Wild Horse

“Lisa. Don't go near that wild horse.”

“He's so beautiful. The most magnificent beast I have every set my eyes on.” Lisa opened the gate leading to the break-in yard. So far no one had been able to catch the stallion.

He put the fear of god into everyone who tried to come into the yard with him.

“I'll teach him who is boss. Tubby will realize who is his superior. He will...”

“What. You gave the horse my nickname.”

“Remember how wild you used to be. The trouble you caused the family. All the grey hairs you gave each of our parents.”

“Thanks a lot, Sis. Best of luck with this tubby. I don't think you'll win him around.” Toby watched Lisa walk through the gate then turned to latch the gate behind her. Toby ordered one of his work hands to go to the stable to collect his rifle.

Lisa turned on shaking legs to face danger in the face.

She stood her ground.

She waited for a reaction from Tubby.

The horse watched her every slow step toward him.

Straightening her spine, she sighed, then forced her legs to stop shaking.

She stared straight into eyes of Tubby daring him to do his best to chase her from the paddock.

Tubby stood watching Lisa move in closer.

He used his front hooves to dig some dirt.

Snorted at her.

Flicked his ears forward.

He bared his teeth.

Whined at her.

She kept moving closer.

“You don't frighten me, young Tubby. I have your number,” whispered Lisa.

Tubby shook his head.

He backed up a pace a few paces.

Paced around the yard to encourage her to follow him.

He kept watching while he paced making the circles smaller.

Lisa stood her ground.

She knew what he expected her to do.

He was a smart horse so he'd soon work out she didn't intend to chase him.

She wasn't like the others who had tried to calm him in the past.

Tubby had led all of them a merry chase while they tried to lasso him.

Lisa lowered her bottom to sit on the ground to wait for Tubby to come to her to know why she had given up.

She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.

She leaned her head on her knees with her hat covering her face.

A puzzled Tubby pranced around the yard.

He eased his way toward where she sat.

He nudged the hat from her head with his nose.

She didn't move.

Tubby kept butting her with his nose until she raised her hand to pat him before she slowly rose to her feet to hug him around the neck.

Hats flew into the air.

Cheers rang out when Lisa walked out of the gate.

(My thanks to the owner of the photo. Just used to decorate. Haven't had time to snap photos of horses, yet.)