Chapter 16
Morning found Millie asleep at the small desk in the guest room, her head resting on her sketchbook with her pencil still between her fingers. It had been another sleepless night for her; being woken yet again by another nightmare. The same nightmare that had been playing over and over in her mind whenever she tried to close her eyes. Though the nightmare changed each time, there were some things that didn't change. Her nightmare always started with her and Ruth arriving to live at Cade's and it went downhill from there. Every time she closed her eyes she re-lived those horrible memories in her dreams, though last night she had been able to wake herself up out of it before she came to the end of her nightmare.
After the nightmare, instead of going back to sleep she had gone to work on her drawings. She'd finished the one of Nick and Heath with the cattle in the early hours of the morning and had gone to work on the next one. Finally however, the need for sleep had overcome her and without realizing it, she'd fallen asleep at the desk.
"Millie. Breakfast."
Sleeping too deeply, she didn't hear Nick calling her from outside her bedroom door, nor him knocking.
After trying again and receiving no answer from her, Nick opened the door and peered in. Seeing Millie asleep at the desk again, he shook his head as he walked over to wake her. When would the kid learn that night time was for sleeping? He was about to rouse her when he noticed the tears slipping down her cheeks. Millie was crying in her sleep. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should wake her or not but it was getting late. She needed to be woken. Placing his hand on her shoulder, he tried to wake her gently. "Millie. Millie, wake up."
After a moment, Millie began to stir and Nick crouched down beside her chair. "That's a girl. Time to wake up." Her eyelids fluttered open and he smiled as she looked at him. "Good mornin' sleepin' beauty."
"Good morning." She replied groggily, feeling a wetness on her cheeks that she quickly brushed off as she sat up. It took her a moment to realize that she had fallen asleep at her desk and she sighed heavily as she rubbed her sore neck.
"Rough night?"
Millie nodded. "Hope I didn't wake you."
"No, no. Didn't hear a thing." He looked at her kindly. "Want to talk 'bout it?"
"It's nothing, really. Just a nightmare I keep having." She turned back to her sketchbook, the drawing she'd been working on the night before almost finished now. "Couldn't get back to sleep so I drew instead. Must have dozed off."
"Must have. Well, we're waitin' on you for breakfast."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was so late. Give me five minutes to get dressed and I'll be downstairs."
Nick nodded, patting her knee as he stood. "See you at breakfast."
He left and Millie let out a long sigh, resting back in the chair for a moment. If only the nightmares would go away… She yawned, trying to muster up the energy required to get herself dressed and ready for the day. She was tired, bone weary tired but there was no point in sitting around all day. It wouldn't change anything.
Rising, she freshened herself up by washing her face and felt a little more alive once she had done so. Her hair was next, a quick brush and fixing it into a braid took care of that. Changing was a simple affair, swapping from her nightgown into her only set of day clothes and after pulling on a pair of gloves, she was ready for the day. The family was seated around the dining table as she entered the room, Millie ducking her head as she took the only vacant seat at the table next to Nick. "I'm sorry I've held you all up, I overslept." She apologized softly, looking down at the empty plate in front of her. "It won't happen again."
"That's alright Millie, we're glad you've joined us." Victoria replied. "Now that we're all here, would you say the blessing this morning Gene?"
"Of course Mother." He waited until everyone had bowed their heads then began the prayer. "Lord, please bless the food we are about to eat. Amen."
As everyone began to dig in and eat, Millie waited until everyone else had gotten their servings before she grabbed her portion. Though she didn't have much of an appetite this morning she knew if she didn't eat it would appear suspicious and the last thing she wanted was more questions from the Barkley's. It had just been a rough night, that was all. Nothing out of the ordinary so why she felt so tired today compared with any other day was beyond her.
Conversation was had around the breakfast table but Millie didn't engage in any discussions. It wasn't unusual for her to keep to herself during mealtimes, usually she did remain quiet but today she was more withdrawn then she had been before. To her relief, no one seemed to be any the wiser and she was able to eat her meal in peace while she pondered her own thoughts.
Finally after eating as much as she wanted to, she waited for a lull in the conversation to speak up. "If you'll excuse me," she started softly as she rose with her half-eaten plate. "I'll help Silas clean up."
