Page 56 of Wind Rider

Anjo snorted and then sprinted toward Ghost, who had been bucking and kicking around them, and nipped his rump playfully before galloping off, with Ghost in pursuit.

The game continued as they came to a stream. River used her legs to guide Anjo under the branches of a massive weeping willow, hoping that Ghost would gallop past them—but the stallion was on to them, and he stuck his head within the hanging boughs, nipping Anjo’s rump before he raced into the stream, splashing water everywhere.

Anjo shot after him, but River was laughing so hard that the filly had to slow, especially as they headed into the stream, to keep her Rider from uncharacteristically sliding off her back.

So, they were several lengths behind Ghost when they emerged from the water. Collecting herself, River fisted Anjo’s mane and gripped her tightly with her thighs.

“Let’s get him!”

That was all the encouragement the filly needed. She surged up the bank and galloped after Ghost.

Then everything changed.

A Rider burst from a clump of trees, giving chase to Ghost. Anjo startled, and River was so shocked to see anyone else that she slipped halfway off the filly’s back, causing Anjo to slow again to keep River from falling.

The Rider—and his black stallion—pulled between Anjo and Ghost. River righted herself, encouraging Anjo to catch up, and when she’d drawn close enough she recognized the Rider.

“Clayton!” She shouted his name, but Bard was pounding after Ghost, and his hooves drowned her words.

Clayton began twirling a length of woven rope over his head. It happened so quickly that River had no time to even shout a warning. The rope snaked out, settling expertly around the stallion’s back leg, tripping him so that the golden horse fell to the ground with a sickening thud.

At that instant River’s mind was blasted with sound as she heard Anjo’s voice screamNO!

“I got him! I got him! Great Father Stallion, I can’t believe it!” Clayton was shouting and waving in victory at River.

Anjo slid to a stop beside Ghost and River was off her back in seconds, rushing to the fallen stallion. Her entire body was trembling—with anger at Clayton and with shocked excitement that she had heard the voice of her filly.

“Hey, careful, River. You know he’s a rogue!”

River spun around. “Free him! Now!”

“But Bard and I just caught him.”

“You idiot! I’ll free him.” River pulled a knife from her waistbelt and strode to Ghost. The stallion was struggling to stand, and she went to his head first. “It’s okay, Ghost. It’s okay, handsome boy. I’m here. I’ll get that rope off you.” She stroked and calmed him before moving to his rear leg and neatly cutting the rope so that the stallion stood, trembling, his sides heaving with shock.

Free!Anjo’s voice rang in River’s mind as she trotted to Ghost, nuzzling him and murmuring low, concerned nickers.

River felt a little dizzy and she had to reach out and lean against the stallion while she concentrated on breathing and grounding herself—though she wanted to shout,I can hear my filly! I can hear her words!!

“By the Great Mother Mare—you know him!” Clayton’s eyes grew huge as he watched Anjo and River comfort the stallion. “That’s why you go out by yourself so much. He’s been hiding out here for a while, hasn’t he?”

Feeling more like herself, River rounded on him. “Why are you following me?”

“I wasn’t. It’s a beautiful day—probably the last warm one until spring. Bard and I were out for a ride. I saw something flash gold—and it was him. Then I saw you and Anjo giving chase, and I figured you were trying to capture him. I thought I was helping.”

“You’re not. And since when is it okay to run down a stallion and trip him like that? You could’ve broken his leg!” River went to Ghost’s back leg and felt the length of it, relieved that he didn’t seem injured.

Sound. He is sound.Anjo’s voice drifted through River’s mind and she smiled with relief at the stallion. “Youaresound, handsome boy.”

“You do know him! Hey, I didn’t mean to hurt him—truly.” Clayton started to dismount from Bard, but Ghost squealed a warning and began backing away, ears flat against his head.

“Ssh, it’s okay. I’m not going to let him hurt you. Again.” River glared at Clayton while she remained with Anjo at Ghost’s side, stroking and soothing him.

“Okay, okay, I’ll stay on Bard. And I won’t hurt him.” Clayton shook his head incredulously. “He is a magnificent-looking stallion! What’s wrong with him?”

“Nothing!”

“He’s completely sane? I can’t exactly tell right now—he’s pretty upset.”