Free Angel and the Flying Stallions by Stacy Gregg Page A

where they are grazing. They would not bring mares with them like this. They are on a mission. This is a raiding party.”
    Issie suddenly realised what Alfie meant. The stallions were heading for the El Caballo mares that they had just let loose. They were planning to steal more mares to build up their own harem!
    “Alfie,” Issie was horrified, “we have to get the mares back before they—”
    Her words were drowned out by a piercing stallion’s cry. Not from the three stallions who were approaching, but from the horse beneath her. Storm had his head raised, erect and bristling at the sight of the oncoming marauders. He stamped and pawed at the ground and let out another battle cry, challenging the three stallions to take him on.
    “Storm! No!” Issie kicked him firmly and tugged at the reins, but Storm was completely oblivious to her efforts. Nothing Issie could do would distract him.
    He gave a third whinny in the same challenging tone and this time the black stallion returned his call. Responding to the young bay stallion’s taunts, he began cantering in Issie’s direction.
    Meanwhile, the other two wild stallions were occupied with the mares. Issie shifted her glance from the black stallion for a moment and caught sight of the Sorraia circling the herd, his ears flat back as he lunged at Margarita, nipping at her flanks, trying to separate her from the other mares.
    Margarita gave a squeal and shook her head disdainfully, baring her teeth at him. The dun stallion, however, had come to the support of the Sorraia and was now flanking her on the other side, rearing up and swiping viciously with his front hooves. The rest of the herd abandoned Margarita and scattered in every direction, leaving the poor mare to fight alone.
    Issie meanwhile was still struggling, as Storm continued to ignore her efforts to make him move.
    “Get him out of there!” Alfie shouted. He had beenracing to the aid of the mares, but now he was cantering back to help her. “The black stallion is going to attack!”
    “I’m urghhh…I’m trying!” Issie grunted as she tugged again on the reins. The bay stallion’s eyes were on fire. His blood was up and he wanted to fight.
    “STORM!” Issie was getting hysterical and was almost in tears. The black stallion had abandoned Margarita to the others and his eyes were fixed on Storm. He pulled to a sudden halt and propped back on his hindquarters just a few metres away from Issie and her horse, assessing this young stallion, considering the best way to launch his attack.
    “Issie!” Alfie’s pleas were getting more desperate, “We’ve got to go!”
    “I can’t!” Issie shouted back. “He won’t move!”
    She was struggling desperately, but Storm was consumed by his anger and totally ignoring her tugs on the reins and impassioned attempts to turn him around.
    There was a squeal from the black stallion and he rose up on his hind legs. As Storm rose up to face him, Issie shrieked and clung to his mane.
    Alfie shouted, “Now! You have to act now! Turn him while he’s on his hind legs! Do it!”
    Issie pulled herself together, gritted her teeth and seized her chance. Catching Storm off-balance in mid-air, she yanked hard on the left rein and spun him around. In one fluid movement, she lifted her own legs as far away from the stallion’s sides as she could and brought them in with a wallop, kicking hard on Storm’s flanks so that he leapt forward in shock.
    The jolt was enough to bring Storm back to his senses. He began listening to his rider once more and Issie was able to ride him back towards the gorge, urging him into a gallop, away from the black stallion.
    “Wait!” Alfie called after her, “We need to get the mares!”
    The Sorraia and the dun had taken Margarita, but the others could still be saved. Issie galloped a wide loop, circling and driving the mares back towards the gorge. As she was doing this, she thought for a moment that she could hear the black stallion’s