I decided to follow this mare so I could learn more of my mysterious history. When she stopped I snaked her off to a private corner where we could talk in private and where I can keep an eye on my herd.
"So what do you want to know?" she stated slyly
"Any thing and everything!"
"Ok. Back let's say 30 years or so ago this man named Frank Hopkins set out on his own to stake a claim in this land. He left his town of Sprigfield to join his great uncle in the business of cattle ranching. He had known and wanted a horse for the longest time. And when he saw your father in a clearing next to his slain mother he approached him with some water that he so desperately needed. He didn't know it then he had just gained him a friend.
As Frank turned and walked away the foal followed. This foal was your father. After years he started to do cross country races and he then joined the US Cavalry. In fact he was the one who carried the message to Wounded Knee creek. He then proceeded to win more and more races until he was invited to a race in a far away soil. And he won that too surprise, surprise. So Basically your father is THE legendary racehorse that was never beaten. Oh by the way without him none of us would be in existence. I'll save that for later."
"No keep going!" I begged.
"Heck no. Sorry man, I'm too tired. I'll tell you in the morning if I'm in the mood." She stated bluntly as she turned abruptly and walked away.
I stood there in awe. Still. MY father? A Champion? He never told me this. But that would explain why he would disappear for a week or two. But not really.
Suddenly I hear this crack behind me. I spin on my haunches to see what is happening. And there in front of me is this two-legged creature. I saw what they did to a mare one year. Tied her up, Shot her and then moved many others into a pen… was I going to let this happen to my herd. HECK NO!
I shot off like a bullet snaking my "prized mare" onward. She let out a horrified whiney as the others blazed on with us. I didn't know what was going to happen. And there was not a darn way I was going to find out.
I saw a steep hill with jagged rocks straight a head. I chose the clearest path a led my herd up that. It was our only way out. I led them to a thick wood and let them rest. I went over to that mare I was talking to.
" I never did get your name"
"And I suppose you want it, huh?"
"It would be a nice thing to know."
"My name is Turi."
"Nice to meet you Turi, I'm-"
"I know your Nodin"
"Yea, Listen if you see anything other than a horse RUN, specifically toward Wounded Knee creek. I'm going to head off the two legged."
"OK. But why me?"
"You seem to have a good sense of direction and strong leadership skills."
"Gee thanks."
I did not have time to say your welcome but I know she knew it. I carefully made it down to the valley below. I stopped and looked up to the top. There she was looking down at me. Then she turned and walked away. I looked around me and started back over my steps. And there was my father and a two legged on his back. I stopped and stared my father down.
I was mad at him for sending me away. But more upset that he never told me of his history. Suddenly the story what Turi told me came back! Frank, the rides across country.
This man thing was Frank! Well if my father trusted him should I too? I looked to the top of the ridge there was Turi. My father just looked at me and said:
"Leave her and Follow me…"
"But, uh, Da-"
"NOW!" He bellowed as he took off into the woods.
I held back, not sure I took one look back and Turi was not there. So I followed my father. Through the rough terrain for several hours, keeping my distance when we slowed you can never tell what a being will do especially if you are not familiar with it. Suddenly the wood opened to a clearing with a big box at the end of the field.
I hung back in the middle of the field amongst the tall grass making my best attempt to blend in and become unnoticed.
This two-legged put my father into this round, fenced in area. My father stayed in there happily munching on the grass in there. The strange being went inside and stayed there. I didn't know what to do. So I did the only thing I thought of. I ate. I was so hungry I was just about ready to jump in the pen with my father!
Hours later the guy…(what's his face)… Uhm, anyways…
Yea he came out with two black things in each hand. He set one down across the field opposite the box, and then walked calmly into the pen with my father. Set one down there and left. I didn't notice where he went. Just the fact that my father had his face in the bucket and hadn't taken it out for a while before stopping to look at me.
So, I made my way over to the bucket.