The Wild Stallion

Chapter 1

Eighteen year old Esmay Miller had just finished her breakfast when her twin brother Zack walked in, yawning. "Well good morning, sleepyhead!" Esmay giggled. "Morning sis. Sorry, I guess I overslept. Do you think we still have time to go riding with Krissa and Isaac?" "Maybe. If you hurry up and eat. I'll do up the dishes so when your done just hand them to me." "Ok, Esmay." Her brother replied taking a sip of orange juice. "Oh, Allen, would you like to come riding with us?" Their sixteen year old brother Allen looked at Zack and dropped his fork. "N-no! I told you before, I'm afraid of horses!" "Ok ok. Calm down, brother. It's ok. You don't have to go. He was just asking a question." Esmay patted Allen's shoulder. Zack nodded as Allen seemed to calm down a bit. "Oh! I just remembered, mother wanted me to go to town and pick up some groceries. So we'll have to post pone that trail ride till a little later while I head to the store. Anyone want to come along?" Allen and Zack looked at each other then back at Esmay and shook their heads. "Oh I would love to. I really would but I have to uh, I have to um, clean Flash's stall!" Zack said quickly. "And I have to he- I mean do some homework!" Allen added. Esmay smiled and rolled her eyes as she picked up her dishes and walked into the kitchen to wash them. After all the dishes were clean and put away, Esmay went down to the stable to hitch up the horses. "Hey Sunshine, hey Red. Want to come with me to town?" Red and Sunshine nodded their heads up and down making Esmay giggle. "Ok, lets go," she said getting into the seat of the wagon and snapping the reins. When she got to town and entered the little store she heard the sheriff and the store keeper talking. "I suggest you keep your horses locked up tight tonight, Sam." "But I thought the situation was under control. Don't tell me it's gotten worse," the store keeper Sam Wilson said. "I hate to admit it.. but it has. These horse rustlers sure are slippery!" The sheriff then turned and noticed Esmay. "Oh, good morning Esmay. And how are you today?" "I am doing well. And you sir?" "I am fine as well. I was just telling Mr. Wilson here, that everybody should lock their horses up tight from now on. Well, until I get this back under control. I suggest that your family does the same." Esmay looked at the sheriff. He looked like he had been out all night. "Yes sheriff. I will be sure Red, Sunshine, Midnight Opal, and Flash are locked up. I'm not sure Flash is going to like it though. He seems to like the feeling that he can get out whenever he wants. I sure hope you can stop them soon." she told the tired sheriff. "Thank you, young lady. I hope so too." Just then a young boy of about seventeen came running into the general store. "Sheriff!" "Calm down,Ken! Slow down and take a deep breath. Now, tell me what is going on." The sheriff told him, a bit nervous for what Ken was about to say next. The blond boy nodded and took a deep breath. "Sheriff, I saw the rustlers!" "What?! Where?!" "They were headed toward Wild Horse Valley! Those mustangs don't stand a chance sir! They got ropes and guns and-" "Ok. I get it. Show me where. I'll get together my deputies and we will go after them. Good day Esmay, Sam." He said quickly tipping his hat as he rushed out of the store toward his office. "I hope everything goes alright." "So do I. Well, what can I do for you?" Esmay gave Mr. Wilson the list and waited patiently for the groceries. She thought about her family's horses. Her own horse, Midnight Opal. She loved Midnight just as much as Zack loved Flash and prayed that if the sheriff could not get them, that the rustlers would not try and take the Miller's horses. "Here you are, Esmay. Everything ok?" Mr. Wilson asked her, interrupting her thoughts. "Oh, uh yes. I'm ok. Thank you, Mr. Wilson." Esmay answered. "Bye!" "Goodbye Esmay," the gray haired store keeper called after her as she headed outside with her bag. When Esmay got back, she unhitched Sunshine and Red from the wagon and headed inside the house so she could change for the trail ride she, Zack, and their friends planned on taking. She quickly pulled on her cowgirl hat and boots and went to saddle up Midnight Opal. "Zack!" she called. "Where are you? We got to get going if we want to go riding with Krissa and Isaac!" "I'm in my room, Esmay. I'll be right there!" she heard him call back. "Ok! But please hurry." When she got to the barn, a beautiful black mare neighed and reared, excited to see Esmay, who was picking up her saddle. Esmay smiled. "Hey girl! You ready to go for a ride?" Esmay asked the black horse as she opened her stall. The mare whinnied as Esmay slipped on the horse's bridle. When Esmay had finished saddling Midnight, Zack came running toward them. "And what took you so long?" she asked her brother when he reached the two. "I was..in my room..reading." he told her trying to catch his breath. Then, a