Stephen Bly's Horse Dreams Trilogy: Memories of a Dirt Road, the Mustang Breaker, Wish I'd Known You Tears Ago

by Stephen A. Bly

  “It was so poignant. There were her paper, pencils, and books. On the faded wall above the TV tray was a small poster of Larry the Tomato and Bob the Cucumber … and next to that a photograph of me that she had downloaded off the school Web site.”

  Renny stroked the horse’s neck. “You were right up there with Larry and Bob. Wow! That’s quite an honor.”

  “It was for me. Her mother said Shelly always sat there and talked to herself when she did her homework.”

  “My mother talks to herself when she cooks. It’s a dadgum hoot to hear her. It’s as if all her sisters and brothers are there, and she has to explain what she’s doing.”

  Develyn felt her shoulders relax, and she dropped her hands to her side. “For Shelly, talking to herself was her method of cutting out the conflicting noises of a crowded house.”

  Renny reached behind his back, grabbed the blue nylon lead rope, and had it snapped to the ring without Molly knowing it. He continued to stroke her neck. “So, what did you do for little Shelly?”

  “I came back to school, put her desk in the corner, and told her she could sit there, face the wall, and do her work, but she could only whisper to herself.”

  “Molly might get a little antsy here. I’m not going to lead her, but I want to tug on this rope to let her know it’s here. Hold your ground and keep talking.”

  “The very next week she got A’s on her tests and was looking for extra work to do.”

  When Renny tugged straight down on the lead rope, the mare’s eyes widened and her ears pinned back, but she didn’t move her head. “Now, darlin’, you need to yield to the lead rope. It feels better when you give in.” He kept the rope tight, but the mare refused to lower her head.

  “What are you going to do?” Dev asked.

  “Leave it tight until she decides she likes it better when it’s loose. So, your Shelly sat in the corner all year?”

  “No. In March, my friend Lily invited a distant relative of hers who is training to be an astronaut to come speak at our school.”

  “I’ve spoken at a few schools,” he said, still pulling on the lead rope.

  “Next time you are in Indiana, I will insist you speak to my class.”

  Molly lowered her head until the lead rope hung limp. “That a girl … see how nice that is, honey.” He stroked her neck. “I knew you could do it.”

  “I had the astronaut in my class, but I didn’t ask Shelly to turn her desk around.”

  “How about over here to the left?” Renny said. “Turn your head this way, darlin’.” Molly turned her head to relieve the pressure of the lead rope.

  “She did that on her own. She was completely fascinated by his talk.”

  “I reckon young girls, like young horses, do some things they weren’t planning to do when they get distracted.” Renny tugged the horse’s head right and left. Molly yielded to his lead.

  “When it came time to ask the astronaut questions, Shelly’s hand went up first.”

  “I reckon she forgot to be afraid.”

  “This was in March, and I believe it was the first time the other kids had ever heard anything more than a whisper from her. I know it was the first question she ever asked out loud.”

  “This is a nice mare. She needs to be around people more. She likes people.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Can’t you see it in her eyes? She likes the attention. I’ve never met a female yet that didn’t like attention.”

  Develyn laughed. “Am I goin’ to get some more chauvinistic cowboy philosophy?”

  “No, keep talking. You scoot over next to me, and I’ll lead her that direction. She wants to go that way, so we’ll let her walk a while. You stay beside me and continue the story.”

  “Does she still need to hear my voice?”

  “Not now, but I want to know what happens to little Shelly M–A–C–L–E–A–N.”

  “After that, she decided to leave her desk facing the class.”

  When Develyn scooted over, Molly stepped between her and the brush corral, Renny alongside, keeping the lead rope slack.

  Develyn strolled beside him. “I gave my class an assignment to design a rocket ship and assigned teams, fully expecting Shelly to beg out.”

  “She didn’t?”

  “She was so excited with the project, she agreed to work with Nickie and Treena.”

