Treachery: Day 13

Word Count: 78,025

Summary of Events:

Edward was working with the colt while on his back when Richard Jr.'s dog came in and spooked the colt into galloping all the way to Austin — despite Edward's shooting the dog before they were halfway there — and refusing to leave the city, so he sent for help. Adeline received the message and got the ranch foreman, Harvey, who went with her; they found the dog, still alive, on their way there. Edward was surprised to see Adeline, but grateful for the help as they finally coaxed the colt outside of the city limits and homeward. Upon arriving back at the ranch, with the dog — who was still alive — the Leonards weren't happy, but ended up dissolving into infighting. Edward was tacking up the colt for another day of work when Richard came in and demanded to ride the colt . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

""Horses are smarter than y'all give them credit for bein'," Edward said. "Besides, y'all really think they're goin' to forget they have some two hundred pounds'a extra weight on their back?"

"You never know," Richard replied.

Edward rolled his eyes. "Look, Richard, if y'all were to have worked with the colt he'd know you, and he'd know what y'all expect of him, not to mention he'd trust you, and that's important. If a horse trusts their rider they'll do whatever the rider asks — unless it's somethin' stupid like jumpin' the Grand Canyon, because no horse could possibly do that."

Richard glared down at Edward.

"I didn't want y'all to work with the colt to make y'all look like a failure," Edward said. "I wanted y'all to work with the colt so that y'all would know the colt and the colt would know you."

"We do know each other," Richard replied curtly. "I am the master, he is the beast."

Edward sighed, getting the distinct feeling that all of his efforts were going to waste, which was what he'd feared going into this whole enterprise.

But what could he do? Nothing, it appeared.

Richard slammed his heels into the colt's sides and the colt surged forward into a gallop that was painful to watch, especially being as Richard was hauling on the bit while digging his spurs into the colt's sides.

Edward felt moisture in his eyes at the sight of the colt being so tortured. If the Leonards would just listen to him and let him show them the right way to go about doing things they wouldn't have these problems.

"Let's go you stupid horse!" Richard bellowed.

Edward swore. "Let up on the reins! You're tellin' him to stop with your hands and seat and tellin' him to go with your legs! He's confused!"

"I know how to ride a horse!" Richard screamed.

Edward swore again. Richard was afraid of the colt getting out of control, and yet wanted to ride him fast at the same time. It was ridiculous. Edward was almost tempted to unseat Richard from the saddle and show him how a gallop was really done, but even that would be a wasted effort.

Sighing and shaking his head, Edward left the pasture. There was no point in even bothering. He might as well let the colt get used to the torture that was, unfortunately, rather likely to be the remainder of his life, unless a good horseman bought him once Richard was frustrated and fed up with him. 

Quietly Edward crawled over the fence into the pasture where his horses were grazing. Both of them looked at him, but didn't come to him. They knew when he wanted them to come, and when he was willing to go to them.

Resting his hand on his mare's withers, Edward got her to raise her head, wrapped his arms around her neck, and rested his head there, mourning the ruination of another horse.""