"You're excused." Victoria replied, noticing how little breakfast the girl appeared to have eaten. "After you have finished helping Silas, come find me. There's a few things I was hoping you might be able to help me with today."
She nodded. "Of course ma'am."
Millie left the room, the topic of conversation returning to what it had been before Millie had interrupted. Victoria had quietly observed that during the meal, Millie seemed not quite herself and wondered if she should ask her later if there was something bothering her. After a moment she decided she'd wait and see. Millie was still only just starting to open up to them, if she tried asking her if something was wrong she knew it might just cause her to withdraw back into her shell.
"Well, I best get a move on." Nick said as he finished off the remainder of his bacon and eggs. "Can't sit around here all day, as much as I'd like to."
"Just wait a moment Nick." Jarrod started after wiping his mouth, folding up his napkin before continuing. "Now that Millie has left us, there is something I wanted to speak with you all about this morning. Last night, Mother and I had a discussion concerning what we are going to do with Millie. I have decided that I would like to petition the court to be granted custody of Millie and Mother stands in agreement with this wish. However, I don't believe this should be a decision made entirely on my part. As Millie would be living with us here, I only think it fair that you all are given an opportunity to voice your opinion and be a part of deciding if Millie has a future here as part of our family."
"I think it's a wonderful idea." Audra said happily. "I really like Millie and I enjoy having her around. I say go for it."
Nick folded his arms across his chest, resting back in his chair. "I'm all for it but what's gonna happen with her when you're on a case Jarrod? You can't be takin' her with you all the time."
"Yes, that is a valid point Nick. Mother has offered to look after Millie while I am away, Millie would stay here."
"Are you sure you'd be able to handle that Mother?"
"I'm quite sure." Victoria replied. "Millie hasn't caused the least bit of trouble while she's been here, I can't see any reason why that would change. She's old enough to take care of herself, it's mainly just a matter of satisfying the courts that she has someone to provide for her."
Nick turned back to his brother. "In that case, then my answer is yes Jarrod. Besides, might be fun havin' her around. I wasn't lookin' forward to the idea of her leavin' anyhow."
Jarrod smiled a little at that. Beneath his bravado, Nick had one of the biggest hearts he'd ever known. "Alright, that just leaves Heath and Gene to weigh in."
"Well I'm a yes." Heath said without hesitation. "Seems to me Millie hasn't had many folks lookin' out for her over the years, it's about time that changed." He looked over at Eugene. "What'd you say?"
"I'm in for it. Means I won't be the youngest around here anymore." Eugene said with a little chuckle. "But no. I think it's a good idea. Millie's a nice girl."
"Well, that settles it then." Jarrod exclaimed with confidence. "I'll go into town today and arrange the necessary paperwork with Judge Banner."
After helping Silas in the kitchen, Millie was feeling a little bit more like herself again. Silas was a good listener, he always listened and had a kind and encouraging word to say whenever she spoke to him. She'd spoken to him a little about what was bothering her; the nightmares that she kept having and as always, he offered a listening ear to her troubles. Having been spending some time with him while she had been recovering she had learnt that he was a safe place to be able to confide in. She knew she could confidently trust that whatever she said to him, stayed with him. He wouldn't repeat their conversations to anyone and knowing that, that she did have someone she could trust and talk to, made her feel better.
Though their lives were vastly different, Silas knew and understood things that the Barkley's never could. They'd both had their fair share of hardships and suffering and from that, a comradeship was born. In Silas she found someone she could trust with the secrets that she never dared tell the Barkley's for fear of shame. How could they understand what she had gone through? They couldn't and it was just better for them if they never knew. In a way she reasoned she was protecting both herself and them from the truth of her past.
All the while though, Millie was craftily careful in what details she did share with the old servant. It was no accident that she never mentioned names or places or any little hints that a person would be able to use to trace her steps back to Cade. She just couldn't risk it. She had come so far and she wouldn't go back. She would kill herself first rather than allow him to mistreat her anymore. It had all just been a game to him, a twisted game that she had been forced to play.
That was what her nightmares were about.
Nightmares of Cade finding her and dragging her back into his games again.
"Millie, are you busy right now?"
At Victoria's voice, Millie's thoughts vaporized and she shook her head. "No ma'am. I was actually about to come find you. I've just finished helping Silas. What would you like me to do now?"
