The Horse and Her Lady

I knew when I first saw the young woman, she was unhappy. The way she hung her head and dragged her feet told me she'd rather be anywhere but here, at my stable, helping take care of horses like me. It seemed like a world of shame and restlessness lay on her thin shoulders, as if the slightest wrong movement would make her turn and run away.

Justin, my handler, led her up to me with a brisk smile and soothing voice, as though she were a skittish filly.

"We're so happy you're here, Connie. I'm sure you'll love doing community service with us. Meet Fresh As A Daisy, or just Daisy, here. She's everyone's favorite brood mare—a gentler soul you won't find on the whole ranch. Sought after by many for the sweet temperament of her foals."

Connie stared at me with dull, lackluster eyes, hanging back behind Justin. I stood still and patient, not wanting to frighten her by appearing nervous or making sudden noises.

"She's… pretty," she said at last, hesitantly. "I like the white mark up there," pointing to my forehead.

"Yes, that's her daisy. Hence the name. Her coat color is called roan. It's such a lovely shade of red, you think so?"

He reached out and patted my nose. I sniffed and whickered in a friendly way, hoping for a small treat. Sure enough, he brought forth a carrot. Seeing how skinny Connie was, I almost wanted to tell Justin to give it to her instead. She needed a few good buckets of oats and wholesome feed pellets.

When she saw me open my mouth to chow down, she drew back even more with a slight grimace.

"Eew… I'm sorry. It's just—I've never been this close to a real live horse before."

"It's ok, we've all had our first encounter." Justin smiled at her. "They're big animals. Take a little getting used to."

After my snack, it was time for grooming. Justin brought out the brushes and started working on me, all the while talking in his calm, steady way to both of us in turn. He completed one side of my body. Connie watched us, rubbing her hands along her jeans and tossing hair out of her face.

"Do you think you can do her other side?" He held out the currycomb.

I stood like a rock as she ever so gingerly touched the tool to my skin. I tensely restrained even the slightest tail twitch, knowing it would make her fret. I wanted her to feel comfortable around me.

He encouraged her to press more firmly. Her movements were uncoordinated, and occasionally she went the wrong way or hit a ticklish spot. But after a few minutes she began to get the hang of it. I relaxed the tension in my muscles as she worked her way from my neck to my tail.

"This isn't that hard. You're so pretty, aren't you, Daisy?"

Her voice got that cutesy tone the ladies get when they start talking directly to me. I knew she was on the right track. I wanted to nicker, but I don't think she was ready for a response.

Once my coat was brushed, it was time to lead me out for exercise. I enjoyed going through my gaits, showing off for Connie as she leaned against the fence.

After exercise, I browsed leisurely through the pasture while Justin told Connie more about our ranch. Then a black pickup truck with a round gold sign came to get her. I was sorry to see her go so soon.

***

A few days later, Connie's voice made my ears perk up. She was back! I stretched my neck out over the stable door towards her, making welcoming noises in my throat.

"Aww, look! Daisy remembers you! She likes you. You're bonding. Isn't that nice?" Justin stepped back this time, allowing Connie to come closer to me.

She came right up and looked me in the eye. Her lips quivered as she reached out to pat my head.

"Daisy—you… you remember me? You like me?"

Her eyes got all watery; after they cleared up, they had a new spark. Her hands were more confident as she brushed me, and her voice chirped as she chattered to me.

Today, Justin strapped on my saddle and showed Connie how he mounted me.

"I'll be taking Daisy for a hike later. Would you like to learn to ride her?"

"Ooh, can I?" she gasped. "I don't know if I'm ready for that so soon!"

"It's ok. We can let you two get to know each other better first."

He rode me out to the exercise ring. This time we went all the way up to a gallop, circling the ring so fast, Connie's small frame blurred as I flew past her again and again. When we slowed down, she had her hands pressed to her mouth, her eyes as big as the moon.

"She's so fast!"

"Ah, Daisy's pretty slow, really. You should see Thunder go—he's won some races in his day. But he's not the best-tempered horse. Strong-willed."

Justin waved over at another corral, where my cousin grazed quietly. Thunder was a big black stallion, a sight to see. Connie drew in an awestruck breath.

"Horses are beautiful."

"They are indeed. One needs to handle them with the utmost care and kindness."

***

After this, Connie came to visit me almost every day. Within a few days, Justin let her groom me all by herself. This was my favorite moment, when Connie would relax and talk to me as she worked. At first she only chattered happily and even sang a little.

One day she showed up with reddened, watery eyes. When Justin left her alone with me, for a long moment she just sat on an upturned bucket in the stable under my door, sniffling and holding her head in her hands. I leaned down, resting my nose on her shoulder.

"Oh, Daisy! I'm so upset…" She wrapped her arms around my neck, and we sat there together without any talking.

