A/N: I would like to dedicate this chapter to MoonCloud who spoke so highly of this story and meand even brought her socks into it. I would like to also dedicate this chapter to Hunter. You set my heart free. You carried me through the fields with the sun setting on us until I could lead you again. Thank you my Black Beauty. (I'll show him this paper and he will probably try to eat it and will get horse slobber all over it : )

Chapter Two

When Spirit Came

When Spirit came into the Fort he too had a story of freedom like most of the mustangs. When the doors shot open I tried to get a glimpse, but the soldier had my head tight. His whinny pierced the air like no other. I grabbed the bit and turned my head to look at him. Therefore my trot slowed and the horse behind me rammed into my back end. I wanted to do something for him. Then I felt the man's sharp spurs kick into my sides. There was nothing more I could do. I gave him a soft whinny of sympathy. He was such a handsome stallion, but something inside me told me he could do it. My heart ached with sadness and fury. My spirit was strong, but I accepted my fate unlike this golden stallion. My heart wanted to be set free! At that I reared high to show my defiance, but my rider caught me and whipped me hard. I snapped back, but then obeyed him. Then a shot was fired. Everything stopped. All the horses craned their necks to see Spirit and the Colonel staring each other down.

"I remember the last time a rat curled up in my path. This one didn't look like a rat, but I thought…Snake."

Spirit was pawing at the ground. Then he snapped the crop in half the colonel was using to look at him with. Most mustangs were sent to the stockades, but Spirit was tied up to a pole in the arena with no food and water for three days. I was put back into my stall where I watched Spirit then get moved to Murphy. Silver Tide, Ace Amigo, and I were anxious to see how Spirit would handle this. Spirit was tied up between two poles. We listened and watched the scene unfold.

"Whoa! He's a wild one!" a soldier exclaimed.

"We'll see how wild he is when I'm done with him." Murphy replied.

Murphy went on to try and do his job. Spirit pinned his hand with his shoulder while cutting his mane, but him on the hand. What was really funny was when Spirit kicked Murphy on the butt! Last was the branding iron. By now all of the Spirits feet where tied, there were ropes around his barrel, and his muzzle was tied in a bag. As the branding iron approached, Spirit became more anxious. We gave each other a worried look. Suddenly, Spirit flung his head out of the bag! Murphy gasped then Spirit head-butted him! Spirit was stronger than any of us!

The next two days went by slowly. Poor Spirit was tied to that pole with no food and water. Often at night he'd gaze up at the stars. Probably wondering about his herd—like many of us.

"My heart galloped through the sky that night. Back to my herd…"

The next morning I will NEVER forget. That was the day Spirit was going to be broken in. With his strong heart, I suspected he would last longer than any of us, but when it came to the colonel no mustang could unseat him.

The men gathered around the arena with Spirit in the shoot. Silver Tide, Ace Amigo, Red Illusion, and a palomino mare named Dusty Star, and me squished together to get a good view. Spirit launched out of the shoot unseating every rider upon his back. He pulled every trick in the book. He seemed never to tire. Then the dreaded colonel came with his crop and spurs. We all shook in anticipation. Spirit stood calmly waiting for them to open the gate. I prayed with all of my heart and soul that Spirit could do this. The gate opened. Spirit flew out. He bucked, reared, and spun around. The colonel pulled his head forcing him to back up. Spirit reared in frustration and then a scared look came over his face.

I thought in my head 'NO, NO, NO! Spirit don't give up!' Spirit then jumped in the air and rolled on the ground! A very dangerous stunt. We thought this was it for sure, but when Spirit got up the colonel was still on his back.

'NO!' I thought to myself 'you must keep going! It's the only way!' Spirits legs shook. Spirit and the colonel stood for a moment breathing heavily. Like he did to me, kicked him to a walk. The soldiers all around applauded. The colonel went on saying something, but I didn't care. It was over. I lowered my head so heavy and sad.

'How could this happen?' We watched Spirit as he plodded along slowly. Then he stopped.

"A mustangs gotta do, what a mustangs gotta do…"

Spirit quickly grabbed the reins and reared up scraping the fence. The saddle went flying off of his back.

'I knew you could do it!' I thought. The colonel was hanging on the brow band of Spirits bridle. Spirit smirked then reared so high! The colonel went flying and hit the ground with a loud thud. Spirit fell onto the fence. There were many gasps. The colonel and Spirit got up.

"Secure that horse!" he shouted.

Someone grabbed the reins. The colonel with fury in his eyes took out a long metal thing they called a gun then brought it close to his head. Out of nowhere, and Indian boy came flying up and hit the gun and grabbed it! He's going to escape! The Indian leapt onto Spirits back. He went galloped down the arena and freed three horses tied to a pole. Suddenly he jumped into the stockades. Silver Tide and I rushed out of the way. Spirit went down the stockades then a large boom came out of the gun and the door swung open. There was much chaos among the soldiers and everyone was running somewhere. All I concentrated on was Spirit and my freedom.

"Lets run Silver, we're going to be free!" I shouted with glee.

Silver Tide and I galloped down and followed Spirit. They were shutting the doors quickly, but Murphy was in between freedom and us. Spirit rose up and knocked Murphy down. I was the first one out after Spirit. I was so happy I leapt over Murphy. I couldn't believe it. I was finally free. I whinnied thanks to Spirit, but he was also so unbelievably happy to be free. Silver Tide and I said our goodbyes to Ace Amigo and Red Illusion because they too had to create a life of their own. I was just happy they didn't force us to go with them, but I would miss them very much. Red Illusion followed us a ways to make sure no one else would take us. I pulled my ears back warily to make sure he didn't try anything. Then Red Illusion headed off.

"Bye Red, I'll miss you. Good luck!"

Silver Tide and I were at a high lope for a while until we came to a strange land.

"Do you know where we are, Silver?"

"No…I've never seen this place before."

"Hmm…."

"We'll, Lady, what are we going to do now that we're free?" Silver Tide said excitedly.

But before I could answer a palomino came galloping toward us. I pinned my ears back cautiously and backed up a few steps. I smelled the air and this horse wasn't a stallion, but a mare. She looked at my shoulder

"You're a Calvary Horse, and you too!" the palomino said.

"Yup…but was a Calvary horse" I replied. I was slightly confused why she was excited we were Calvary horses.

"Oh! What's your name?"

"How 'bout yours first?' I said suspicious.

"Uh...okay…I'm Esperanza."

A/N: Uh oh! What's going to happen next? Oh, sorry if this chapter was a little weird. I've been sick. To give you an idea—My diet consists of Cough drops, medicine, a Popsicle and 3 cheerios. : ) My room has roughly 30 used tissues scattered on the floor and 2 empty bags of cough drops with wrappers. And I still can't breath through my nose! I've also been delusional (more than usual : ) Please Review honestly: )