Buddha on Pride

Chapter 3

Chapter 3
* another 3 years later *
( Kaci is now 9 years old )
     I felt the wind pushing off my face, the smell of hay and horses that was indescribable but i couldnt help but love it. The arenas dirt was like a bomb cloud, rolling over my mares feet as we loped around the arena. Her palomino coat glistened in the sunlight. Her white mane and tail flowed as the wind rushed through. my face, hot and red as sweat dripped from my hairline within my suede cowboy hat. I heard my mother calling for me from the side of the old wooden fence that lined our seemly perfect arena, scattered with hoof prints.
I sat back and woah-ed my horse to a stop.
" Baby, Im going to saddle Buddah and try to sit on him in the round pen if you want to watch. " My mother said with her cream colored cowboy hat, sitting high upon her head.
" id love to. " i replied as a smile grew on her face. She nodded and headed to the barn.
      Moments later my mother was leading Buddah out to the wooden round pen that set just beside the arena. A saddle sat along the railing, but no bridle.
" Mom, did you forget a bridle? "
" No, Im only going to be sitting on him, I'll just use a bosal; maybe walk him around if he doesnt buck me off. " she said with a laugh.
I dismounted my horse and climbed up onto the wooden railing to sit and watch from the arena, holding my mare by my side.
My mother led Buddah into the round pen and tied him to the rail. Buddah had been saddled before but never sat on.
She set the saddle on him and wiggled it around, pushed up the pad into the cantle and tightened the cinch. So far, so good, Buddha never budged.
my mother removed his halter and put on the Bosal. She pulled up lightly on the reins and told Buddha to stand as she lifted her foot high into the stirrup. Buddha became a little uneasy and fidgeted a bit, but my eyes never left him.
His nostrils grew larger and his ears twitched from front to back, but never pinned his ears.
My mother climbed into the saddle and Buddha moved around a bit but for the most part he was calm. My mother removed her feet from the stirrups but kept then in the same position, heels down and all in line with the hip and shoulder of her body. Buddha stood very still.
She moved around on him but he never moved.
" Seems like hes doing okay Kaci. "
" He looks good Mo- " i was interrupted by Buddha who let out quite a few bucks when my mother put pressure on him with her calves.
He set her flying through the air, but continued to buck. My mother hit the side of the wooden round pen and lay up against the railing.
" MOM! " I yelled as i threw my reins over my horses head and jumped off the fence. I slid under the railing of the round pen and kneeled down beside my mother.
" Are you okay? Do you need me to call someone? " I questioned her.
She laughed, " No, Kaci, Im fine, " She brushed the dust off her hat and set it back on her head, " Ive been thrown off plenty of times in my life, just got the wind knocked out of me, thats all. "
I sighed and thanked the lord in my head, I had already lost my Pa and i didnt want to loose her too, but my mother is a strong woman.
I looked over to Buddha who was starring at us.
" whistle to him, Kaci. "
" What good would that do? He doesnt come to you when you whistle. Why cant i just go up and grab him, or why cant you? " I questioned her.
" Because right now hes confused and he doesnt seem to trust me right now. It seems from the minute he was born Kaci, hes had more of a connection with you than i ever will. "
" But you spend most of your time with him, why do you think he had a connection with
me? "
" whistle to him, Kac. " I looked up in a confused glance. I blinked and studied Buddha, his eyes set on me, not my mother. Still squatting on the ground i put my thumb and pointer finger up to my lips and let out a loud whistle. Buddha pricked his ears up and trotted towards me but stopped a few feet away. I stood onto my feet slowly, and put my hand out to him. I slowly walked forward but stopped to let him come closer to me, but instead he backed away.
I looked over to my mother, " I knew this wouldnt work. "
" Kaci, walk to the other side of the round pen and face towards the rail. " I sighed and did as i was told.
I strolled over the other side of the round pen and rested my forearms on the middle railing. I waited and waited for what had seemed like forever. Nothing, absolutely nothing had happened.
I turned around and began to get upset, as any 9 year-old would, " Mom this is- ", I stopped dead when I was face to face with big brown eyes. I was confused and looked around. My mother was no where to be seen. I raised my hand slowly as Buddha's muzzle was inches away from my face. I closed my eyes as my small sweaty palm came in contact with the warmth of the black stallions nose. I stroked his face as he set his head lower for me to reach him. I couldn't make any expression because i wasn't exactly sure what to think about what was going on at that moment in time. This giant wild thing couldve crushed me in seconds as i was a little girl, but didnt. In that moment I knew we had connected and that he was going to take care of me, and i promised to him that i will always take care of him.