Free Red Feather Filly by Terri Farley Page A

the taking.”

Chapter Eight
    â€œS he could run,” Jake said with conviction. He spoke quietly and never took his eyes from the filly. “What do you think? She’s about fifteen hands? A little less?”
    â€œYeah,” Sam said, though she didn’t know if he’d been addressing her or Mac. She almost thought Jake was talking to himself.
    â€œCompact body, deep through the heart with strong quarters. Boy, look at those muscles. And with those sloping shoulders and pasterns…”
    â€œA smooth ride,” Mac said, nodding. “Big eyes, light bones, and she knows rough terrain and rocky footing already.”
    â€œSo why doesn’t she belong to anyone?” Jakeasked. “She can’t be that hard to ride.”
    â€œMaryann Pete owned her mother, a horse called Songbird. Maryann had her grandson living with her and the two of them raised this filly until she was a yearling. Then, the whole family, Maryann and her children and grandchildren, moved to Minnesota.”
    Sam couldn’t help shivering. Nevada got cold sometimes, but she couldn’t imagine living in Minnesota.
    â€œSo they turned her out before they left,” Mac said, “and no one’s had her until Shan Stonerow the horse breaker. You know him?”
    Jake took a deep breath, gave a disapproving sound, then nodded. Mac continued.
    â€œHe had her in for a week last summer. Quick and dirty is the way he breaks horses. Catch on Monday, sell on Friday.” Mac gave a snort. “She was too smart for him. He hated getting bucked off. He got mad, threw her on the ground and kept her there, tied. Idea was to make her terrified. Show her she was helpless. It didn’t work.”
    Sam watched the filly move along the shoreline. Her markings were clear-cut, totally black and startling white. Her coat looked so satiny smooth, Sam wanted to touch it.
    Mac’s story made her admire the filly’s fierce spirit, but the pinto’s experience with the horse breaker would make her wary.
    Horses trusted until you gave them a reason notto, and the pinto had learned that not all humans were kind. How could Jake change the filly’s mind?
    â€œHow did he catch her?” Jake asked. He was rubbing his palms together lightly, a gesture Sam had never seen him make before.
    â€œWater trap,” Mac said. “Even though she’s playing in the water now, get her in a confined area and she’ll remember, believe me.”
    Jake nodded. He looked hypnotized.
    Just then, a car drove by and the Scout shuddered at its passing.
    Inside, the car was crowded with men and fishing poles. By the time they reappeared down below, the horses had moved off, trotting single file, around the far side of Monument Lake.
    â€œWhat do you think, Samantha?” Mac asked.
    Sam pulled her coat closer. Without the heater running, it had grown cold in the car. Until now, she hadn’t even noticed.
    Mac turned away from the steering wheel and rested his arm on the seat. “Do you think Jake can tame her?”
    â€œI think,” she said slowly, “if it’s not love at first sight, Jake doesn’t have a chance.”
    Jake twisted in his seat. His lips were pressed in a hard line and his eyes were resentful.
    â€œWhy did you bring her?” Jake asked. “She wants to believe animals and humans are the same.”
    â€œI don’t think they’re the same,” Sam protested. “They’re just not that different. She’s probably notfriendly to humans right now, so you have to convince her you’re not like Shan Stonerow or she won’t give you a chance.”
    Mac met her eyes with a nod and Jake noticed. His resentment was easy to see. He didn’t like his grandfather siding with her.
    â€œNo offense, Sam,” Jake said, pretending an understanding tone, “but you’re not the world’s greatest horsewoman.”
    â€œI know that, Jake