Finding the Good

“It’s okay boy.” She spoke softly. She set a carrot on the floor in the hall and backed away and waited. The horse reached his nose out to the carrot and quickly picked it up with his lips then retreated back in his stall. Jackie tossed another carrot this time farther away. The horse came back to the door and reached out this time he took the treat and chewed while he viewed the hall. He stepped one foot into the hall unsure of whether this was a trick or not. Jackie tossed another carrot and Texas stepped out of the stall. He chewed slowly – his ears twitching back and forth then realizing he was free he trotted down the hall. Jackie walked behind him making sure he didn’t stop anywhere but the arena. Once inside he bolted then ran frantically searching for a way out. Jackie closed the doors quietly and made her way to the center of the ring and watched while the horse ran and investigated every inch of the arena looking for a way to escape. Being so out of shape Texas tired quickly and soon slowed puffing to a standstill about ten feet away. His ears twitched back and forth and he stared at Jackie. He took a step forward then his ears pinned back to his head and he charged toward her. Jackie froze – her feet unable to move. She closed her eyes and she braced herself to be slammed into by an eleven hundred pound animal on a dead run. She heard the pounding of his hooves. She heard his breath in loud single blasts. She felt the ground shake as he drew closer. She felt a faint whimper come from her throat as she started to sing then the shaking stopped. She opened her eyes slowly unsure whether she was dead or a large hole in the ground swallowed her up before she was pounded into the ground by a crazy horse. She continued to sing – the horse had stopped a foot away – his ears twitched back and forth. Jackie didn’t know if it was the singing that made him stop or if the horse was confused that she had not run. She used to sing to him all the time when he was a baby – being an orphan he had required a lot of attention and Jackie had spent many nights in his stall. Jackie was sure she had seen her life flash before her eyes but kept singing as she dropped a carrot to the dirt and back away. Texas snorted blowing hard – he was confused unsure of why this human was not scared or did he recognize the sounds? Jackie’s eyes filled with tears. She was shaking as she realized how foolish she had just been. Texas ate the carrot then took another step toward her. Jackie continued to sing without taking a breath Texas pinned his ears and snaked his head then reared above her. His ears flicked when he landed but he pinned them again and snapped his teeth in her direction. As if confused of why she didn't move he finally turned and trotted away. She breathed a sigh of relief and watched in amazement as he made his way to the other end of the arena.

Jackie let him run around for a bit then opened the doors and coaxed him with a carrot to the opening. Texas thinking he was free once again trotted into the hallway but found his only escape from this girl was his own stall. Jackie slid the door closed impressed at how easily it was to get him back in – she was also impressed at how she was still alive. She sighed then checked her watch. A half hour before feeding time – that was close she would have to start a bit earlier next time. She didn’t want to get caught. She couldn't risk losing her job but she also wanted to help Texas. Why was the horse that was once her best friend now a crazy outlaw?