Terri Farley - Blue Wings

An auburn braid stood out against the black horsehair. Biting

Dad snagged the phone out of the air, but he

Sam clasped her hands in her lap as Ross drove

Okay, Ill shut up, Jen told the bull, but she

For one awful instant, Sam wanted to shake Jen awake.

After Sam explained the accident, Lila burst into a flurry

Shy Boots stood alone in the corner of an open

Sent home by a vet, can you believe that? Brynna

As they started home, Brynna grumbled.

Aces neigh reached Sam even before the truck had crossed

Im still breathing.

Blaze trotted alongside Ace, but he kept his eyes on

Fall is in the air, Brynna chirped. She looped her

Before her eyes opened, Sam heard Brynna singing Happy Birthday

I thought you werent workin today, Linc snapped at Brynna.

They didnt put the Spanish Mustang in the ten-acre pasture

Pepper let himself fall off, but he hit the ground

Gram let Sam off in front of the hospital while

The next morning, Sam had finished gathering eggs in a

A mile across the playa, the Phantom was heaving silently

Backstage at the Darton High School Talent Show, Sam smelled

A n auburn braid stood out against the black horsehair. Biting her lip in concentration, Samantha Forster tied the strands cut from her own ponytail into Tempests mane.

For once, the filly cooperated, standing statue-still, until Sam gave her a pat.

All done, Sam said, but Tempest only shoved Sam with her nose.

The little plait twisted with Tempests movements, shimmering like a primitive good luck charm in the August sun slanting through the barn rafters overhead.

Sam had read that some Indian warriors braided their own hair into the manes of their horses so that their spirits would mingle. So shed made a tight, tiny plait at her nape. Then shed tied it top and bottom with yellow thread and cut it off so close to her scalp that the prick of Grams sewing scissors made Sam jump.

Stroking Tempest with one hand, Sam used the other to reach to the back of her own neck to feel where shed cut off the braid. She really hoped it wouldnt leave a bump or gap under the rest of her hair. After all, school started again next week and shed rather not look weird.

Tempests small black hooves shifted in the straw. Before the filly turned more restless, Sam talked to her.

Its just for fun, baby, and to get you used to being handled in any way I can dream up, Sam told Tempest. I dont actually believe it will blend our spirits, but I do wear a bracelet of your sires hair. Sam paused as Tempest sniffed the bracelet, almost as if she understood. And this kind of completes the circle, dont you think?

Tempests pink tongue eased out to taste the silver-and-white horsehair bracelet. Then the filly glanced toward the pasture outside the box stall, looking for her mother.

No, I dont think Ill try this with your mom, Sam said.

She looked past the filly to Dark Sunshine. The buckskin mare groaned and rolled, taking a dust bath like any tame horse. Dark Sunshine was far from tame. Mustang caution about humans still coursed through the mare, but shed come a long way in trusting Sam.

Right now, for instance, Sam was looming over Dark Sunshines filly, double-knotting the yellow thread so that Tempest couldnt shake the braid loose. Dark Sunshine noticed, lurched to her feet, then gave a snort and set to searching for a tender blade of grass.

There. Fingertips tingling from the delicate work, Sam stood back with her hands on her hips to consider the effect. Tied just at the crest of Tempests mane, before her satiny ears, it looked cute.

Eyes closed, Sam hugged Tempest.

My Xanadu. Sams lips barely moved as she whispered the fillys secret name.

Sam felt a fuzzy mane against her cheek and she breathed in the foals milky-sweet scent.

Then annoyed voices clashed with the barns quiet.

Sam froze.

Ill explain it to you one more time. The voice belonged to Sams stepmother. Brynna spoke slowly, with forced patience. Ive been told to order more wild horses off the range

Fine with me, Dad said. Makes more room for cattle.

What? Sams throat tightened. This wasnt the first time Dad had taken sides against the horses, but it still shocked her.

Which species does more damage to the range? Brynna asked, but she didnt wait for an answer. Think of solid hooves like horses have she said.

Sam rested her chin on Tempests neck, gazed through the open barn door, and watched as Brynna held up fingers curled in a fist.

And split hooves, like you see on cattle. She divided her fingers.

Doesnt matter. Those broomtails dont earn a penny for anyone. Cattle do, Dad insisted.

Broomtails? Sam didnt think shed ever heard Dad use that word. It wasnt like cursing, but it was worse than rude.

Brynna and Dad sounded angrier than shed ever heard them, but why?

Dad was a cattle rancher and Brynna worked for the Bureau of Land Management, which set rules for grazing livestock on public lands, so of course they disagreed sometimes.

But one minute, theyd been out in the ranch yard talking about tomorrows adoption day at Willow Springs Wild Horse Center. The next minute their voices had grown louder, and now Dad and Brynna had begun talking through their teeth.

dont even use the same methods to calculate the number of horses and cattle on the range! Brynna continued. They count a cow and calf as one animal

But a horse and foal as two, Dad finished. You told me.

You have all the advantages, Brynna said.

I do? Dad asked. What happened to we ?

Brynna caught her breath at that, but she hadnt finished making her points. She stepped closer to Dad and raised her chin, forcing him to look her in the eye.

Youre usually so fair, Wyatt, Brynna said, her freckled face flushed with anger.

Sam waited and watched. Her father and stepmother looked frustrated. They wanted to agree with each other, but couldnt.

Bored with Sams stillness, Tempest ducked out from under Sams arm and began nibbling her hand.

Dont eat my fingers, baby, Sam told her filly, but she didnt pull away. The foals soft lips comforted her.

When Sam looked up again, Dad and Brynna had moved out of sight.

She edged closer to the barn door and looked out to see Brynnas hands perched on her hips. Dad rubbed the back of his neck.

Is it worth losin your job over? Dads voice was almost a whisper. When Brynna didnt answer, he went on. You think Id abuse this land? Why would I do that?

Im not saying you want to do it, or plan to do it, Brynna said, ignoring Dads first question to answer the others.

Thats probably because Brynna could tell shed hurt more than Dads feelings. Shed questioned his devotion to the ranch.

Brynna shook her head hard enough that she almost lost her balance.

Brynna was just past halfway in her pregnancy, and the extra weight in front made her a bit awkward, but when Dad reached out to steady her, Brynna pulled away.

Cattle outnumber horses she snapped.

People want beef, Dad interrupted. I aim to give it to them.

Consider the impact on the range. All you have to do is watch the difference between horses and cattle at a water hole. Wild horses are prey animals. They run in, take a sip of water, and back off, afraid something might be sneaking up on them

And cattle arent prey animals?

They were once, Brynna conceded, but its been bred out of them, and you know it, Wyatt. Weve both seen those trampled-out water holes after our herd drinks during a cattle drive.