Red Outlaw

Cold Sets In

The herd huddled together, tryin' their best to stay warm. It was awful cold, and the sky was murky and gray. Was like the sun didn't exist.

Based on the look a them clouds, it'd snow soon. But they never gave way, they just sat there.

The wind whipped at the horses' faces, and though they had long eyelashes that protected their eyes most a them kept 'em closed.

It was impossible to hear yourself think, in this weather.

Red buried hisself in his mama's thick fur, shivering with the cold. The horses wasn't even in a good enough mood to eat.

On the plateau, the wind was especially fierce. It kept snow off the grass, but made it pretty miserable for the poor mustangs that was up there. Yet they still fought for that spot, every fall. You'd think there wasn't any real advantage to it.

But in winter you want to keep your energy and warmth inside you. Havin' to dig through the snow to find all your feed would sap the strength a the horses, so they endured the wind.

Red sniffed out his ma's belly and tried to get some milk, hopin' it'd warm him up some. There wasn't much left in there, and even if there was it wouldn't a done much good.

It was harsh like that for a few days, then placid for a few. Then it'd go back to bein' crazy again, and so forth.

Red put his nose down to the frozen, dead grass and picked up a mouthful. His tummy was achin' somethin' awful, he was mighty hungry. The tasteless strands was so good right then that he picked up more, and more, and more til' he was satisfied.

Took an awful lot a body heat from him, though. He huddled up real close to his ma when he was done eatin'.

Was on them days that wasn't so windy Red would feel fresh. He'd start to buckin' around, warmin' up all his muscles. Felt good to stretch them for once, and not lose a whole lot of warmth.

He felt so good he thought he might go play with Dot. See if she wanted to do anything other than lay down today.

He trotted over and nickered his high pitched greeting, hoppin' around on his back two legs. She was standing up for once, but just stared at him like he was crazy. Til' he nipped on her tail, that was.

Then he take off fast as lightnin' with her on his tail. Red stopped to face her, neck all bowed like he seen his pa do. Every muscle was tense, like he was waiting for her to make the first move. His ears was forward, though, and that's the only reason you knowed he was playin'.

They touched noses briefly before Red exploded. He jumped at Dot and bit her square in the neck, but soft cause they was playin'. It took her off balance a good deal, and she nearly fell backwards cause a all the new weight she had to hold up.

Wasn't long before she ran away, squealin' and kickin' up a storm. Red was satisfied, 'cept when a clump of frosty dirt hit his face as he chased off his pretend foe.

Dot didn't think it was so fun.

One down, three to go. Red was soon on top of Sepia and Patch, both a them dominated as easily as he got Dot to run away. Seemed like all he had to do to Patch was look in his direction, and it only took a ear swivel to get Sepia to sprint off.

Dusty was the only real challenge for him.

They touched noses, necks all bent. Red's tail went high in the air and got to whippin' around real fast. He snorted a warning.

Dusty gnashed his teeth together, pinning his ears back. He snapped at Red's neck, warning him to get back.

Red's one advantage was his size. He wasn't clumsy like the other foals; he seemed to know his limits and strive on pushing hisself.