deep red horse reared and neighed loudly, as if trying to get Zack's attention. "I'm coming, boy. Calm down. You ready to ride like the wind, Flash?" Zack asked the stallion, picking up Flash's saddle. The horse neighed as if he was saying, "I was born ready!" Esmay laughed and Midnight threw her head up and down as if laughing too. Zack and Flash were just perfect for each other. Both pretty spirited, both stubborn, both loved to run, both loved treats, and both were pretty funny even when they aren't trying to be. Zack even had red hair! Only his was lighter than Flash's. "Oh, Zack, we need to start locking the horses stalls. Tonight." Esmay told him, a serious look came into her brown eyes. "What's up?" he asked his attractive twin as he slipped on Flash's saddle and saddle blanket. "The sheriff said that we need to start locking the horses stalls." Zack looked over at his sister then back at Flash. "I know what your thinking Zack..don't worry. I'm sure everything will be fine. He is on his way to try and capture the rustlers now. Flash will be fine, I'm sure of it." Zack smiled. "I hope so sis..I hope so. Now come on! Krissa and Isaac will wonder where we are." Esmay giggled and went to go tell Allen where they were going. "We'll be back soon. Ok little bro?" "Ok. But please don't get killed! You never know with horses!" Allen said, recalling an incident when he was little. The last time he ever got on a horse. "Don't worry Allen. Horses don't hurt people on purpose. Sometimes they get scared and accidents happen." Esmay told him. But, he still wasn't convinced. She said goodbye and went back to her brother and Midnight. "Ready?" she asked after she had mounted Midnight Opal. Zack looked at Flash then back at Esmay. "You bet. I was born ready!" he exclaimed, snapping his reins. Flash reared and took off. "Hey! Wait for me!" Esmay yelled snapping her reins. Midnight neighed and took off after Flash and Zack. Allen looked at them running off toward the direction of their friend's ranch. "Somehow..I want to get back in the saddle..but I can't." he thought. "Not after what happened."  "Hey guys! Good to see you!" a voice called out to Zack and Esmay. "Hi Isaac. How have you been?" Zack asked the black haired boy, giving him a high five. "One word. Busy! after Ma's horse had her foal things have been seriously busy!" The three laughed. "How are Willow and her foal?" "They are doing very well." a voice said from behind Isaac. It was his eighteen year old sister, Krissa. Her hazel eyes sparkled as she talked about the horses, as they always did. "Ma called the foal Cisco. She seemed to really like that name. Though I think he should be called Dash. He is as fast as Flash here!" she replied rubbing Flash's nose. Zack smiled proudly and Flash seemed to pump out his chest. Esmay laughed and asked if Isaac and Krissa had saddled their horses yet. "Yep. They are waiting over there." Krissa answered pointing to a couple horses. A light brown horse with a white perfectly combed out mane and tail neighed loudly. "Ok, Chance! We're coming!" Isaac called. "He really doesn't like waiting. So if we are done here, how about we go for that ride?" Krissa, Zack, and Esmay laughed while Isaac ran over to his horse. "Come on!" he called to the others. The three teens ran over to Isaac, Chance, and Krissa's horse. "Hey, Marble! You ready for that ride?" Krissa lightly kissed her brown and white paint horse's nose. Krissa mounted her horse and stroked his black and white mane. "We'll beat you guys to the trail!" Krissa exclaimed snapping her reins. Marble reined and took off running. "Hey! No fair! Come on, boy! We'll show her." Zack said and snapped his reins. Flash reined and took off after Krissa and Marble. Esmay and Isaac looked at each other and rolled their eyes. They snapped their reins and ran off. The teens rode their horses till they came to a beautiful clearing. They got off their horses and sat down near a small stream. While the horses drank some water, the four friends talked and laughed. Suddenly, they heard the sound of thundering hooves. Then, they saw a herd of wild horses. "Wow! Amazing!" Krissa exclaimed. "I know! I didn't expected to see this." Zack stated. "Hey look at that one!" Isaac said suddenly. They looked where he was pointing. There they saw a beautiful tan horse with a black mane and tail. He was lighter than Chance, and certainly a wonder to look at. "Isn't he breathtaking?" Esmay exclaimed.  "He certainly is." Krissa agreed. Midnight and Marble neighed loudly and muzzled their owners. "Hey! Midnight! Oh, I get it. Your jealous. Well, I think your even more wonderful than that mustang over there." Esmay smiled and gave Midnight a hug. "I think you are just as wonderful, Marble. I love you, boy." Krissa patted Marble's muzzle and Marble whinnied. They giggled and got up from the ground. "Let's head home, shall we?" Krissa suggested. "Ok, that's fine with me." Esmay replied, scratching Midnight Opal behind her ears. The four teens mounted their horses and rode off. When they got back to the Thompson 's ranch, Krissa and Isaac's mother came out of the house. "Hello kids! How was your ride?" she called, walking over to them. "Hello ma. It was great! We saw some wild horses! And there was this absolutely beautiful horse that was with them!" Isaac talked quickly. Mrs. Thompson laughed. "Son, slow down! You and your sister can tell me all about it at dinner. For now, Your mother called, Esmay, Zack. She would like you home to help with dinner. I think she said one of your father's business partners was coming for dinner." "Oh, ok. Thank you ma'am," Esmay replied with a smile. They all said goodbye to each other and Esmay and Zack rode off towards their home. When they got home, they saw Allen running towards them. "Esmay! Zack! Oh, thank God your back! Mother is about ready to burst!" "Oh boy, we had better hurry up." Zack stated, "Here sis, you go in the house to mother. I'll take care of Midnight Opal and Flash." Esmay looked from Midnight, who didn't look to thrilled at the idea, to Zack. "Uh, are you sure? She's pretty, um, stubborn when it comes to who grooms her and saddles and unsaddles her." "Sure I'm sure! How are could it be? I mean, I take care of Flash every day!" "Well, if you insist, Zack. Good luck." Zack looked at Allen, who seemed slightly amused and scared at the same time, then he looked back at his sister, a look of confusion spread across his face. "Hey mom! We're home!" Esmay called out when she got inside. Mrs. Miller turned from cutting a carrot to look at her daughter. "Hello, Esmay. Where is your brother?" "He's outside taking care of the horses." Esmay answered, washing her hands at the kitchen sink. "Alright, but dinner will be ready soon. I hope it doesn't take too long." Esmay stiffled a giggle as she started getting out the dishes and silverware. "Wait, he's taking care of Midnight Opal?!" her mother gasped. "He insisted. You know how he is. I couldn't say anything but yes." Esmay bust into laughter.  Mrs. Miller rolled her eyes.  They had just finished putting the dinner on the table when Zack came in. He had bruises on his face and his shirt was ripped. "Esmay, you never told me that Midnight was really particular about who takes care of her.." He said, heading up the stairs to change. "Allen you had better wash up. Dinner is ready. Oh, and please tell your father and his business partner that dinner is ready." Allen, who came in right behind Zack, nodded.  "Now Esmay, is there a reason you and your brother were out so long?" Mrs. Miller asked, filling cups with water. "Well, we kinda lost track of the time. We saw a herd of wild mustangs. And there was this amazing horse with them. He was beautiful! He was tan, lighter than Chance. And he had a black mane and tail." "He certainly does sound like a wonder to look at," Mrs. Miller stated handing Esmay the filled cups of water to put on the table. "Oh he was." Zack replied coming into the dinning room. Mrs. Miller smiled at her kids. "Well, maybe one of these days the three of us can go for a ride up there and-" "And maybe we can spot that mustang?" Zack interrupted her. "Yes, Zack. And how many times have I told you, not to interrupt people when they are talking?" Zack smiled sheepishly. "Heh. Sorry mother. I got excited." "That's alright, son." his mother smiled, as Mr. Miller, his business partner, and Allen came in. "Hey dad!" Esmay said. "Hello, Esmay. How was your ride with Krissa and Isaac this morning?" her father asked. "It was great! We had lunch at our favorite spot and we saw a herd of wild horses!" "Really? Wow. Sounds like you had a good time." "Yes, I think they did, John. Now, shall we sit down?" "Oh, yes. I almost forgot." Mr. Miller laughed. They all sat down and prayed. Then, Mr. Miller introduced his business partner to his family. "So, this is my business partner, Mr. Tom Johnson. Tom, this is my family. My sons, Allen and Zack. My daughter, Esmay. And my lovely wife, Lanie." "It is very nice to meet you. John has told me so much about you. He just won't stop talking!" Mr. Johnson laughed while Mr. Miller looked embarrassed. "It's nice to meet you, sir." Esmay said politely. They all talked and laughed. After dinner was over, Allen and Zack went upstairs, so they wouldn't have to do dishes mainly, while their mother and sister cleared the table and did the dishes. Finally, it was time for Mr. Johnson to leave. As they were saying goodbye, the phone rang. Esmay, who was closest to it, answered. "Hello?" "Esmay! Oh I'm so glad you answered! It's Isaac." "Isaac? What's wrong? You sound scared, worried even. Is everything ok?" Esmay asked frowning. "No! The rustlers, they were here! They took Little Cisco and Willow! Even Pa's horse, Dakota! And practically all our other horses!"

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