by Chris Platt
Misty let out a loud whinny that nearly pierced Ali’s eardrum. The cry was answered by another horse out in the desert.
“It’s got to be Danny!” Ali patted Misty, then climbed to the top rail of the corral to look. She couldn’t see them yet, but Misty knew they were coming. They all rushed out from the corrals to the edge of the desert to wait.
Soon Ali could make out the silhouette of a horse and rider, with another horse trailing behind. It was hard to wait patiently while the three of them slowly wound their way through the sagebrush.
At last Danny rode into the yard on Dumpling. He looked tired and strained, but he managed a small smile as he handed the black Appaloosa’s lead off to Ali. “I believe this belongs to you.”
Wind Dancer looked like he was ready to drop, but he seemed somewhat aware of his surroundings. He nickered softly to Misty and she returned the greeting enthusiastically. Ali took the lead rope, her hands shaking. Her mom and dad helped Danny down and Cara led Dumpling to an empty pen to remove his saddle and bridle.
When Danny was steady on the ground again, Ali hugged him with all her might. She gave Wind Dancer’s lead rope back to him. “Danny, I think this horse belongs to you.”
“But he’s a perfect replacement for Max,” Danny said. “You loved that pony, and Wind Dancer looks just like him.”
Ali patted the horse affectionately and kissed him on the end of his nose. “There will never be another Max,” she said. Misty leaned over the fence and nuzzled her hair. “But it does seem that there’s a certain white mare that needs a new owner.”
Their mom clapped her hands together.
Ali smiled and scratched Misty on the neck. “Wind Dancer needs you, Danny. And I think you need him too.”
“I had a lot of time to think about things while I was out there by myself,” Danny admitted. He held Wind Dancer while the vet examined him. “I’ve thought through the things we talked about this morning. I think I’m ready to talk to somebody about everything that’s been going on. PTSD included. I want to get my life back in order.”
Wind Dancer nickered. Danny patted him affectionately. “I’m going to need a job so I can support this beast and all the food he’s going to eat. I want to get him back into shape so I can learn how to ride him correctly.” He rubbed his backside. “I smacked the saddle pretty hard while I was riding Dumpling. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t doing it right.”
Ali laughed.
“And next time, sis,” Danny added, “when you ask if you can follow me out into the desert, I’ll say yes.”
Ali hugged her brother.
For the first time in a long time, she felt like things really were going to work out. Danny was going to get the help he needed, and they had two great new horses as well.
She watched proudly as Danny walked Wind Dancer into his pen. The gelding was so tired he could barely make it, but he managed to nuzzle her brother’s shoulder as he was taking off his halter.
Ali climbed the fence to join Cara. She pulled the licorice from her pocket and gave Cara a piece. “It’s going to feel good to be a horse girl again.”
“Hmmm. Maybe we can ask a certain boy to join us for a ride when your horses are ready to go?” Cara asked.
“Well, sure,” Ali said with a smile. “It’s going to be a long road to recovery, and a lot of hard work before these horses will be ready for that, but I can’t wait!”
Ali and Cara lifted their pieces of licorice high in the air and crossed them in salute.
“To new beginnings,” Cara said.
“To new beginnings,” Ali agreed.
Author’s Note
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Many of our soldiers are returning from war with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. Most of them will recover over time, but for some, the symptoms won’t go away and might even become worse.
For those seeking additional information on this disorder, here is a list of places that offer help and insight:
Mayo Clinic
www.mayoclinic.com/health/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/DS00246
Military.com
www.military.com
National Center for PTSD
www.ptsd.va.gov
National Institute of Mental Health
www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
www.va.gov
Veterans’ Crisis Line
(800) 273-8255
Taming the Fire Within by Dr. Anne Freund
www.tamingthefirewithin.com
Wounded Warrior Project
www.woundedwarriorproject.org
About the Author
CHRIS PLATT has been riding horses since she was two years old. At the age of sixteen, she earned her first gallop license at a racetrack in Salem, Oregon. Several years later, she became one of the first female jockeys in that state. Chris has also trained Arabian endurance horses and driven draft horses.
After earning a journalism degree from the University of Nevada in Reno, she decided to combine her love of horses and writing. She is the author of several books, including ASTRA, MOON SHADOW, STAR GAZER, STORM CHASER, and WILLOW KING.
Platt lives in Nevada with her husband, four horses, two cats, and a parrot.
www.chrisplattbooks.com
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2014 by Chris Platt
Cover design by Nicola Carmack
ISBN 978-1-4804-3453-0
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