For The Love of Horses (Pegasus Equestrian Center)

by Diana Vincent

  “Have you seen River?” she asked as Mary approached where Sierra stood by the rail.

  Mary brought Raider to a halt and answered, “No, but I think I saw his dog running around down by the lower pasture.” Then she asked, “Is something wrong? Everyone around here, Manuel and Enrique, and even Tess…everyone seems kind of upset.”

  “Cory’s leaving today,” Sierra replied. No point keeping it a secret.

  “Oh, dear me, oh no,” Mary said softly. “I am so sorry to hear that.” The word had spread among the boarders and students who frequented Pegasus that Corazón’s owner had surfaced. Sympathy for River was high, for everyone knew the bond he had with his horse.

  Sierra nodded her thanks and turned away. She walked back outside, planning to walk down to the pasture to find River.

  Before she turned down the lane, she heard a truck’s engine coming into the yard. Her heart lurched and the knot still in her stomach cramped briefly and sent a chill throughout her body. She watched a black pick-up truck pulling a rental two-horse trailer drive in and come to a halt. The office door opened, and Tess, who must have also heard the truck, stepped out and walked over to join Sierra.

  “Is that the owner?” Sierra asked as a woman climbed out of the passenger side.

  “Yes, that’s Beverly Cormack,” Tess said bitterly.

  Two men got out of the truck as well; the driver and a man from the back seat. One went to the back of the trailer to start undoing latches while the other gathered equipment from the trailer’s tack compartment.

  The woman walked toward Sierra and Tess. Sierra studied her tight expression; creased brow, pressed lips, and narrowed eyes that glared at them suspiciously. She wore a gray suit over a red knit top, and the bottoms of the slacks tucked into short, black patent leather boots; a stylish, expensive outfit. She might be considered attractive, but Sierra found the expression on her face as she approached, very displeasing.

  “I trust I don’t need the sheriff,” the woman stated in a commanding voice, “but a deputy is just a phone call away. I have already alerted them.”

  Tess glared at her with her own lips tight and folding her arms against her chest.

  “Where is my horse?”

  “He’s here,” Tess answered. “River is spending as much time as he can with his horse.” She emphasized ‘his horse’ in her statement.

  “I think he’s in the lower pasture,” Sierra said to Tess. “Want me to get him?”

  “Yes,” Tess answered and under her breath so only Sierra could hear, added, “take your time.” Tess watched Sierra slowly walk toward the lane and said in an acid tone without looking at Beverly, “Sierra will let River know you are here to take his horse away.”

  “I expect this to go smoothly,” Beverly said, equally acerbic. She thrust a manila envelope at Tess. “The check for your bill is in there, along with a copy of my legal claim. I want a receipt for the check.”

  Tess took the envelope and without another word, turned and strode back into her office, leaving Beverly and her hired hands to fret by themselves.

  Sierra found River and Cory where she expected. He stood next to his horse stroking his neck while Cory grazed. When Cory raised his head, sensing Sierra approaching, River also looked up. Her heart seized up at how miserable he looked. Words being useless, she walked up and hugged him. She felt his arms come around her and hold onto her as if she were a lifesaver.

  They clung to each other until Cory’s snuffling at Sierra’s pockets for the carrot he knew had to be there, caused them to break apart. Sierra gave him his carrot pieces, and then wordlessly, handed River Cory’s halter that she had picked up at the gate. River slipped it on to the black’s head, and then they walked together toward the stable yard.

  “What’s she like?” River asked, breaking the silence when they reached the lane between the paddocks and he could see the awaiting trailer. “Is she excited to see Cory?”

  Since there was no point in trying to conceal what she thought of the woman since River would meet her in just a few minutes, she said honestly and in a choked voice, “I don’t like her. She’s hateful.”

  River’s steps faltered; and Cory brought his head up abruptly, sensing the tension surrounding the two kids. River placed a calming hand on Cory’s neck, and then proceeded on.

  Sierra felt like they were in a death march.

  “It’s about time,” Beverly greeted them sharply as they came into the yard, pivoting to face them from where she had been pacing impatiently.