  “I have a niece named Trina. Katrina, actually, but we call her Trina.” Renny led the black mare to the far end of the corrals, keeping her close to the brush fence.

  Develyn pulled her straw hat off, brushed back her hair, then pressed it back down. “They were about halfway through the project when the girls begged Shelly to move her desk over next to theirs so they could work on it more often.” She glanced around. “Are you taking her to the round pen now?”

  “Not yet. We’ll circle the corral a couple of times this direction, then see if I can talk her into reversing directions. After that we’ll do a couple figure eights to get her used to the middle of the corral. Then, the round pen.” Renny turned the horse toward the other side of the corrals. “Now, did Shelly move her desk?”

  “Yes, she agreed, but said it would only be temporary. When they finished the space ship, she was moving back.”

  “Did she?”

  “No, she stayed with the class for the rest of the year.”

  “Young girls, like young mares, do learn some things.”

  “She is still the shyest girl in school, but what a sweetie when you take time to know her. Out of all my students this last year, I miss her most.”

  “And Miss Molly is stepping right out, isn’t she? A little instruction, a soft voice, a little praise … feeling safe … surprising how well they respond.”

  “Students or horses?”

  “Both. Love, kindness, and sincere concern go a long way,” Renny said. He switched directions with the black mare.

  “Renny, I guess it’s kids like Shelly that keep me coming back every year. That’s why I teach. To make a lifetime difference. It’s a rare privilege, a gift from the Lord. Does that make sense to you?”

  “Yes, ma’am, and it’s sweet mares like Miss Molly that keep me in this business.”

  At that moment, the mare paused, raised her tail, then went to the bathroom.

  “Oh, dear,” Develyn said. “I hope that isn’t her assessment of your training methods.”

  “That’s the ultimate compliment, Devy-girl. It proves how relaxed Miss Molly is.”

  * * *

  Develyn perched on the top rail of the round pen as Renny lunged Molly clockwise, then counterclockwise.

  Over.

  And over.

  And over again.

  Each time he stopped her with a “whoa,” he made her turn to face him before starting again.

  “What time is it, Devy girl?”

  Develyn glanced at her watch. “About 12:30.”

  “Have we been working with her for about three hours?”

  “Yes.”

  “Let’s take a break.” Renny unlatched the lunge line and replaced it with the lead. Develyn swung open the gate, and he led the horse back into the corral. Then he shoved the line into Develyn’s hands. “Take her over to the stock tank, give her a drink, then tie her to the post.”

  “Me?”

  “Now you are the one sounding like a fifth-grader.”

  “But what if she doesn’t want to mind me?”

  “Don’t give her that option.” Renny shoved Develyn’s waist toward the stock tank. “You are the boss. She’s trying to find the pecking order in this herd. All horses know they have to fit in some order. She’s given me first place, now it’s time for you to accept the role as second place.”

  “But what difference does that make?” Dev protested. “I’m not going to be around this horse after today.”

 
“That’s true, but neither am I. We don’t want her to be a one-man or one-woman horse. I want her to see all people as being ahead of her in the line. Don’t let her boss you. If she tries to pull back, yank the line and tell her no. When she does it right, praise her.”

  “You’d make a wonderful school counselor, Mr. Slater.”

  “That’s me, guidance counselor and driver’s ed. instructor.”

  Develyn led the mare out through the middle of the corral toward the stock tank. “I’ve seen you drive. Stick to counseling.”

  Renny veered off to the gate at the south side of the corral. Molly tried to tug free and follow him.

  Develyn jerked the rope. “No you don’t, young lady. You’re going with me.”

  Molly yanked back and refused to move.

  “Pretend she’s a naughty fifth-grader on the playground,” Renny called out.

  Develyn grabbed the lead rope with both hands and yanked it. “I said, you are coming with me. I don’t want any lip from you. You will be staying after school all week if you don’t get off this playground right now!”