"Seeing as we're now a week and a half away from Christmas, today we're going to start decorating the house. Jarrod and Nick have left for town this morning but Heath and Eugene are in the process of gathering pine boughs and we'll need the rest of the decorations to go with them."
She nodded. "Yes ma'am."
"The decorations are up in the attic, if you'll follow me we'll get started."
The two of them headed upstairs and into the attic, Victoria lighting a couple of lamps to illuminate the room. "The decorations should be in these trunks here." She said as she set one of the lamps down on a nearby chair. Unlatching the lid she opened it and nodded, finding what she'd been looking for inside. "This trunk needs to go downstairs. We'll move what we'll need today over to the door then take them downstairs."
Nodding again, Millie helped the best she could and soon, the decorations had been sorted. What was needed downstairs she carried downstairs and set them where Victoria had instructed.
"Are we decorating today?" Audra questioned as she joined Millie in the living room, seeing the trunks that had been set out.
Millie nodded. "I… I don't know that much about decorating though." She replied softly. "I've never tried decorating a house for Christmas before."
"Oh, it's alright. I'll show you. It's a lot of fun, believe me. We'll be starting with the greenery and making wreaths, then in a few days the boys will go out and find a tree and we decorate that a couple of days before Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve we'll have a big party here that all our friends will be coming to, so we have to make sure that the house looks perfect. By the time we're done decorating, the house turns into a Christmas Wonderland, it's really something to see."
As Audra had been speaking, Millie's eyebrows had gone up. What she was describing sounded like a lot of work. "I never realized so much work went into Christmas. Guess I've got a lot to learn."
Audra's expression softened as she turned back to Millie. "You've never celebrated Christmas before, have you?"
She shook her head. "Most my folks did was try to make supper a little extra special and if we were really lucky, we'd have some candy."
"Surely you got presents though?"
"One, if I was really lucky. We didn't have much, especially as I got older." She paused for a moment. "And we never did decorating or had parties…"
"Well, this year you get to see how we celebrate Christmas. A little birdie might have told me too there's gonna be a couple presents for you under the tree."
Millie smiled a little. "I'm hoping to have a couple of my own to contribute too. I just hope that they'll be liked."
"I'm sure they will. What matters isn't how much something costs or how much trouble you went to get it, it's the thought that counts. If you need to go Christmas shopping, I have to go to town myself in a couple days. We can go together if you'd like."
Millie's smile grew a little wider. "Sure, we can do that."
"Great. It's settled then. A girl's shopping trip! Oh I can hardly wait-"
Audra disappeared out of the room again and Millie was left with her old friend silence again. Kneeling down beside one of the trunks she opened the lid and pulled out one of the pine cone decorations. Sure wish I was spending Christmas with you, Mama. She thought as one hand went to touch the locket around her neck as she looked at the gold painted pine cone. It just wasn't to be though. Knowing that she had a mother out there had been the only thing that kept her going after Ruth's death and she'd been buying her time to escape and get back to her. She finally had, only to find herself too late.
It had taken her a couple of weeks to travel from Cade's place to the town Ruth told her she'd come from. When she'd arrived, all she found was an abandoned town and the ghosts of the past to go along with it. She'd waited for the cover of night to investigate further, her search having come to an abrupt end when she'd stumbled across her mother's grave in the cemetery. She'd found her mother just a little too late, her mother having passed on only a week before. All she found was a wooden cross inscribed with her name and the date of her passing. Not having been able to read at the time, the only way she knew for certain was that the letters on the cross matched those of the faded paper Ruth had given her. It had been enough though for her to know what had happened and after finding that, she had left.
Her hand tightened around the locket as a tear slid down her cheek. Her mother had been on her mind more these days as Christmas neared. As hard as she tried, she couldn't even remember her. All she had was the photo in her locket, the photo she kept close to her heart and hidden away. It was all she had left of her life before, of her family. A family that wasn't even a distant memory because she had been too little when she'd been taken from them.
Wiping her cheek, she returned the pine cone to its spot in the box. Whatever the past may be, that's all it was. The past. That's where it was going to stay.
"Judge Banner, Jarrod Barkley is here to see you."
