--chapter 1-- (no ones p.o.v.)
All she ever knew was the way of the horse. As she grew up, her ways of bonding with and trusting an animal ten times her size became easier. Her dad, Ben, had told her what to and what bit to look for in a horse. The slope of the shoulder, the neck, the composure of the back and legs, down to the look in that animals eye. If the animal had all of these qualities in the clear, then it was a damn good horse.
Her brothers, Adam, Joe, and Eric aka Hoss, helped her with finding the animal. One day at the market was all it took for her to find the right one.
"Girl, he ain't right. Im telling ya, keep looking." Adam would tell her.
"No Adam, I like this one. He's perfect. Look at him Adam, not his composure. He's amazing." She would always reply in awe.
All Adam could do was shake his head in defeat as he paid the dealer money. Joe and Hoss brought a saddle and saddled up their sister's new horse. Western saddle, medium tree with all the accessories. Joe gave her a leg up and she was on her horse.
"I think I will call you...Spirit. Yeah, I like that. Spirit it is. Alright let's go!" She would say and look at her brothers with a broad smile that spread from ear to ear.
Hoss looked at his baby sister with pride and admiration, and gave her a knowing smile. He reined Chubby around and took the lead. Joe flanked Chubby, and then Adam brought up the rear as their sister was sandwiched in.
She looked amazing on Spirit, head held high and her posture perfect. Spirit looked happy with her on his back, obviously liking how she rode. She never harmed his mouth or abused him in any way.
"Can we gallop home? I'll race ya!" She would holler from atop Spirit.
"Last one home has to clean stalls!" Joe would shout.
And they took off at a mad gallop back to the Ponderosa Ranch where their pa was waiting on them. Chubby would always lag behind, being he was a Thoroughbred Percheron cross. Sport, Adam's horse, would always take lead being a quarter horse. Cochise, Joe's horse, would trail behind Sport by a mere foot but never got ahead. Spirit on the other hand, was a pure blooded Mustang. Straight from Montana this horse could breeze a mile in under 6 minutes. He had no trouble blowing by Sport and Adam.
Pa was sitting on the porch when Spirit came galloping up. He slid to a stop, blowing dirt up onto the porch.
"Well, why did you chose him, my dear?" Pa asked her as she slid off of Spirit.
"Not only his speed but pa this horse is amazing! His composure is good, his neck is stronger than most, his back and leg composition is good to be so young, and he needs a home and some training!" She would say excitedly.
"Well, you sure are something baby girl. Alright well go fix him a stall. Supper is almost ready. Where are the boys?" Pa asked her.
"Weeeelllll they got left behind." She answered innocently before turning in her heel to go to the barn.
Up trots her brothers, all of them looking defeated. How could her sister beat them like that? Usually she was the slowpoke. Not now though with her Mustang.
"Clean up boys, supper is almost ready." Pa announced.
"Yes pa." They answered on unison.
She gave them a sly grin as she lead Spirit into the barn. She tied him io where his stall would be. Her brothers walked in, and tied up their horses.
"Go wash up, I'll take care of the horses." She said with a sad smile.
"You sure sis?" Adam asked.
"Yeah we can get it." Hoss piped in.
"No, I got it, it's fine." She replied.
Joe left, and Hoss lingered for a bit as Adam went after Joe. Hoss smiled at his sister and left, leaving her and the horses.
She sighed, as tears rolled down her face. She grabbed the pitchfork and started moving hay into Spirit's stall. She untacked him and bed him down for the night. She proceeded to do the same to her brother's horses. When she went to check on her pa's horse, she noticed someone riding up.
They dismounted their horse and tied it up to the post and left to the door. Pa greeted the stranger and invited him in. If Pa knows him then it can't be to bad. She attended to her Pa's horse and closed the barn up.
She started walking to the house, when the stranger busted out the door and got on his horse. He must not have been looking, for he run slap over her. She got trampled by his horse, and not once did he look back. She lay on the ground, helpless and in pain.
Pa ran out, in attempt to catch the stranger when he saw her lying on the ground. He yelled for someone but she couldn't quite make out who. Adam and Joe came running out, wondering what Pa was yelling about. They saw him by her side, holding her head in his lap.
"Shhh don't cry. Everything is going to be alright. Joe! Get blankets and a fire going. Adam get some water going." Pa ordered. Both took off to fulfilled their duty.
Pa picked her up, wincing when she cried out in pain. Tears streaked her face, as blood flowed steadily from a head wound. She cringed at every step he took, until finally he got her inside on the sofa. Joe had blankets and was starting the fire when Adam walked in with water and a cloth. Pa soaked the cloth in the warm water and cleaned her up. She had scratches and bruises all along her body. None of which were severe to require immediate attention except her head wound. Pa dabbed at it carefully, stopping everytime she cringed. She whimpered in pain until she finally settled down.
"Joe, hand me on of those blankets." Pa said.
"Pa, we need to disinfect that wound." Adam mentioned.
"I will." Pa stated.
Hoss came running down the stairs, worry etched clear on his face.
"What happened?!" He asked.
"Trampled by the guy that came. He didn't even stop." Pa stated.
Hoss grumbled and plopped down beside the sofa. Adam and Joe followed suit while Pa cleaned out his daughters wound. He finished up and sat down in front of the fire.
She seemed to quiet down and fall asleep. Her breathing was even, and she was in good hands.
"I'll stay with her tonight. Go to bed Pa, Joe, Hoss, I got it." Adam said bluntly leaving no room for argument.
Pa and the rest went upstairs as Adam got comfortable keeping watch over his baby sister. He stayed awake for the longest time until he, too, fell asleep.
((A/N:: okay the girls name is Jenn, and she is roughly 18-19-20 years of age. Idk yet lol. Soo anyways here is the story, and please check out my other account AshleeSlack. This is forever_grace. Catch ya later!