  Molly dropped her head and trudged after Develyn.

  “Yes!” Renny hooted. “Schoolteachers make good horse trainers.”

  “I haven’t been doing much but watching.”

  “After lunch, I’ll have you lunge her.”

  * * *

  They sat on a bale of hay, in the shade of the old barn, out of the wind. Renny sliced cheese and Develyn sipped on a Diet Coke. The conversation bounced from school to horse training to childhood memories to failed marriages. After about an hour, they sauntered back to the waiting mare. This time, Develyn lunged her clockwise and counterclockwise.

  When she stopped, she noticed Renny had littered the corral with a couple of fence posts, soda cans, newspaper, and an old worn-out steel-belted tire.

  “Put on the lead rope and bring her out here.”

  “Why are you trashing the place?”

  “This isn’t trash; it’s an obstacle course. She needs to learn not to be afraid of these things. She’s used to a clean corral. Life isn’t always that simple.”

  “So, you have some crisis training?”

  “Just minor obstacles, so she’ll learn to trust me even with something unknown.”

  Develyn watched from the gate as Renny led Molly around and over the posts, trash, cans, and even stepped in the tire. Over and over, he repeated the process, never taking the same course twice.

  “Pick up the tire and roll it straight at her,” he called out.

  “Is she ready for that?”

  “There’s one way to find out.”

  The black mare didn’t flinch when the tire rolled toward them. It veered to the right, then plopped down at her feet. She bent low to investigate, then stared off at the big pasture beyond the corral.

  “She did good,” Develyn said.

  “She’s getting bored. Lead her around while I get the saddle.”

  “Is it time to ride her?”

  “No, it’s time to saddle her.”

  Renny had Develyn hold the lead rope as he brushed Molly down, then took his time as he laid the saddle blanket on her back. The horse craned around to watch, but didn’t protest.

  “Should I try to keep her head straight?”

  “No, let her look.”

  Renny picked up the saddle and looped the right stirrup over the saddle horn. “Twitch her ear.”

  “What?”

  “Grab her ear and bend it.”

  “Will that hurt her?”

  “No, but it will annoy her enough she won’t pay attention to what I’m doin’.”

  With one hand still on the lead rope, she latched the other to the horse’s black ear. Molly’s hair felt warm, a little sweaty.

  “Now, bend it.”

  When Dev bent the ear, Molly took her eyes off Renny. He set the saddle down with deliberate care, let the stirrups hang free, then reached under the horse and buckled the cinches.

  “I’ll tighten these later. Turn loose of her ear.”

  “Will she buck?”

  “We’ll find out, won’t we?”

  Molly cranked her head back, but didn’t protest.

  “Isn’t this a purdy saddle, Molly, darlin’?” Renny drawled. “Why, you look beautiful all dolled up with a fine rig like this. Maybe not as beautiful as Miss Dev, but you are a real head-turner, like she is.”

  “Save your flattery for horses, cowboy.”

  Renny stopped, reached over and pulled Develyn’s chin around where she had to look at him. Then he tapped her nose with two fingers. “Ms. Worrell, you are one beautiful lady. You make a man proud to be in the same room or even the same corral with you.”

  Develyn bit her lip. “Thanks, Renny. I appreciate those words from you. I’m in the middle of Wyoming, and you make me feel like the world is spinning around me. I always feel good when I’m with you. But I can’t imagine you could say that, what with me having absolutely no makeup.”

  “Darlin’ … darlin’ … darlin’ … there are two things I’d like to teach you this summer. Well, actually three.” Renny led Molly around the arena wearing the saddle.

  “Oh?”

  “I’d like to teach you how to break a horse.”

  “I’m learning a lot today.”

  “Yes, you are. And there are a couple more things to teach you today. I’d also like to teach you that you have a God-given beauty that can’t be covered up with cream and lotion.”

  “At least I can cover up all these crow’s feet around my eyes.”