The elderly, gray haired judge looked up from his paperwork as his secretary stood in the doorway of his office. "Send him in." She nodded and left, Jarrod entering a moment later. "Jarrod." He stood, shaking the younger man's hand. "It's good to see you up and about."
"It's good to be seen." Jarrod replied as he took a seat across the desk from the judge, the judge returning to his chair also.
"I'll admit, you had us all worried there for a moment. It's good to see you on the mend. I just hope you don't plan on returning to work before you are ready."
"If I did, Mother would have my hide."
Elijah chuckled a little at that. "How is Victoria? It's been sometime since I've had the pleasure of her company."
"Mother is just fine and sends her regards, along with an invitation to the Barkley Christmas party on Christmas Eve."
"Well, you just be sure to tell that lovely mother of yours that I accept."
"Good, she'll be glad to hear that."
With pleasantries exchanged and out of the way, they could now get down to business. "Now Jarrod, I imagine that you have another reason for being here apart from a party invitation. Can I hazard a guess that it has to do with the young lady currently residing with your family?"
Jarrod nodded. "You would be correct in that guess, Judge. I am here to speak about Millie."
Folding up the file he had been working on, he placed it aside and gave his attention to the attorney in front of him. "Sheriff Madden has been keeping me informed as to the status of the ongoing inquiries he has made about her. So far, nothing has been found and given that it's my understanding Doctor Merar has given her a clean bill of health, it's now come to my duty to place her in a home. I've already spoken with the Padrê and they have no space in the orphanage here, she will have to be sent to Sacramento or San Francisco."
"I understand. However, I may have found another solution to this case."
"Oh?"
"I'd like to petition that I be granted her guardianship."
"You?" Elijah questioned with slight surprise, observing the lawyer closely. "I trust that you have given this matter considerable thought."
"I have and my mind is made up." Jarrod replied strongly. "I have spoken with the family and they are with me all the way. They want Millie to stay just as much as I do."
"Well, I…" He didn't quite know what to say. "I do have to say that I am surprised by this, Jarrod. I wasn't expecting that you would wish to take the wardship of this orphan."
"I understand Judge and I have to say, I never imagined I would consider taking on an orphan either but yet, here we are. In the past few weeks that Millie has been staying with us, we've started to get to know her and she's made a lasting impression on myself and my family. She is a special young lady and we would like to be given the chance to give her a home and the love and care that she needs."
Judge Banner thought the matter over for a moment before replying. "It's not standard practice for a court to grant guardianship of a child to an unmarried man if they are not related, you and I both know that. However, given the unique nature of this case, if the court deems it in the best interest of the child to remain in your care, guardianship may be granted."
"I understand, your Honor."
Picking up his bell on his desk, Elijah rang it to request his secretary. "Anne, please bring me the file on the Ander's case." Anne left and soon returned with the requested folder. "That will be all Anne, thank you. Please close the door on your way out." Anne departed once more, closing the door behind her and the judge began looking through the compiled file on Millie. "Has the child revealed anything else yet about where she comes from?"
Jarrod shook his head. "Everything we know so far is right there. I don't believe Millie is comfortable enough with us yet to share anything else with us about her past. I'm hoping that as we gain her trust, she will be willing to reveal more in due time."
"You do understand that depending upon the nature of her past, if she has any pre-existing custodians that she may be removed from your care and returned to theirs."
"I understand but respectfully your honor, you will note the reports from Doctor Merar on her condition and in those reports it is stated that it would appear that she has been the victim of abuse and inhumane treatment." Jarrod countered. "Now, would any court see fit to remove a child from a home where they are being cared for to be returned to one that mistreated her in the first place?"
"It is dependent upon the circumstances, you and I both know that Jarrod. Custody cases can be messy at best and downright brutal at worst. If you are to be granted custody, this is something that you need to consider. I'm just trying to get you to understand that this may only be a temporary arrangement, a few months at most, depending on what comes to light."
"I understand, your Honor."
"Now, onto other matters." Picking up a pen he prepared to take down notes. "It is my understanding that since you are the one requesting her guardianship that you will be the one legally and financially responsible for her care and raising. Are you in a position to fulfill these responsibilities?"
"I am."
"Your work requires you to travel a lot, what arrangements will be made for Miss Anders care when you are away?"
"Mother has offered to take responsibility for Millie during my absence; Millie will remain home with the rest of the family."
