Faith and Freedom

Chapter 5

"Welcome to Willow Woods Ranch!" Jackie grins. "Let's go meet your horses."

We began walking toward the barn but made a sharp left toward the corrals. I look down at the ground and keep walking. We stop by the corrals and my day just gets worse.

"These are your horses. You are to train them and eventually ride them as well as take care of them. The issue is, they are wild. Literally. They are mustangs. Never saddled, ridden, or touched by human hands." Jackie says.

You have got to be kidding me. I think to myself.

"When your social worker called and explained your situation to us, we knew these were your horses. You get to name them. Research shows that by naming your horse, it will help you bond with them better..." Jackie blabs.

Who cares? She's crazy if she thinks that I'm going to stay here and work with that stupid creature.

"Connor will show you around the rest of the place. I have some things to take care of." Jackie walks away.

I look down at my phone and check the time. A tug at my sleeve averts my attention.

"Sissy? Do we have to stay? I want to go home." Melody whines.

I can see the tears forming in her eyes already.

"Unfortunately, we have to stay, little bear." I tell her and bend down to lift her up.

"Oh." Her little face looks defeated as I walk to the shade of the willow tree.

" S'cuse me. Are you Shasta and Melody?" A southern drawl says behind me.

I spin on my heel and come face to face with a tall brunette with hazel eyes. His face was shaded by a white cowboy hat. He too wore faded wranglers with old cowboy boots and a gray t-shirt.

"Yeah. Why?" I ask.

"I'm Connor. I'm here to show y'all around the ranch." He says, tipping his hat.

"Fun." I mutter under my breath.

"You got somethin' you wanna say?" He says, raising his eyebrows.

"Not to you. Its none of your business anyway. Let's do us both a favor and get this over with so we can leave." I answer curtly.

"Fine. Then move your butt, city slicker and let's go so you can leave then." He replies, just as rudely.

I sigh and set Melody down. She grabs my hand and we begin the look around.

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

Hours later, my feet ache and I'm exhausted. I've seen every freaking inch of the place, dust, dirt, poop, and all. They expect me to get up at 5am every morning with Melody, eat breakfast, and go out to the barn to get our chore list for the day.

My answer to them? Yeah right. I will get up whenever I feel like it and not a moment before then. I won't do the chores and I am leaving with my sister on the first flight out of here.

When we get back to our room, I let Missy and Sephira out of their kennels. It took some convincing from Kate for them to let me keep them here with me. I grabbed Sephira's blue collar and leash before I hook her up to it.

I open the door and walk down the hall with Melody on my heels. She refuses to be away from me, for fear of loosing me. And I didn't blame her. I walk past a few girls on their horses who give me funny looks but I don't care. I just need air. I decide to go for a walk down a trail marked 'River'.

We walk for a while before I realize that this is a horse trail. Great. I think to myself. Might as well think of a name for the dumb animal.

I begin to think of names. The list I come up with is pretty stupid so far.

Horse Names
-----------------------

Fear of the Dark
Stay out of the shadows
Warrior
Dash
Ducky
Wish
Bumble Bee
Coal dust
Copper

Lame names, I know. My sister decided to call her horse Domino. Easy for her. She used to have a play horse named Domino. It was made entirely of crystal. She loved it. Until They took it.

Finally a name popped into my head. His name is Renegade. I thought with a smile. But I'm still not staying.

Word count: 732