  “Devy-girl, those are trophies of wisdom and age, and ever’ one of them well-earned. Wear them with pride, darlin’. You earned the right to look your age.”

  “I’ve never heard it expressed that way.”

  Renny stopped in the middle of the arena, grabbed the front cinch strap and yanked it tight. Then he took the lead from her hands and looped it over the saddle horn. He eased the reins over the horse’s head, then clutched them in his left hand. “Now it’s time to mount up.”

  “Do you think she will buck?”

  “What do you think, Miss Dev?”

  “Me?”

  “Look her in the eyes and tell me, is this horse going to buck?”

  Develyn stared into the huge chocolate-colored eyes. “No, she won’t. I think you are right. She is enjoying all the attention.”

  “I agree with you, darlin’, but stand back anyway.”

  Renny stuck his left foot in the stirrup, then pulled it out again. He repeated this several times, putting more weight on the stirrup each time. Then he put all his weight on the stirrup, stood there a moment, then let himself back to the ground.

  Slater repeated this several times.

  “OK, Miss Dev, here’s the test.”

  This time Slater put all his weight in the stirrup, then with patient caution swung his right leg over the seat of the saddle. As if in slow motion, he lowered his weight on to the saddle.

  Molly shifted her front hooves and stood motionless.

  He stroked the horse’s neck. “You are a good girl, darlin’. Didn’t she do good, Mama?”

  Develyn laughed. “Yes, Daddy, our baby is growing up.”

  He stared at her for a minute.

  “That was a joke.”

  “I know,” he mumbled. “But it sounded good, anyway. Enjoy your daughter, Delaney. Children are such a blessing.”

  “Do you miss not having children, Renny?”

  He kicked Molly’s flanks, and the horse walked forward. “There are a lot of things I miss.”

  Develyn stood in the middle and watched Renny ride the horse around and around the corral. When he kicked the horse again, she sped up to a trot.

  “This is a smooth ridin’ mare, Miss Dev. Someone is getting a beauty of a horse.”

  He pulled up be
side her. “You ride her for a while. I need to clean up the corral.

  “Are we almost through?”

  “I want to teach her to back up before we’re done. Then I’ll call the owners to come out and take a look.” In one fluid motion, Renny eased off the saddle and down to the ground. He handed her the reins.

  “I’ll ride this horse on one condition,” she demanded.

  “Oh?”

  “You told me that there were three things you wanted to teach me this summer. The first was how to gentle a horse. The second was to accept the way I look without makeup. What was the third thing?”

  “I figured you’d call me on that.”

  “You figured right. Now, what else do you want to teach this Indiana schoolteacher?”

  He leaned over and motioned for her to step closer. Their noses were only inches apart. “I was hoping to teach you how to kiss better.” His hand slipped around the back of her neck, and he pulled her lips to his.

  Her eyes were wide open.

  His were shut.

  The kiss was firm, not sloppy.

  On the second kiss, she closed her eyes.

  Develyn had Molly at a lope when the clean, gold Chevy Silverado pulled up to the barn. “Ride her out here!” Renny shouted as he opened the gate.

  “Are you sure it’s OK?”

  “Just walk her around and talk to her. We’ll show Miss Molly off to the boss.”

  The gray-haired man sported a pot belly and a pleasant smile. The woman wore jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, but her long gray hair was braided and she had no hat.

  The man and Renny leaned against the pickup and began a laughing, hand-waving conversation. The woman strolled over to Develyn and the horse.

  “I can’t believe this is my Molly. She’s been snotty for a couple of years. Take her at a gallop, hon. Let me see her legs.”

  A gallop? Out here? We haven’t given her a test in the pasture. Develyn glanced over at Renny. He was sprawled flat on his back in the dirt, under the gold pickup, explaining something to the man.

  Well, Devy girl, it’s time to cowgirl up. I don’t even know if she’ll respond to a gallop command.