"I see. Do you believe it is in the child's best interest for her to be left in your charge?"
"I do."
"What can you offer this child?"
"I can offer Millie a home and a place in our family. A place where she can belong. All her needs would be met, not just her physical needs but her emotional needs also. She would be given the stability, nurturing and guidance that she needs."
"Do you, in your opinion, believe that this arrangement would be in the best interests of the child?"
"I do."
"Why do you believe it would be in Millie's best interest to remain in your care?"
Jarrod thought carefully for a moment before he answered the Judge's question. "Since Millie has been in our care, it has been a slow and long process of gaining her trust. Millie is a timid child, she guards herself carefully so she can't be hurt. She doesn't know who she can trust. It has only been with patience and understanding that we are finally making progress with her. She is beginning to trust and feel comfortable around us. If she were to be taken away from what she has come to know, it is my opinion it would be highly detrimental to her well-being. Millie has expressed repeatedly that she doesn't wish to be placed in an orphanage and I don't believe it would be helpful to her to be placed in such an environment. She is comfortable where she is and I believe it's in her best interest if she is allowed to remain with us."
Judge Banner nodded, taking down additional notes as he gave the matter careful thought. Finally, he reached a verdict and after closing the file again, he looked back at Jarrod. "I am willing to grant you temporary custody of Miss Anders. This will only be temporary for now, we will review the situation in say… Two months time. At that time we'll re-assess and determine if permanent custody is the next step."
Jarrod nodded. "I understand. I appreciate you giving us a chance with Millie, Judge."
"Of course. If there's anything else I can help with, you know you only need to ask. I will write up the necessary paperwork for temporary custody and if you could return in a couple days, we will make it official." Jarrod stood to leave and Elijah stood also, shaking the man's hand again. "I wish you and Miss Anders the best of luck, I really hope that this will be a good outcome for you both."
"Thank you, Judge."
"And please give my regards to Victoria."
"I will."
"Close the door on your way out."
Jarrod left, a weight being lifted off his shoulders as he closed the door to the judge's office behind himself. Though he'd only been granted temporary custody for now, it was a step in the right direction. It brought them time. Time to get to know Millie better and determine if her staying with them permanently was a viable option.
"Well?" Nick questioned impatiently as Jarrod joined him in the waiting room, the two of them leaving the judges quarters and heading out into the street.
"He's given me custody for two months, after which Millie's situation will be reassessed."
"Only temporary? Why not give permanent custody now?"
"Judge Banner only wants what's best for Millie, it's the interest of the child he has to protect and since we have no blood relation to her and none of us are married, we are lucky that he's willing to grant even temporary custody. Usually they only grant guardianship to married couples."
Nick shook his head. "It's hard to believe that they'd consider an orphanage in the best interests of a child."
"That's just how it is Nick. There's nothing you or I can do about it."
"Are you goin' to try for permanent custody?"
He nodded. "It's brought us time to try and find out where Millie comes from. Depending on what her story is, if she does have an existing custodian, my custody will be void and she'll have to be returned to her legal guardian."
"But that… Jarrod, she ran away. She had to have had a reason. I get the feelin' that lil gal doesn't do anythin' without a good reason."
"I know, brother Nick. I know."
The festivities were well underway in the Barkley household later that morning, the atmosphere fitting of the season as they all worked together to decorate the house. Audra, true to her word, had taken the time to carefully show and explain to Millie how they decorated and to her surprise, she had actually started to enjoy helping to decorate. It helped to take her mind off things too and Millie found herself starting to have a good time as she worked with Victoria and Audra to turn the house into a Christmas wonderland.
Heath and Eugene had been out since just after breakfast, gathering pine boughs and other greenery that they would use to decorate the entrance, staircase, parlor and living room. As it was also Heath's first time celebrating Christmas with the Barkley's, Eugene, like Audra, had been making sure to explain things through for him and though Heath still felt out of place, he was grateful to Eugene for making the effort to include him in the festivities. After gathering what Eugene deemed to be enough for the moment, they had returned to the ranch and together with Victoria, Audra and Millie, had begun to decorate the house.
