Cole Brennan's Arc

Chapter 5 of 6

The mare grew stronger each week, but she still couldn't breed. Cole spent his mornings feeding her and his evenings staring at empty stalls. His champion line was stalled. Then Ernest Meadows drove up the lane with a trailer rocking behind his truck. The old hog farmer climbed out slow, hat in his hands, and offered Cole a gift. "To make things right," Ernest said. "A stud. Best blood I ever raised." They led the horse into the fenced pasture. He was a big chestnut, muscled and rough, mane wild and matted. He tossed his head and pawed the dirt. Cole reached for the halter, and the stud reared and struck the air with both hooves. Cole jumped back. The horse crashed against the wooden rails and the whole fence shook. "He's never been handled," Ernest admitted. "Ran loose on my back forty for years. But his bloodline could give you that champion foal." Cole watched the horse circle the pasture, snorting. A stud like this could sire the line he'd dreamed of. But if he put this animal near his mare now, one bad kick could kill her. She was still too weak to defend herself. Cole called Amy Fleming, the horse trainer Ty had recommended. She arrived within the hour and hopped the fence before Cole could warn her. "Don't crowd him," she said, low and calm. She stood in the center of the pasture and let the stud run. She didn't chase. She turned her shoulder and waited. "You can't force a wild one. You read him first." Cole watched her work. Amy moved slow, always sideways, never straight at the horse. Each time the stud stopped, she stepped back and gave him room. An hour passed. The chestnut's ears turned toward her. His head dropped an inch. Amy still didn't touch him. "He's smart," she said. "And scared. That temper isn't mean. It's fear." By dusk the stud let Amy stand at his shoulder. She ran one hand along his neck, and he held still. Cole let out the breath he'd been holding. "He's worth keeping," Amy said. "But he's months from safe. You put him with your mare today, he'll break her leg. Maybe worse." Cole leaned on the rail and made his choice. He'd keep the stud. The bloodline was too good to send back. He shook Ernest's hand and thanked him. But the horse would live apart, gentled slow by Amy, until both animals were ready. "I can train him," Amy said. "It'll take the season. And a season means money." Cole nodded. He had his champion sire now, standing in the pasture. He also had a wild horse he couldn't afford to rush and couldn't afford to keep. His mare needed feed. Mark needed paying. And now a trainer's wage stretched his pockets thinner than ever.