Majesty

2. Safety

Mindy paced nervously in the waiting area at the hospital. As with habit, her nails were pinched between her teeth and she nibbled anxiously. "What am I worrying for?" she scolded herself, "I don't even know the girl!"

She opened her mouth to say more but closed it again when she caught the skeptical eyes and raised eyebrows of a man nearby. Walking back to her seat, she sat primly on the edge and placed her hands on her knees. I have to stop doing that, she said silently, people think I'm crazy for talking to myself all the time. She smiled. Well, that's what you get for living alone.

She leaned back and crossed her arms thoughtfully. Will that change soon? Could this finally be... She shook her head and chided herself. Don't get your hopes up. For all you know she could be dead by now. The thought struck a hard blow to her heart.

"Lord, please no," she whispered, glancing at the room where the girl was taken.

Just then the doctor stepped out, eyes downcast, and closed the door behind him. Mindy stood to great the older man, solid worry framing her face. He met her gaze, removed his gloves, and walked over. Bags hung under his eyes and he ran his tired fingers through his hair. Lifting the other hand to greet her, he introduced himself as Dr. Johnson. She noted both exhaustion and sadness embedded in his voice when he asked solemnly, "Are you related to her?"

Mindy bit her lip, considering a lie. Would they forbid her from seeing the patient if they knew there was no relation? Did she dare? "No," she admitted, "I've never seen her before."

He nodded grimly and thought for a moment. "But you are the one who contacted us, yes?"

Mindy nodded quickly. "I found her alone by Hoof Canyon." He remained silent, so she ventured hesitantly "Does she... have a family?"'

"We don't know."

The doctor looked hesitant to say more, so Mindy asked quietly, "Is she...." She gulped down her dread. "...alive?"

Dr. Johnson crossed his arms and looked away, as if considering how to answer. Mindy's mind began to race. How hard can a question like this be? If the answer is no, just say it and let it be over with. Involuntarily, her mind began to drift back to that horrid day so long ago.

No. She squeezed her eyes shut. Before she could stop them, hundreds of memories from her living nightmare came pounding into her head, taking over her mind with grief. "Not again, Lord. Please," she whispered under her breath. "I can't take it again." She choked down tears as the doctor met eyes with her again.

"Come with me," was all he said.

He turned and walked back to the room where mysterious child lay. Mindy swallowed again and followed him. With every footfall of her boots, she could feel her memories growing stronger, screaming in the back of her mind. There was some connection between her and the girl; she could feel it. Within that limp body lay the answers to questions of her own horrid past.

The doctor held the door open for her. Mindy walked cautiously into the recovery room just as her mind stepped back into the midst of a swirling nightmare.

The door closed with an echoing click behind her.

***************************

The midnight mustang lifted his head from the grass and gazed at his herd. Safe for another day. He nickered to his lead mare and she glanced up and shook her mane. She trotted to his side and rubbed her head against his neck affectionately. He nudged her forward and started trotting. She followed obediently and trotted next to him.

He spread his legs into a canter, and she followed suit, pulling past him and shaking her head with a whinny. He snorted and nipped her flank. She responded with a soft kick and ran faster.

He froze, skidding to a stop. Something wasn't right. He twitched his ears to listen and swung his head around, eyeing the shabby bushes on the mountainside. His mare approached and stood next to him. What's wrong?

His muscles tensed. Danger. A mountain lion crouched behind the bushes, stalking prey. Its line of vision could be traced to two of the young foals tussling playfully nearby. Reflexes kicked in and he bolted toward them, whinnying fiercely. They looked up at him in shock, eyes wide, trembling in fear. The mother of the younger one nickered and both scampered quickly to her side, Cowering behind her.

The stallion slowed to a stop and stood with legs spread and head raised, focusing his eyes on the bush. The slightest twitch of his tail gave away the cougar's location to anyone looking closely, but few were.

When the wind changed direction, however, and carried his scent towards the herd, they grew nervous and fully alert. The nearest mares nuzzled their foals closer to the mass of horses, aware that mountain lions only go after young ones unless desperate. Even so, he held his position, waiting patiently for another chance to attack.

The stallion watched him warily. When it was clear the cougar had no intention of leaving, he called to his herd and trotted away to lead them farther from the danger. They followed obediently, glancing nervously back at the mountainside.

The stallion was only five years old, younger than most of his herd, but he had wisdom beyond his years. The essence of his dominion and power was built on his intelligence and leadership. Years of captivity taught him just how clever humans could be and forced him to master the art of outwitting them.

Humans were unfaithful pretenders. His own girl had almost caught him in her own trap of false trust. He snorted at the memory. Foolish colt! It was only lost in their lies that a horse was blind to the true nature of human hatred and cruelty. Never again!

And yet... With a glance at his lead mare, the stallion could not help but long for those carefree days of romping around happily with her at his side. Tumbling and running...

He peeled his eyes away. Those days were full of fences and closed stalls and ropes that forced submission. A life of freedom could not be carefree. The life of a king had equal parts of pride, power, and danger. His herd looked on their majesty for protection and he would make them thrive.

It was his herd. His skill, his strength, and his power alone. He refused to be humbled by the ways of man.