  Taking one look at the woman, River froze. Sierra somehow knew he was about to turn back with Cory. “River, you can’t run away with him,” she whispered and grabbed his hand to still his action.

  He gripped her hand, squeezing her fingers painfully.

  “Do you want me to take him the rest of the way?” she offered. She sympathized with how much he wanted to run away. She wanted to run away as well. But she knew that wouldn’t resolve anything, and even though she didn’t want to take Cory to that woman, she understood how much harder it would be for River.

  “Please,” he answered in a strangled voice, and thrust Cory’s lead into her hand. He turned to his horse one last time and with both arms around his neck, he pressed his face against the warm, silky coat, breathing in deeply of Cory’s scent. Then with a choking sound, he bolted away.

  Storm appeared and trotted after River, but she paused a moment to look up at Sierra with her very sympathetic and knowing canine expression, letting Sierra know she could sense the tragedy in the air. Sierra watched them disappear before she reluctantly led Cory into the yard.

  “I’m just going to take him to the crossties to brush him down before you put on the trailer gear,” she said as one of the waiting men strode forward.

  “Go with her, Merv,” Beverly ordered.

  Merv, the man who had stepped forward, followed Sierra inside, carrying a halter, blanket, and shipping bandages.

  “So this is the horse; nice looking animal,” he said conversationally.

  Sierra made no reply as she removed Cory’s blanket, brushed him, and picked out his feet.

  Merv moved in closer, his movements abrupt and inattentive. Cory, already wary because of the tension in the air, laid his ears back in warning.

  “Watch out,” Sierra added her own warning.

  Merv had bent down to apply the first wrap to a foreleg, but Cory struck out with the leg, moving away from the man and causing him to lose his balance. Merv fell back on his rear. Swearing, he stood up abruptly and thumped Cory on his shoulder. “Stand still,” he growled at the horse.

  “Hey, you don’t need to…” Sierra’s words were halted as Corazón jumped in the crossties with his head high and ears flat. As Merv stepped back in he lashed out with his teeth bared, warning him away.

  “Please!” Sierra cried out again and stepped in between Cory and Merv. “He knows me; let me put on the gear.” She could see the angry man struggling to assert his dominance over both her and the horse, but not waiting for his assent, Sierra turned to Cory and speaking soothingly, stroked his neck until his defensive posturing began to relax. Then she quietly placed a quilted pad around his leg and wrapped the bandage securely to hold it in place. She efficiently completed wrapping the other three legs. Then she replaced Cory’s blanket with the one Merv had brought, and finally exchanged his halter. She snapped on the lead which had a length of chain near the connecting snap.

  “Put the chain around his nose,” Merv ordered.

  “He’ll respond better if you don’t,” Sierra said flatly, and without complying, led Cory out of the stable feeling like a traitor.

  At sight of the unfamiliar trailer and sensing Sierra’s distress, Cory snorted a short, loud huff of fear, and bracing all four feet, came to a standstill.

  “Hey you,” snarled Merv who had been walking behind them. He gave Cory a loud slap on his rump.

  Cory swung away, dragging against the lead. “Don’t!” Sierra cried out
at the man. “Give him a chance to check things out. Don’t you know anything about horses?”

  “Look here, little girl,” Merv retorted, storming up to grab the lead from her hand. “We’ve wasted too much time already waiting for you. I’ll handle this. The horse don’t belong to you no more.”

  In helpless shock, Sierra watched him grab the cheek piece of Corazón’s halter and with a quick motion, flip the chain around his muzzle, and re-attach the lead so when he pulled on it, the chain would tighten painfully. He yanked down on the lead with several quick jabs to let the horse know who was in charge. “Bring the whip, Ken,” he called out to the other man who stood at the side of the trailer ramp, watching. Ken sprinted away.

  With eyes rolling, Cory reared back, swinging his head side-to-side, trying to relieve the pressure around his nose. Swearing, Merv moved with him, yanking hard on the chain, trying to control the fighting animal. “Ken, hurry up!” he yelled.

