AllFreeNovel
Share Us
In it stood a lone, coal black stallion, blindfolded and without a saddle, its hind legs tied.
Warriors were on each side of the steed, struggling to hold it still.
The people clambered to their feet and hurried to stand around the corral.
Dancing Butterfly led Mary Beth to where she could see, then held her hand.
“What is Brave Wolf going to do?” Mary Beth asked.
Her voice, though low, carried into the crowd. Several people turned and glared at her. The rest watched their chief, their eyes wide in anticipation.
“Our warriors often capture fine and spirited wild horses. This steed was captured only this morning just for our chief’s performance tonight,” Dancing Butterfly explained. “It is unbroken and wild. Our chief will prove his skill today with horses. After he is with the horse for only a short while, the steed will be as tame as a newborn foal.”
“But why is he doing this tonight?” Mary Beth asked. “Is this a part of the Bear Song Dance?”
“No. The dance is over,” Dancing Butterfly said. “Taming the horse is just an added attraction. Watch. Enjoy.”
Brave Wolf stepped up to the pole corral.
The bearskin robe slid away from him.
The young brave grabbed it up from the ground, then stepped back and was lost in the crowd.
Brave Wolf’s eyes never left the animal as he leaned down and pushed his way between the poles.
Once inside the corral, he straightened his back and continued to stare at the horse. His muscles flexed, his jaw tight, Brave Wolf stepped up to the snorting horse.
Brave Wolf itched to run his hands along the steed’s jet silk skin and huge withers. He would enjoy stroking the horse’s muscled flanks, for he had perhaps never seen such a beautiful stallion in his entire life.
He was anxious to call it his!
As chief, he already owned many horses. A man who had many horses was not only a rich man, but also a warrior to be admired, for how could he acquire so many steeds without being brave?
He swung himself onto the stallion’s back.
When a warrior handed Brave Wolf the reins, the horse stood still, its muscles trembling.
Then one of the men removed the horse’s blindfold and hurried with the other warrior from the corral. The animal snorted, bit at Brave Wolf’s legs, then reared, only now becoming aware that its hind legs were tied.
All that it could do was spin quickly around. That was enough to throw Brave Wolf from its back.
As Brave Wolf slowly rose to his feet, his dark eyes holding the horse’s, two warriors came quickly back into the corral, roped the horse and held it steady again for Brave Wolf.
“Untie its legs,” Brave Wolf said tightly.
The warriors questioned him with their eyes, then did as they were told when Brave Wolf glared at them for even a moment questioning his command.
The warriors stepped quickly away as Brave Wolf grabbed the reins and leapt onto the stallion’s back.
Brave Wolf held on to the reins tightly, using his knees to hold himself solidly in place. The horse reared again, then ran wildly toward the corral poles and leapt over them.
The crowd ran screaming as they hastened out of the horse’s way. Mary Beth and Dancing Butterfly ran with them, then turned and watched again.
Mary Beth’s pride in Brave Wolf grew as her eyes followed his every move.
She gasped when she thought he was going to be thrown again, then sighed when he managed to stay on. She knew he was fighting the horse’s will as much as its strength.
Making a valiant effort, Brave Wolf headed the steed away from his people and the tepees. In moments he found himself riding along a wide open stretch of land.