Time slipped by, Millie humming to herself as she worked on decorating one of the windows in the living room. As she tidied up the pine boughs on the window-sill, she noticed the snowflakes lazily drifting down past the glass outside. It had started to snow again. Hesitating for a moment, the urge to go outside and play finally won. "Victoria, can I come back and finish this later?" She questioned hopefully as the gray haired matriarch worked with Heath on the fireplace. "It's started snowing and I'd love to take Tomahawk out to go play in it."
Seeing the pleading look in her eyes, Victoria nodded. "Alright. But dress up warmly. It's cold outside."
"Yes ma'am. I will. Thank you." Millie replied, bolting for the door amongst chuckles from those still working on the decorations. Only stopping long enough to put on her hat, muffler and thick winter gloves she hurried outside, the snowflakes greeting her when she stepped out from under the porch. She stopped, catching the snowflakes on her glove for a moment before continuing on to the barn.
"Good mornin' to ya, Miss Anders."
She smiled as she came into the barn at Ciego, the Barkley's Mexican horse wrangler. "Good morning Ciego."
"Come to take Tomahawk out for a ride?"
She nodded.
"I can get him ready for ya, if'n ya like."
"It's alright Ciego, I've got it under control. Thank you."
"See ya 'round then." He tipped his hat at her and disappeared back into the tack room. "Have a nice ride."
Tomahawk whinnied softly as Millie walked up to his stall, the girl chuckling as she untied the stallion. "You feel it in the air too boy?" She questioned softly, rubbing his forehead for a moment before backing him out into the aisle. Grabbing a nearby brush she began giving him a quick groom, the stallion pawing the ground in anticipation. "Soon boy, soon. Just be patient. You can run soon enough. Promise."
Working quickly, Tomahawk was soon groomed to her satisfaction and after exchanging the halter for the bridle she'd borrowed from Heath, she led the stallion out of the barn. It was still snowing softly as she vaulted up onto the mustang's back, Tomahawk arching his neck and chomping at the bit as he waited for her to be ready. Picking up the reins, Millie tapped his sides gently with her heels and they trotted out of the ranch yard towards the nearby meadow.
Tomahawk tossed his head, impatient to run but Millie held him back at a trot. "Soon. You can't run just yet." She told him, the stallion snorting and tossing his head in protest while maintaining the pace she asked. Easily she sat through his antics, her legs wrapped evenly around his barrel. Who needed a saddle when you could ride bareback as well as she could? Riding bareback gave a sense of freedom that just couldn't be matched when using a saddle.
Arriving at the meadow she turned him off the road and onto the snow frosted grass. He tossed his head again, impatient to run and this time, Millie gave him his head. The stallion needed no further encouragement and leapt forward into a gallop, the snow flying in her face as he raced across the pasture. The girl urged her horse on, tapping him with her heels to make him go faster and the stallion responded with another burst of speed. They were going so fast, fast enough that Millie felt like she was flying.
All too soon they arrived at the other side of the meadow and bringing him back to a canter, Millie turned him around and let him run again. Tomahawk could run, that was for sure. He had speed and the stamina to match. On and on they galloped, Millie only slowing him down to a canter when she went to turn him at the ends of the meadow.
Finally, on their fifth trip across the meadow, Tomahawk began to slow of his accord and Millie let him choose his own pace until finally, the stallion came to a halt. Breathless, her hair worked out of its braid, Millie scratched his withers. "How'd you like that boy? Was that fun?" In return, he brought his head around and sniffed at her boot. She chuckled as he began nibbling at it and after giving him another pat, she slipped the headpiece of the bridle over his ears and took it off.
After dropping the bridle on the ground she took hold of a lock of his mane and cued him to go forward. Tomahawk started walking and combined with using her legs and the mane, she was able to turn him any direction she wanted to go. Tapping him again with her heels he began to canter, Millie guiding him around a pattern in her mind. Circles clockwise, circles counter-clockwise, changes of leads with figures of eights and sudden halts and changes of directions; she ran him through all his paces. Tomahawk played along willingly and when finally she felt she had worked him enough, Millie lent down over the stallion's neck and hugged him. "Good boy… Who's my good boy?"
Sitting up again, Millie tapped him with her heels and they started walking on once more. This time there was no rhyme or reason, they were just walking and she stuck out her tongue, trying to catch the falling snowflakes. As one landed on her tongue, she giggled at the stinging cold as it melted. Out here, alone, she found play. She found joy, freedom. To be one with herself and one with her horse.