  Ken came around with a buggy whip and moved toward Cory’s hindquarters. Catching sight of another strange man with a whip, Cory spun his hindquarters away and backed rapidly, spraying gravel from his hooves as Merv held on to the lead. Again shaking his head side to side he reared up and actually pulled Merv halfway off his feet.

  Stumbling but managing to stay on his feet, Merv held on tight as Ken moved to the back to slash out with the whip. Cory lunged forward but Merv jumped to the side, and yanked down with all his weight on the lead. Cory grunted as the chain tightened around his nose, and came to a stop, trembling as he shook his head again and bucked against the pressure.

  In anguish, Sierra tried to find an opening to move in and rescue Corazón, but the men and horse were moving too fast in a whirl of legs and hooves and spraying gravel.

  “Stop!” Tess suddenly came running from the stable, having heard the sound of Cory’s frantic hooves on the gravel and the shouting men. But they ignored her and as helpless as Sierra, Tess also could find no safe way to move in closer.

  As if nature sympathized with the frightened animal, a dark cloud moved in front of the sun, and the day darkened to gray. Moments later, rain pelted down.

  Sierra saw her chance. Distracted by the rain, Merv had slightly loosened his grip on the lead and Cory for the moment stood frozen with all four feet planted. She ducked her head and moved swiftly to Cory’s shoulder and grabbed the lead. “Let go now!” she ordered as she stepped in between Cory and Merv.

  “Step away, little girl,” Merv snarled at her, “so you don’t get hurt.”

  “I’ll load him,” Sierra stated forcefully. Cory stood trembling; his neck damp with nervous sweat and now rain. “Easy there, Cory,” she murmured to him.

  “Let her take him, Merv,” Ken said to the handler, noticing how the horse didn’t pull back against Sierra’s hand on the lead.

  Merv didn’t have a choice, for Sierra reached up and unsnapped the chain and slipped it off, holding onto Cory by the ring on his halter. “Help me, Tess,” Sierra asked, and then murmured to Cory in low tones.

  When Tess had seen Sierra make her move, she had already stepped in to back her up. Now she picked up the lead and re-attached it to Cory’s halter by the snap, handing it to Sierra. The two women positioned themselves to keep the men from getting near Cory’s head.

  “It’s okay, Cory,” Sierra soothed him, not believing her own words. She led him away from the trailer, and around the perimeter of the stable yard to give him a chance to settle down.

  Tess stormed over to where Beverly had retreated inside the truck to get out of the rain. She rapped hard on the window. When Beverly opened it a crack, she barked out, “Do those men work for you?”

  “No, I hired them from the rental place. They said they were used to picking up horses.”

  “Keep them away if you ever want to get Corazón into the trailer,” Tess warned, biting out the words.

  “Now look here…” Beverly stiffened in her seat, but Tess had already turned away to join Sierra.

  In his wary mood, Corazón shied away as Tess approached, for he did not know her as well as Sierra, River, and the stable hands. “Easy, easy,” Sierra soothed.

  “Where is River?” Tess asked.

  “He didn’t want to watch them take Cory away,” Sierra explained. “I think I can load him if I give him a few more minutes to calm down.”

  “I hope so.” Tess stepped out of the way.

  Sierra led Cory in circles, spiraling in until they were just a few yards from the trailer. That was as close as the black could tolerate, and he swiveled away to snort loudly, pulling back on the lead. Sierra stepped back with him, and stroked his shoulder, but she could feel the tenseness in his muscles. She tried to coax him to face the trailer. Cory half reared and tried to whirl away. It was all she could do to keep hold of the lead as he dragged her to the edge of the stable yard away from the trailer before he quit pulling. She led him around in a larger circle again and then tried one more time to spiral him in, but she already knew he was too upset, and she knew he could sense the distress in her as well, which certainly didn’t help. Cory balked and shied away, not even going as close as he did the first time to the trailer. He clearly had had enough. Sierra led him away and as she passed by Tess, she said, “He’s not going to load. He’s way too upset.”

