Free Cowboy Colt by Dandi Daley Mackall Page B

a long story. The Bear is Ethan’s friend. Anyway, Bullet can pivot and do figure eights and everything. And the best part is . . . he’ll be a friend, Colt. Like Dream is.”
    Colt is staring at Bullet. I can’t tell what he’s thinking.
    â€œOkay,” I say, “I know he’s fat. And I guess he’s a backyard horse. I mean, he’s not a show horse. But he was a working cow horse on a real ranch. And I’ll bet you could get him in show condition. I mean, if you wanted to keep him.” I picture the two perfect horses Colt just said no to. Could he ever say yes to this one?
    â€œEllie?” Colt says, still staring at Bullet.
    â€œWhat?”
    He walks up to Bullet. And the first thing he does is scratch the horse’s jaw, right where he likes it. Bullet stretches his neck to beg for more. “I think he’s about the finest horse I’ve ever seen.”
    I could be wrong, but I think Colt may be crying.
    Together we saddle Bullet. Then Colt and I ride our horses. We keep it to a walk and don’t leave my backyard. It’s not the galloping-through-the-fields daydream I’ve imagined. But maybe it’s even better. Colt and Bullet. Dream and me.
    Four best friends.
    A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.
    Proverbs 17:17

Horse Talk!
    Bay —A reddish-brown color for a horse. A bay horse usually has a black mane and tail.
    Blaze —A facial marking on a horse (usually a wide, jagged white stripe).
    Canter —A horse’s slow gallop; a more controlled three-beat gait.
    English —A style of horseback riding that is often considered more formal and classic than Western style. Riders generally sit on a flat saddle, post (rise from the saddle) on a trot, and hold the reins in both hands.
    Farrier —Someone trained to care for a horse’s hooves. Farriers trim hooves and put shoes on horses, but many also treat leg and tendon problems.
    Foreleg —One of a horse’s front legs.
    Forelock —The piece of hair that falls onto a horse’s forehead.
    Gait —The way a horse moves, as in a walk, a trot, a canter, or a gallop.
    Gallop —A horse’s natural and fast running gait. It’s speedier than a lope or a canter.
    Gelding —A male horse that has had surgery so he can’t mate and produce foals (baby horses). Geldings often make the calmest riding horses.
    Habit —An outfit for horseback riding or showing, usually including some kind of tailored jacket and hat.
    Halter —The basic headgear worn by a horse so the handler can lead the animal with a rope.
    Hand —The unit for measuring a horse’s height from the withers (area between the shoulders) to the ground. One hand equals four inches (about the width of an average cowboy’s hand).
    Hindquarters —The back end of a horse, where much of a horse’s power comes from.
    Hoof pick —A hooked tool, usually made of metal, for cleaning packed dirt, stones, and gunk from the underside of a horse’s hoof.
    Hunter —A horse that’s bred to carry a rider over jumps. In a horse show, hunters are judged on jumping ability and style.
    Lead rope —A length of rope with a metal snap that attaches to a horse’s halter.
    Lope —The Western term for canter . The lope is usually smooth and slower than the canter of a horse ridden English.
    Mare —A female horse over the age of four, or any female horse that has given birth.
    Nicker —A soft, friendly sound made by horses, usually to greet other horses or trusted humans.
    Pinto —Any horse with patches or spots of white and another color, usually brown or black.
    Quarter horse —An American horse breed named because it’s the fastest horse for a quarter-mile distance. Quarter horses are strong and are often used for ranch work. They’re good-natured and easygoing.
    Saddle horse —A saddle horse could