A Country Girl.

Chapter 56

Ty

After breakfast Hailey and I went out to start work. "So" she said as we carried the bales of hay out to the pastures. "How is Caramel?" "Good, but she seems a but distressed without Peach. Her expression faltered but only for a split second "And Patches?" I felt bad for mentioning Peach but didn't dwell on it "he's good, I haven't gotten to get out there with him since you went into hiding. But I was thinking we could get out there later" "sounds like a plan."

After doing our chores, Hailey got the whip and halter and we headed out to patches enclosure. "What are you planing to do?" I asked "I'm gonna take him to the round pen, and there we're gonna begin lunging" "what, Your gonna start lunging now? But he isn't even halter trained" "you don't know that" "Hailey, he wont let anyone get close enough to put one on him" "Ty. You know that's not true, why do you still think he's bad?" "I don't I just think your putting to much faith in him." Hailey shook her head but didn't say anything more, and walked off into the pasture. I sighed ' she's too trusting of him ' I thought and followed after her.

We found Patches at the back fence of the pasture. "Patches what are you doing? Dont you know there's a lion running around here?" Hailey said walking over to him. He looked terrified but I couldnt figure out why.

"Hey boy, how are you? I know its been along time since the last time I was out here" Hailey said in a sweet calming voice as she walked closer to Patches. He pawed the ground nervously and back away. "Hey, its ok baby I'm not gonna hurt you." Hailey stepped closer to him holding her hand out for him to smell. "Its just me." He sniffed the air, then snorted and took off running from under the trees. 'he knows there something coming' Patches stopped running about 10 yards from the tree line and bobbed his head and snorted, like a warning.

Hailey turned to me, confused and worried. I noticed, just a few feet behind Hailey, a dark shadow lurking in the branches. I squinted trying to get a better look. Thats when it hit me, a mountain lion. I rushed over to Hailey and grabbed her, pulling her out of the way, just as a huge cat lands right where she was standing. It stood there staring at us for a minute then he began inching closer. "Ty!?!" Hailey said fearfully "don't worry it's ok." I searched for my gun but I realized I had left it at the house. I turned to Hailey with and apologetic expression "I'm sorry" I said, Hailey looked at me, her eyes full of fear. I turned back toward the large cat "fuck you, you glorified stuffed animal" the lion snarled and hunched back, ready to pounce.

The mountain lion was like a coiled spring, ready to go flying at any second. The cat jumped straight at us. But before he made it Patches came charging down the hill, knocking the him back to the ground. The horse stood between us and the cat snorting and stomping. The lion stood and squared up to Patches.

After a stance few seconds patches charged "patches no!!" Hailey yelled running at him, I snatched her back and held her close. She baried her face in my chest. I watched on as patches attacked the predator.

The lion jumped onto Patches back and clawed at his neck. Patches dropped and rolled over crushing him under his weight. But that didnt stop the hungry animal. I stead of going after patches again, he turned toward Hailey and I. The cat creeped closer and closer. When he was with within range he jumped with as much power as a broken leg would allow. I ducked reflexively around Hailey, shielding her from the cats sharp claws. But he came up short due to the broken leg and fell. Patches took his chance and ran toward us. Stopping only a few feet from us. He reared and slammed his hooves into the lions side, killing it.