Unexpected

Intentions and Consequences (Part 2)

“Oh.” His quiet, neutral response sorta left me speechless and wondering what to do now.

He was the oldest of the three brothers. His name was Noah. He had come down to the barn to do morning chores before school. Now he stopped in front of me with the wheelbarrow.

I had always had a bit of a crush on him, but since he was five years older, he had never paid me much attention. Now he stood if front of me with his charming smirk.

“Hey, I know you,” he followed up his nonchalant comment with a wink and continued on his way, pushing the wheelbarrow down the barn aisle.

I felt relieved; grateful, even. But now what? I had a hold of Dream, but where would we go? I hadn’t thought what I’d do past finding him. I stood there, Dream’s rope in my hand, in uncertain silence.

“Hey, Murphy!”

I turned toward the voice again.

“Go through the back pasture. You can cross the stream and there’s a gate out on the other side that’ll take you back to the road.”

Murphy nodded and turned to lead Dream out the front door of the stable.

“No, wait! Come this way,” Noah waved to follow him. “Go out the back, where you won’t be seen, then I’ll help you get on.”

I wasn’t sure how Dream would react. I had only been on him a couple of times, and that was with a saddle and bridle. Noah was right, though – it would be faster and safer to travel astride. I would have to trust Dream.

“Why...why are you helping me?” I asked as Noah led us through the barn to the back pasture.

“Because, Murphy,” he looked at me with the full intensity of his gaze. “Dream has a girl that loves him like you, he doesn’t deserve to end up with a future as uncertain as that of the horses that go through here. He loves and trusts you. I can see that. Who am I, as a horse-lover myself, to get in the way of such a thing? I trust you know what you’re doing, Murph.”

I just looked at him and nodded, whispered a thank you as he led us out the door. He offered me a leg-up, and with a deep breath, I took it, finding my seat comfortably on Dream’s bare back. Noah helped adjust the leadrope and tie it up to make a loop-rein with the halter.

I gave Dream a light nudge with my heels, saying “walk on, boy.” Dream strode out confidently and we moved off in silence to greet the breaking dawn. I snuck a look back to see that Noah had already gone back inside.

***

Noah watched the house from the barn, seeing when Murphy’s parents showed up. He saw them pull into the driveway, stirring up gravel dust in the heavy, early-morning air, and walk toward the front of the house. He also saw them, with his mom leading the way, striding toward the barn soon after.

Mrs. Foster pushed open the large barn door. She led the small group to Dream’s stall and gasped.

“Noah!”

The boy came quickly from down the aisle.

“Did you see this horse and the girl?” Mrs. Foster questioned.

“I didn’t even know there was supposed to be a horse there. I haven’t gotten that far mucking yet,” he replied defensively.

Mrs. Foster looked at him with narrowed eyes and turned to Murphy’s parents.

“Well, at least we know the girl and the horse are together and he’s not yet much trained to ride, so they couldn’t be far way, hiking by foot. Let’s take a car ride and see if we don’t see them. They’re probably headed toward your place – you probably just missed them.”

“Right. OK. Let’s go,” said Maura.

The parents all filed back out of the barn and piled into the Foster’s farm truck.

***

When we got through the gate, I saw the road. I wasn’t quite ready to go home yet, so I pointed Dream towards the woods across it. We walked for a bit just inside the tree line along the direction of the road.

Then I saw the Foster’s truck coming. I hurried Dream deeper into the woods.

***

We walked for what seemed like hours, Dream and I, following barely seen deer trails deeper into the forest. I didn’t know quite where we were anymore, but my stomach grumbled in protest. We needed to stop and rest and eat and then work our way back.

***

After a light lunch for me, a little graze for Dream and a short nap for both of us, I found a stump where I could step up to get back on the horse. We started working our way back to the road by backtracking the paths that had brought us to where we were. We got turned around a couple of times and had to stop and rest again to regain our bearings, but overall, it didn’t seem too bad, and Dream was such a wonderful boy!

He only spooked once and unseated me when he whipped around to face the covey of birds we flushed from the brush. I decided this was a good place to stop for now. It was getting on dusk and harder to see.

***

Cold, hungry, tired and a little anxious, we spent the night alone in the forest. Dream listened to my ramblings as I discussed our options. Should I go home and face the consequences and likely lose Dream? Or do I just keep riding along to...where? Where could we go? I had little money and barely any food. (It never even crossed Murphy’s mind that Dream legally had a different owner, so technically, she was a horse thief.)

***

I fell into a light sleep, I guess. I was chilled and had a bunch of strange dreams. I opened my eyes to daylight and Dream looking over me. I was lying in a bed of pine needles; his lead still grasped in my hand. I shook my head and rubbed my eyes, clarity returning with the rising sun. The warmth felt good. We needed to get out of the woods and go home.

I found a log I could use as a mounting block to line Dream up next to and clambered up onto his back. He stood like a statue, while I settled myself. My stomach rumbled again, as I eased Dream forward into a walk.

***

I turned Dream in the direction of the road, and we followed it home, striding confidently.

We ended up at home later that morning. My Mom ran toward us plodding up the driveway and swept me from Dream’s back with a hug. My Dad even came jogging down the steps from the house to see us, his forehead scrunched up into a worried frown. He also swept me up in a tight hug, whisking me from my Mom’s arms.

“Where have you been? We’re so glad you’re home!” He even patted Dream on the neck, “Thank you, boy, for bringing our girl back safely.” My mouth sorta gaped open at that.

****

Maura led Dream to the barn, settling him in the stall with a mound of hay and a bucket of fresh water.

As Dream started munching his hay, Maura patted him on the neck and whispered, “Thank you for getting our girl home safely. You know, she is your girl too, and this is your home.”

Maura gave Dream another soft stroke over the curve of his neck, then turned to go back to the house to fix Murphy a big breakfast of her favorite pancakes.

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Thank you so much for reading!

Part 1:

Unexpected (Part 1)