Chapter 3
Later on that evening, Alec tacked the Black up so he could ride him on the forest trail. He went to get Henry to ask him if he was going to take Blondie out with him and the Black or not.
"Henry?" Alec asked, walking into the stable where he was mucking out Jetta's stall.
"Yes, boy?" Henry said, looking up from his broom.
"Uh... I'm taking the Black out on the forest trail. Are you gonna take Blondie with us?"
"I think that might be good. If you can wait about thirty minutes, I'll come with you."
"Okay... I'll go ahead and tack her up."
"Alright, boy," Henry said, finishing up the last pile of dirt piled in the corner of the stall.
Alec nodded his head and walked over to Blondie, who was outside in the pasture with the Black. They were both down at the corner, staring out at the wild field below them, the same place that the horses were earlier.
Alec was still concerned about the Black and his encounter with the wild horses, but he hid it well. He sighed and walked over to the two and patted Blondie's neck, who was grazing. She obviously didn't care about the wild ones.
"Hey, girl... come with me, we need to get you tacked up for our ride on the trail. Black, you stay out here," Alec said, giving him a small smack on the rump. The Black didn't move a muscle, not even as Alec led Blondie away.
It was then that Alec realized that those horses were making the Black think deeply. A stallion, especially the Black, would never just let his mare go without first looking to see whose hands she was in. Alec did nothing and led Blondie to the tack room.
About twenty minutes later, Henry got up on Blondie's back and Alec got onto the Black, and they went through the gate and onto the trail that winded around the field and the back of the ranch.
They rode on in silence until Alec spoke up.
"Henry?"
"Yeah, boy?" he replied.
"I've been thinking... you know how the Black has been kinda spaced out lately about those wild horses?"
"Alec, just let it go. I'm sure he's fine."
"But... what if he's not? He's been really... concentrated on them. And he hasn't even seen the white one since about three or four hours ago."
"Alec..." Henry said, rubbing his neck again. "I really think that he's okay."
"If he was okay he would be his usual, bouncy self. But he's not. He's obviously not okay," Alec said, patting the Black's neck.
Henry sighed and patted the Black also. Then Blondie nuzzled him, and once again he continued to look out at the wild field.
"Look, Alec," Henry said, "I'll bet that if you let him loose, he would come right back to where he belongs. Plus, he's getting old. He probably wouldn't remember how to survive out there by himself even if he tried."
"Yes, I realize that he's old. But he's the BLACK. He knows anything and everything there is to know about being free. And he always will. I know it."
Henry shook his head with a disgusted look. Alec saw him and said nothing. He just looked out at where the Black was looking.
Then, he saw him again. The white one. But this time, he was running alone, without any mares by his side.
The Black snorted and reared up on his hind legs, knocking Alec off of his back. His saddle fell off and it came crashing down onto Alec noisily, causing him to cry out in pain.
The Black stood there for a moment. Alec knew he was ready to run, so he quickly got up and held onto his bridle so he couldn't move. He reared up again, but this time Alec held on tightly to him.
Soon enough the Black gave up and Alec was able to put on his saddle and get up onto his back slowly. The Black and the white stallion each didn't move a muscle. They just stood there, looking at each other like they were ready to fight to the death.
Alec nudged the Black on while Henry urged Blondie on ahead of the two, having no trouble with the mare. The Black continued to stare while he started to move.
"Black, come on now... let's go," Alec said, patting his neck softly. The Black finally looked away, focused on the trail ahead of him now instead of the other stallion. The other stallion looked away also and took off running towards the dark trees, disappearing.
"See what I mean, Henry?" Alec asked, looking at him.
Henry sighed and said nothing, acting as if he didn't hear him. Alec noticed that he was trying to ignore him and he just looked away. They were both silent the rest of the ride home. The only sounds within earshot were the horses' hoofs plodding along the forest trail and the small running water that could be heard from the creek nearby.
End of Chapter 3
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