October Story Contest

Jessie and the Stallion part 1
By: Nyx
Age: 11

I live out on the prairie where the mustangs roam. I was in the paddock with two mares, a black and white paint named Oreo, and a blue roan named Pandora. As I finished cleaning Oreo's hooves, he arrived. He was handsome buckskin with a dark black mane and tail. He stood about 15 hands high. He was staring at Oreo and Pandora. That meant trouble for me because I saw that he didn't have a herd to look after. I had no idea what to do because I was only 12. He backed up from the fence and got ready to jump when suddenly my dad had a rope 'round his neck. He bucked and kicked until his neck was soaked with sweat and he became very tired. We finally got him into his stall and went to eat dinner.

We had sweet potatoes, chicken, and fresh green beans for dinner. I was halfway through my chicken when my dad said, "Jessie?"
I gulped down the piece I had been chewing and said, "Yes?"
"You know that buckskin I caught today?"
"Yea."
"I was thinking, that since you don't own a horse yet...."
I waited, silently urging him to let me have the bucskin. I had fed and watered the stallion before dinner and I somehow became attached to him.
"Would you like to own him?"
The words finally came out. I was so happy that I wanted to go outside and hug a bucking bronco.
"Well?"
"Yes. I would love to own him."
At that exact moment, I felt as though I was talking with a mouthful of sweet sugar.
"That settles it. You are now his owner. What will you name him?"
Honestly, I had no idea.

The next day, I went straight out the stallion's stall. He was snorting, stomping his hooves, and baring his teeth, as usual. I gave him our best alfalfa and oats. He seemed to settle down a little, and munched happily on his breakfast. I gave him very fresh and crisp water. He enjoyed that too. What shocked me was that he butted his head playfully to my shoulder. It shocked him too because as soon as he did it, he pulled away and went back to his bad-tempered self. I was so happy. Then I went and fed Oreo, Pandora, Daisy, and Splotch. Daisy was my favorite cow. As I settled down on the stool and milked her, my friend Katie skipped into the barn. She was one month older than me, but she was several inches shorter.
"Hi Jessie!"
"Hi Katie."
"I heard about the buckskin. Is it true that you own him? All of him?"
"Yes," my eyes glowed with pride, "Yes he is."
"What's his name?"
"I’m not sure yet."

I had finished milking both cows when Katie said, "Can I see him? I could suggest good names after I've seen him."
I led her to his stall. Luckily, he was asleep.
"He's beautiful," Katie, whispered into my ear, "Maybe you should call him Thunder."
"Too common. I want a very special name."
"Lucky? Or what about Spirit?"
"No."
Katie gave me lots of good names, but they all didn't seem to fit him.

Over the next couple of days, he grew more and more restless. So I let him loose, by himself, in the high-fenced paddock. He galloped around, his black mane flowing behind him. I gazed at him for what seemed like hours. Then he trotted over to the fence. He stopped when he was about 2 feet away. I reached out my hand and, to my surprise, he came forward and I patted his neck. And that is when I knew that he was my horse.

*What will Jessie name the stallion? Will she ever be able to ride him? Find this out and more in
Jessie and The Stallion Part 2*