The Mustang Breaker by Stephen A. Bly

Author:Stephen A. Bly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Published: 2006-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

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.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.