Finally Connie stood up and started brushing me, apologizing for the delay. As the steadiness of the process soothed us both, she started talking, this time saying things she'd never said before, in a tone shaking with fear. She used strange, unfamiliar words: "drugs," "bullies," "gang," and "police."

"They're threatening me, Daisy. I'm so scared. This is the only place I feel safe."

My ears twitched in her direction as she spoke, and I whickered gentle acknowledgment. I wasn't sure what any of it meant, but I wanted to comfort her in any way possible.

"You're the only one I can say these things to. You really seem to be listening and caring. I love you, Daisy."

When Justin came back, he was holding a saddle, smaller than the one he used to ride me. His eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Great news, Connie. It's time to begin your riding lessons."

The glow on her face warmed my old mare's heart as if I were looking at one of my own foals.

***

From then on, I couldn't wait for the days when Connie would arrive. She learned quickly, and soon she was riding me around the corrals, running my gaits. Whenever she mounted me, her tension melted away and we became one. I never had to worry about her hands being too harsh on the reins, or her legs accidentally squeezing me and sending me into an unexpected canter.

With each day, she gained more experience and rode me for longer stretches. Eventually Justin took Thunder and led us on a hike through the woods of our ranch. Connie and I found joy on the dappled, shady trails. I was old and wise enough to not jump at the sight of silly squirrels or darting wildlife.

One day, Justin waved goodbye from the stable gate as Connie and I rode off to hike by ourselves. It was by turns bright and sunny, cool and shady, yet something made me oddly skittish. I ignored the feeling at first, focusing on channeling Connie's happiness and following her directions.

But by the time we'd reached the middle of the woods, I was getting undeniably nervous. My ears went back at every snap of a twig. My eyes rolled from side to side, watching for sudden movements.

"Is something wrong, Daisy?" Connie patted my mane. "Maybe you're tired. We're going pretty far out, aren't we?"

Then, it happened. A crashing, crunching, breaking of branches erupted in front of us as we came into a clearing.

Thunder plowed out onto the trail, with a strange man riding him. Connie pulled me up short with a gasp. Sheer horror vibed through from her body to mine.

"Drake—it's you!"

"Yep. Thought you'd hide out from us on a ranch, huh?"

He kicked Thunder closer. The stallion tugged against the reins, snorting and pawing the ground. He didn't like this cruel man any more than Connie or I did.

"Leave me alone." Connie held the reins tensely, trembling. I waited breathlessly for her command to turn and gallop far away from danger.

"We told you what would happen if you spilled to the cops. You didn't listen."

"I did what I had to do." Connie straightened her back and readjusted in the saddle.

"Ah, but now what? The devil's in the details, girl. You're about to pay up." He reached for something strapped to his waist.

"No! Don't!" Connie dropped the reins, her voice a sharp cry tearing my heart.

Her legs guided me, perhaps unintentionally, squeezing my sides with incredible force which I was only too glad to obey. I spun around on the trail and set off the way we'd come at the fastest pace I could possibly muster up.

Connie screamed for help, leaning all the way forward, clinging to my neck as a sharp bang echoed from behind us. Thunder let out a shrill, furious whinny. A solid thump and a harsh yell of anger led me to guess my strong-willed, excitable cousin had reared up in fright and thrown his rider.

I galloped through the brush helter-skelter, hooves plowing up pine needles and clouds of dust. Sounds of wild pursuit hounded us. I had no way of knowing if Drake had managed to remount Thunder, or if he was running on foot, or what was happening behind me. All I knew was I had to make it to the stables with the now-sobbing Connie safe on my back.

Somehow I stumbled through the woods and broke out into the driveway at last. A dozen vehicles with flashing red and blue lights crowded around the stables. Justin was talking frantically to several men wearing bulky black uniforms and helmets.

"There she is! She's alive!" He ran towards us and helped Connie down.

She collapsed into his strong arms, crying wildly.

"Daisy saved my life! Drake was shooting at us and she ran all the way home! You have to find him!"

Justin held her close and patted her shoulder. I reached out to nuzzle her neck as the riderless Thunder trotted up to us, tossing his head proudly.

"Looks like our Thunder threw off the bad guy," Justin said, his voice shaky.

Words flew thick and fast among the uniformed men: "dragnet," "posse," "closing in," "capture," "arrest," and "face charges." I had no idea what any of it meant. But I knew Connie was safe with us.

She never left in the black pickup truck again. After that day, she stayed with us and became my full-time caregiver. I love her as much as I do my own foals. A more peaceful and healthy young lady would be hard to find. I don't know all the sordid details of her past, but her present and future are secure on our ranch.

Words: 1998.
Written for Merit Badge Magic (National Love Your Pets Day)
And also for the February 2024 Official WdC Contest, Quotation Inspiration.
Prompt: "the devil is in the details."