Returning back to where she had dropped the bridle she halted Tomahawk again and slid off his back. The bridle was beginning to get buried in the snow and as she picked it up, she brushed it off and slung it over her shoulder. Though she wasn't sure how much time had passed, she didn't feel like returning to the house just yet and as she looked at her stallion, she had a feeling he wasn't ready to call it quits either.
With a spurt of playful energy, she turned and began running across the meadow then stopped and turned back to whistle for Tomahawk. The stallion left his grazing and trotted after her, girl and horse beginning to play a game. Millie ran for a bit, leading the way with the mustang following along behind then as she stopped to catch her breath, she waved Tomahawk off to go play on his own.
Free, the first thing Tomahawk did was to find a good spot to roll. Snorting, the stallion pawed at the ground until he was satisfied then with a sigh he laid down and stretched out in the snow. Millie smiled as she watched him roll in the snow then as he got up from his roll, he bucked and she laughed gleefully at his antics. Away he galloped, bucking and kicking and Millie just happily watched as the stallion played in the snow. He reared and shied, frolicking in the snow like a yearling colt. His black coat was covered in snow and ice, his fur turning white as again he stopped to roll in the snow. Millie watched on like a proud parent, her heart filled with joy at watching him rejoice in his temporary freedom.
Finally, Tomahawk trotted back to Millie and she ran her hand up his forehead, brushing the snow and ice from his face. She didn't speak, she didn't need to. They were one out here, one with each other with no fences, no ropes, nothing between them but the bond that they shared. Wanting to try one last thing before they returned to the ranch, Millie took a couple steps back from him and clucked with her tongue, cueing for him to move away and forward.
With a shake of his head, the mustang began to trot around her in a circle and using her body language mixed with verbal cues, Millie encouraged him to keep moving. Tossing his head, the stallion pranced around to her cues and she couldn't help the smile on her face as they worked together freely. To her, this was the height of horse training, having a bond so strong that even in the middle of a field the horse would choose to work with her instead of taking to the hills.
They played on, the girl changing directions and size of the circles they were working with to keep things new and interesting for the stallion. Stretching out both her arms she began to run backwards, the cue to invite the mustang to come to her. Shaking his head, Tomahawk turned in from the circle and ran towards her. Millie stopped and cued him to halt, the stallion snorting as he slid into a stop and then she raised both arms, asking him to rear. He reared, pawing the air a few yards from her and when he came back down to the ground, she asked him to rear once more before finally inviting him to join her in her space.
"That's a boy. That's my boy." She cooed softly as she rubbed his forehead again, the stallion leaning into her hand. "You did good. You did great."
Removing the bridle from her shoulder she placed it back on him and after brushing the snow from his back, cued him to bow so she could climb on. Cueing him to rise again, she patted his shoulder and as she turned him towards the ranch, she noticed that she wasn't alone. Up on the road to the ranch sat a buggy and as she rode towards it, she felt her cheeks burning with embarrassment. "How long have you two been sitting there?" She wondered out loud as she halted Tomahawk beside the buggy.
"You're pretty good with that there stallion of yours." Nick complimented. "Impressive performance I might add."
"Very impressive." Jarrod agreed. "You taught him all that yourself?"
She nodded, patting Tomahawk's neck. "It's just something we do for fun, though him knowing how to bow and lie down on command have come in handy more than once."
"You might have to show me what else you two can do sometime." Nick suggested, picking up the reins of the buggy horse again. "But you should be thinkin' of headin' home, it's getting cold."
"I'll be along."
"Just see that you are." Jarrod requested. "Nick's right, it is getting cold."
Millie nodded and Nick started the buggy towards the ranch once more. Watching them go, she ran her hand down Tomahawk's neck and tapped him with her heels, the two of them following at a walk. Alone with the silence once more, the exhilaration of playing with Tomahawk having dissipated, she was drawn back into her thoughts. What was she going to do for Christmas presents? The Barkley's had been so kind to her and she wanted to show them her appreciation but what could she offer them? She sighed softly as she asked Tomahawk to pick up the pace, having realized that yes, it was getting colder and the snow was starting to fall heavier. She had to think of something to give them, but what?