."

"Alright. Yeh know where I'll be." Mustang took off up the stands, selling papers as politely as she could manage on the way.

"Racetrack!" He turned and caught her as she just about ran into him. "Whaddya know bout da horse Firebird."

"She's odd. Coulda won da race yesterday, but she stopped just before da finish line. Jockey looked bout ready ta kill er. Wouldn't be surprised if dey went lookin fer a new one."

"Yeah, yer lookin at her!" Racetrack's jaw dropped. "Rattler, he apparently volunteered ta try an train Firebird, an he wants me ta ride her!" Neither of tem spoke for a moment.

"You're goin to, right?"

"I don know."

"Look, didn't we always say dat if you an Cowgirl entered a race dat you'd blow em all away? So dis ain't Cowgirl. Here's yer chance ta prove yeh ain't all talk, right? Put us in our place."

"Yeh know what, I think I will." She turned to go back down the stairs, but stopped. "Race?" He turned back and looked at her. "Don't tell Dutchy or Kid Blink." He laughed and nodded. Rattler was studying the next horses to race when Mustang sat down beside him.

"Dat was quick."

"Yep, didn't take too much thought."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yes. An I'm in." She held out her hand and he shook it. "When do we start?"

"Right now, let's go." They made their way through the crowds and into the stables. Mustang was amazed. She had never seen so many beautiful horses in one place. The stalls were decorated with ribbons each horse had won and pictures of winner's circles. She stared in awe at the huge horses that peered out of their stalls at her. She felt terribly out of place. Here she was in a spotless stable, surrounded by well dressed horse owners, wearing her tattered brown pants and faded blue shirt. She stayed a little closer to Rattler as they passed a group of laughing men. He didn't seem to notice the strange looks his mud splattered over coat was attracting. They came to a stall without any ribbons. Only a black and white picture of a foal and its mother and a nameplate that read Firebird in fancy letters. "Dis is her." Mustang studied the red-brown horse that pinned her ears at them. She did, in some ways, resemble Cowgirl. Her coat didn't have quite the same red glow to it, and her mane was short and neat, but she was still gorgeous.

"She's beautiful."

"Yeah, da problem is she knows it. Does anythin an everythin fer attention. What we need ta teach er is dat she'll be just as noticed if she wins." He lifted the red halter and lead rope that hung on the wall. "I want all a us ta get ta know each otha before we try anythin fancy. Especially you two." Mustang nodded and he held out his walking stick. "Can yeh hold dis fer me?" She nodded again and took it. Rattler opened the gate and entered the stall. Firebird backed away from him, her ears flat against her neck. He just stood in the middle of the stall. From outside, Mustang watched. It didn't look like he was doing anything, let alone making progress. Fianlly, the horse stuck out her nose to sniff him, her ears perked froward. He gently fitted the halter over her head. "Alright, let's go." Mustang handed him his walking stick and they went to a small ring. When the gate was closed, he held out the lead rope. "Jus lead er around. If she fights yeh, don fight back. The two of yeh need ta be a team. Yer enemies are da otha horses an jockeys, not each otha." Out on the rail, Firebird halted, seemingly terrifyed of a spot in front of her. Mustang stood at her shoulder and whispered something no one else could hear. Slowly, they started walking again. "Maybe we'll be ridin sooner den I thought."


a quick lesson in horses: ears back against neck: horse is angry. ears pointing nowhere in particular: horse is relaxed. ears forward: horse is paying attention to something in front of them, either interested or terrifyed. basically, ears show where the horses attention is...sort of...yeah...tell me what you think of my marvelous plan! oh yeah, you dont know it yet! bwahahahahahahaha!