August Story Contest
Ringo
By ilovemyhorseringo & Ringo age 13Ringo’s long red mane gently whipped Andeline in the face as they galloped. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a white flash. She looked over to see a snow white shape of a horse gallop beside her and Ringo. It had dusky grey dapples and a mane done to its knees. It almost seemed translucent and would become clearer and fade until it was barely visible.
Ringo suddenly took notice of it. He reared up as high as he could and Andaline could feel them going backwards. She let go and pushed off of Ringo’s bare back and landed, losing her breath. Ringo’s back became closer and closer until Andaline rolled to the side on the tan Arizona dirt. She watched his big red roan body hit the ground with a loud crash, like tree falling in a forest.
The grey horse stood still watching them over by a wire fence. Andaline got up, only to feel her shoes skid in the dirt. Her world started spinning around and around as she rolled down the slope dotted with Saguaro cacti and green Ocotillo trees. The rolling stopped and Andaline lay there, staring at the clear blue Arizona sky and trying to catch hr breath.
Andaline saw Ringo’s white blazed face peer over the ridge. He looked at her as if to say “What are you doing down there”. Andaline giggled and called his name. He slowly descended down the steep hill; being the sure-footed Paso Fino he had no trouble at all.
Ringo nuzzled Andaline’s hand gently. “Ok, I’m getting up. Are we going to stop freaking out or are we going to have to walk all the way home?” Andaline said softly while rubbing his light pink nose. She hopped onto his back and black reins in her trembling hands. “Where did that horse come from?” she thought to herself. Her mind started spinning, trying to figure out who, or what, that horse was. An eerie whinny split the hot air. Ringo and Andaline came over the hill and saw the spooky white horse turn and start slowly walking. Andaline urged Ringo to follow, intrigued. The horse’s mane was a yellowy tint and it flowed down to its shoulders. Andaline noticed a dark shape in the shape of a bar over two on its left rump. The horse picked up the pace and Ringo followed. A mist seemed to bunch around its body, making it glow in the scorching sun. The white horse disappeared over the top of a nearby hill.
Ringo and Andaline followed, running full out. On the other side, Andaline saw a small figure bunched in a ball. “Oh my gosh, are you ok?” Andaline shouted to the figure.
The girl looked up at her,“H-help me,” the girl said gripping her knee and groaning. Andaline ran to her, with Ringo trotting behind her. “It’s my knee, I think I dislocated it.
“Let’s go find your horse.” Andaline said helping the girl sit up.
“What are you talking about? My horse died two years ago.” The girl said puzzled.
“What? I just saw him. He brought me to you.” Andaline said, while trying to help the girl stand.
“No, his name was Silver he was a white horse with a brand of bar over two. He died of colic,” The girl said, steadying herself on Ringo’s shoulder. “Do you think it was, maybe his ghost that saved me?”
“I don’t know” Andaline said, pulling out her cell phone. “I’m calling 911.”
The ambulances flashing lights were a welcome sight. Andaline helped the girl into the car and said goodbye. She tried to relax Ringo, who was rearing and freaking out at the sirens. “Ok Ringo, lets go home.” She swung onto Ringo’s back and started the long walk home. “Mom’s never going to believe us, buddy!”