Feather

Chapter 1

Chapter 1   

"You can't. Simple as that. You can't take her away from me." Shraya didn't yell, didn't scream, didn't even cry. She said it with determination, steady determination. "Feather and I will not, cannot  part." Feather was Shraya Lea's horse. One of the mares her father owned, had a foal, and the next day she died from a barbed wire fence. Shraya raised the horse by herself and together they grew-up They could not take her away after 7 years. She was half Saddle bred, and half Quarter horse. Shraya had had her since she was 6 and trained Feather herself when Shraya was 10. Feather was a good runner, jumper, and she looked beautiful. She was a chestnut-red, healthy and energetic, Cole Brown, owner of the Brown's Stables couldn't of missed the sight of Shraya and Feather jumping the ditch with ease, on a warm July afternoon, then gallop swiftly over to her fence. He had pulled into the drive way and walked over to where Shraya was in the barn. She was talking feather's bridle off sense she never rode with a saddle.

"What a fine horse you got there. What's her history?" he asked her questioningly.

"Well, she's half Quarter horse and half saddle bred. Why?" Shraya asked suspicious. Living in Southern Alberta , Shraya knew that people didn't just happen to drop by for no reason, especially out here where there was nothing special for miles. 

"I saw her jump. She's pretty smooth. What's her name?"

"Feather. Why are you so interested in her anyways?"

"Like I said, I saw her jump, and run. She'd be a good horse to have. And she'd be worth a lot."

"Look, all due respect sir-"

"Call me Cole."

"All due respect Cole but I'm not selling her." She said to him. Shraya didn't like this guy. Something about him just didn't feel right.

"Are your parents home by any chance?"

"Ya, they actually are. Why?" She asked again still not sure about him.

"Could I speak to them?" Again, Shraya had a weird feeling about this man. But she didn't know he would change her life, forever, and not in a good way.

After she sent him to the house, she finished brushing Feather and let her out into the pasture. When she walked into the house she heard her dad.

"How much?" How much what? Shraya thought walking to sit beside her mom on the couch.

" Why hello...?"

"Shraya. My name is Shraya Lea."

"What a lovely name. I was just telling your parents what a fine horse you have." Mr. Brown said to her as though she was a little girl, even though she was already 14.

"Yes Shraya," her mom said in the same baby voice, "Feather is a good horse. She is worth lots of money."

"Mom, I'm not selling her." She said getting a bit agitated. "I already told you sir, um, Cole I mean, I'm not selling her for no amount of money."

"Shraya," he said again, "I am willing to pay 16 thousand dollars for your horse."

"Umm... so tempting." She said sarcastically. 

"Shraya! Don't be rude!" Her mom said a bit flustered.

"Well, I thought I already made it clear that I'm not selling her and he just won't stop asking."

"Shraya could you let us talk privately for a minute?" Mr. Brown asked her.

"I'd be glad." Shraya stood up and quickly walked out the door. She whistled with her finger's and Feather immediately came at a gallop. She swung up on her bare back, grabbed a fist full of mane, clucked, and they were off. Feather knew were Shraya wanted to go. It was to a little stream in the secret clearing in the bush. The water was always running, clear and clean. She jumped down and went over to have a sip of the refreshing water. When she stood up she felt a nudge on her shoulder.

"It's alright girl." she said smoothing Feather's muzzle. "I wouldn't sell you for a million dollars. Not a million." Shraya started to play with Feather's forelock When she saw something on the ground nearby. "Well," she said when she picked it up, "an eagle feather. How about I braid this into your mane girl. They say that having an eagle feather can help you fly in the time of need. Let me tell you something, this is definitely time in need." Just as she finished braiding it in, she heard a faint calling of her name. Shraya decided to go around, so that if someone were to see her come out of the bush, they wouldn't know about the secret clearing or where it was located.

When Shraya galloped to the barn she found Cole and her dad talking about her and her horse, but they hadn't seen them yet.

"Look," said Cole in a low voice, "I can come the day after tomorrow and pick her up without her knowing so Shraya won't try to stop us."

"Sounds good." her dad said. How could he! she thought. I trusted him. Well, she wouldn't tell them she heard. Shraya lightly tugged on Feather's head to get her moving away from the barn. Tomorrow, she thought, tomorrow night she would leave. Tomorrow is everything.