Unbridled Beginnings

Chapter 5: Good timing

I can feel the sun's shining rays hitting my face, and the warm air coming from Sharki's slowly flaring nostrils. I flutter my eyelids open, still trying to adjust to the morning light, and smile when I see him standing next to me. But soon I remember the Sharki dilemma, and having to sell him within three days, and the smile instantly wipes off my face.

I get up and stretch my limbs, as I had been sleeping on the ground for half the night. I rub Sharki's forehead where he stands appreciatively. Hoisting myself up on to the railing, I walk towards the house and upstairs where I shower and change into a fresh pair of clothes. After I have made myself look resonably nice, I step downstairs, trying not to look directly at Jack who is sipping a coffee at the table.

"Morning to you too," He says in a serious tone.

"Sorry, I just had a rough night," I say.

He continues to glance down at the paper as I grab some snacks for the journey ahead, and place them into a daypack. I open the front door and begin to walk out.

"Can you tell Alison that I'm leaving to find a home for Sharki? I should be back around two o'clock," I say to Jack, my head peeking through the door.

I go over to where a few of Sharki's supplies are, and grab a light blue halter and lead rope. Then I gather up the two bags of other things and sling them over one shoulder. I walk towards the gate and unlatch it, not bothering to close the gate again as he is standing right there, and hook it over his dusty chestnut face. He tiptoes over the small sharp stones, but I click him on with encouragement, just like my parents used to do.

......

We have been walking along the roadside for approximately 45 minutes when I check my watch, his pale hooves clip-cloping against the hot black streets. We have passed stray shops like dairies and fast food restaurants every so often, but most of our surroundings are just country pastures filled with cows and sheep.

After sometime I let him stop to graze on a patch of yellowish-green grass on a verge and sit down to rest my exhausted legs. I start to pick the grass, my head down thinking about what I should do now. Should I turn back or keep going?

I decide to keep going for another 10 minutes just to make sure that I have covered this direction. Eventually the 10 minutes is up and I am about to begin a long trip back, but soon the road starts to turn to a dusty, pebble driveway that I recognise from back home. I decide to keep travelling forward as I can also see two small buildings in the distance.

"Just a little longer until we head back Sharki, I promise."

My pace obviously quickens as I can hear Sharki's hooves fasten too as we near the entrance to the farm, my view of it clearer now. It has a two storey house with what looks like a stable next-door, and a medium sized arena with newly painted jumps. I can also see at least four paddocks on either side of the house with paddocks up the side of a steep hill as well. This place may not be in my budget, or available for Sharki to stay, but I guess I better have closer look.

I cautiously walk up to where the modern stable sits and loosely tie Sharki's lead rope up to a hook on the outside of the building. Dropping my bags beside him, I carry on through the stable, looking at the few horses heads that peek out through their stable doors. I run my fingers along the dream stable, admiring the detailed name plates and carved wooden rails and hooks. But suddenly I hear a desperate scream.

"Ahhhhhh!!!" The voice echoes throughout the stable hall as I run to the person's rescue.

A huge pinto gallops wildly around the rim of the arena, a frightened look in it's eye and threatening to jump out and escape. But first I need to attend to the injured person. I duck under the wooden railings and trudge across the sand which crunches under my feet. A boy with short brunet hair who is lying in pain on the ground looks extremely surprised when he see's me running towards him.

"Who are you?!"He asks through clenched teeth.

"Hayley," I answer briefly.

"Why are you here? I haven't recognised you here before," he says, ignoring the fact that he might have broken limbs.

"We need to get some help. Is there anyone else here?" I say, kneeling down bedside him, his eyes wide with fear.

"Yes Janet the owner of this ranch is inside her house over there," he says, gesturing towards the two storey house I saw earlier.

"Ok I'll get her, you stay right here." 

I run and jump over the arena railing and continue running about 200 metres until I reach the house. I knock frantically.

"Help! Janet!"

I hear rushing footsteps creaking on the polished wooden floor before the front door swings open and an older looking lady steps out, looking me up and down, obviously questioning who I am.

"A boy's been hurt in the arena!" I say, still puffing from my run.

"Oh no," she mutters under her breath. "Damien!"