  “We’ll fix that,” Merv said. He and his partner had been leaning against the back of the pick-up truck watching the small girl’s unsuccessful attempts to load the horse. Wearing a gloating expression over Sierra’s failure, Merv strode confidently up to her and snatched the lead from her hand. He managed to fit the chain again over Cory’s nose, this time even tighter so that any pull of the lead would cause pain as well as restricting air. As Cory flung his head with Merv pulling on the chain, the horse’s attempts to suck in breaths sounded like a wheezy whistle. Cory froze with his eyes wide with panic, his shoulders and legs trembling.

  “Ken, bring the wire,” he yelled to his partner. Ken hurried over carrying a large loop of some type of thick, twisted wire, which he brought up around Cory’s hind end from his hocks up over his back where he held onto the ends of the wire that had been secured together with duct tape to form a grip. As Merv handled the lead and chain, Ken pulled on the wire to apply pressure to Cory’s hind legs, coercing him to move forward.

  Already in a panic from lack of air, when Cory felt the strange cold wire above his hocks, he lunged forward, kicking out against the wire and then jumped straight up in the air with his neck stiff. His violent and abrupt movements caused Ken to fall backwards and lose his grip on the wire which now tangled dangerously around Cory’s back legs. As Cory reared up he lifted Merv off his feet. Merv held on with all his strength, swearing vehemently.

  “If you care anything about that horse, you better find River,” Tess cried out to Sierra.

  Sierra had already thought the same thing, and had just turned to go when she saw River running toward the chaos in the yard.

  He ran directly at Merv and shoved into him with all his weight. Merv stumbled sideways, just barely keeping his feet, and the horse’s lead slipped from his grip.

  Corazón bolted away toward the lane; the wire loop caught around one back pastern and flipping about wildly. River jogged after him, calling his name. Cory stopped at the first paddock fence, and spun to face River, kicking out trying to rid himself of the wire. Recognizing the sight and scent of his friend, he lowered his head and stood trembling, and permitted River to come up to him. River quickly unfastened the chain from his nose and then carefully untangled the wire. With nothing but a halter on his head, not even a lead rope, River swung up onto Cory’s blanketed back, and they trotted away down the lane.

  “What is he doing?” Beverly cried out as she jumped angrily out of the truck. “Stop him!”

  Ken, back on his feet, whooped out in astonishment, watching the retreating hind end of the horse who had broken into a gallop before disappearing from view. “Holy smoke, that kid can ride!” he exclaimed with
a grin of appreciation spreading across his face. Merv glared a warning at him, and punched him in the shoulder as he walked by to join Beverly. He snarled something to her in a voice too low for the others to hear.

  “I’m calling the sheriff,” Beverly announced, and leaned back into the truck to grab her purse.

  “Calm down, everyone,” Tess ordered. “Sierra, go after River. Take Magnificent, so you have a chance of catching up to him.” Then Tess called over to Beverly, “Sierra will bring him back. What else can I do?”

  Beverly spun around, glaring menacingly at Tess. “I’m giving him twenty minutes.”

  “I don’t think you or a deputy will be able to bring Cory back any faster than Sierra can, so you might as well give it up for today. The horse is so upset I doubt even River could load him. Why don’t you let us bring the horse to you? It will be much easier on him to ride in a familiar trailer.”

  “Twenty minutes,” Beverly snarled out again.

  “Surely it will be easier for us to transport the horse. Give me the address where you are taking him, and we’ll bring him later tonight,” Tess urged, almost pleading in her tone.

  “That will not happen,” Beverly stated adamantly. “I am not leaving without my horse.”

  “I’m getting that horse in the trailer!” Merv shouted out, standing with legs spread and hands on his hips.

  “I’ll get Max,” Sierra said to Tess, understanding the unspoken message of taking the slowest, laziest horse in the stable. Stay away long enough and maybe they’ll leave. But Sierra feared the woman would not leave.

  A small audience had gathered during the attempted loading of Corazón; Manuel, Enrique, and Mary stood in the stable doorway watching. As Sierra left for the paddocks, Tess turned on her heel and beckoned for Mary to return to the indoor arena to continue her lesson. Manuel and Enrique slipped away leaving Beverly and her two hired hands alone in the stable yard.