As the pony brought his hooves down, his eyes meet Little Wolf’s. The pony saw gentleness there. And sadness… and fear… and pain... Little Wolf’s eyes mirrored his own!
The pony shifted his weight. His hooves crashed into the dirt. Instantly, the pony stopped his bucking and stood still. Flecks of foam ringed the pony’s muzzle. His nostrils flared and his haunches quivered.
Little Wolf instinctively held out his hand and rubbed the pony’s muzzle to calm him. A shiver ran down the pony’s spine.
“Whoa,” Little Wolf whispered. “It’s all right.
I am your friend.”
The pony sniffed Little Wolf’s hand. Then Little Wolf pressed his face against the pony’s face. The two stood together, each breathing in the
other’s breath.
“Boy!” the trader
shouted. “Get away from that horse! He’s
dangerous.”
Little Wolf looked up in surprise. There stood his uncle and the horse trader with worried expressions on their faces. “He’s not dangerous,” Little Wolf protested. “He was just frightened. See how calm he is now!”
“Maybe now,” the trader argued. “But who knows what he’ll do next. That one’s a rogue for sure!”
“Little Wolf, do as the trader says,” his uncle instructed.
Reluctantly, Little Wolf moved away from the pony. As soon as he did, the trader threw a noose around its neck. The pony began to thrash wildly. The man tightened the rope around the pony’s neck and pulled. The
harder the pony bucked, the tighter the noose became. Finally, the
trader subdued the pony.
“See what I mean!” the trader yelled. “No one can break this animal. He’s a rogue for sure. I’ll have to get rid of him.”
“You can’t tame him that way!” Little Wolf protested. “You’re scaring him. You have to be gentle with him.”
“I ain’t got time to
wet-nurse a rogue pony,” the trader said. “Little Wolf, you are an expert on horses, I see,” his uncle admonished. “If you are finished giving out wisdom, go and say hello to your aunt.”
Little Wolf’s cheeks burned. He knew that his uncle was scolding him.
“Yes, Uncle,” Little Wolf said. The boy obeyed his uncle and went into the house. “Now let’s do some horse trading!” the trader said.
While the two men talked, the old packhorse moved closer to the pony.
“You’ve gone and done it now!” the old horse
whispered. “You’re in a heap of trouble.”
“I just did what you told me to do!” the pony
whispered back. “I didn’t say to try and kill somebody!” the
packhorse said. The old horse chuckled softly. “But that sure was somethin’. You should have seen their faces!”
“I didn’t try to kill anyone,” the pony said. “Besides, I could never hurt the small human. He is good. He called me his friend.”
“I told you all humans are bad!” the old horse cried. “He’s not your friend. You better heed my words!”
“I listened to you once,” the pony replied. “Look where it got me!”
“Suit yourself,” muttered the horse. “But mark my words, you can’t be friends with a human. No good will come of it!”
The little pony ignored the bitter, old horse. He knew in his heart that he and the boy were kindred spirits. He had found a friend!
“If you won’t listen to me about the small human, you better listen to me about the trouble you’re in!” the old horse said. “What do you mean?” the
little pony asked. “Are you deef? Didn’t you hear the trader?” the horse asked. “He’s gettin’ rid of you. You know what that means!”
“He’s going to sell me?” the pony guessed. “That’s not what he means to do with you!” the old horse said. “But never you mind. I have a plan.” The old horse leaned
closer to the little pony and
whispered his plan into his ear. “Do what I say,” hissed the old horse, “and you might get out of this with your hide still on.”
The little pony nodded and gulped. He didn’t like the sound of that! “Here they come,” the old horse whispered. “Do exactly as I told you.”
“Do we have a deal?” the
trader asked. “It is agreed,” answered Little Wolf’s uncle. “The new horses are very fine, but I think you got the better of the bargain by my agreeing to take the old
packhorse off your hands!”
“Why, that packhorse is prime stock,” the trader protested. “He ain’t pretty, but he’s got a strong back. Good teeth, too.” The trader pried open the old horse’s mouth. Suddenly the horse clamped down on the man’s hand.
“Now!” the packhorse shouted in a language that only horses can understand. “Oow!” the man yelled.
The pony’s heart was
pounding with fear. Would the old horse’s plan really work?
Next Time: A Narrow
Escape |
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