Author: John Royce

“It’ll be all right, girl.” Meagan led Promise a step toward the waiting thieves. The filly put her head low into Meagan’s hair, trembling. “Come on, girl, you’ll be fine.” Promise took another tentative step, stopped and snorted, then went another. Meagan hesitated. What am I doing? She trusts me.

Glancing at the fence joining the Cromwell’s yard, Meagan saw an escape. With a quick motion she jumped up and pulled herself onto Promise’s back. The filly swung around, accepting the weight and understanding instantly.

Meagan heard shouting behind her as Promise reached for the safety of speed. The pasture was small but both horse and rider meant to go beyond. Fluid strides lengthened, swallowing the earth in quickening gulps as the pasture fence rushed towards them. Wind rose in Meagan’s ears, and time stretched into a series of still photographs as the young thoroughbred gathered and stretched. The ground blurred and together they lifted into the air.

She spoke softly to her frightened filly. Promise let Meagan come close, but gave no signs of relaxing. Every fiber in the horse was prepared for flight, and her wide eyes never left the two men. Meagan reached to carefully remove the broken bridle.

“Leave it on!” Randy growled, stepping forward.

Promise flinched, tearing the bridle from Meagan’s hands and racking her raw mouth as it twisted. The horse stepped into a patio chair, tangling herself and almost falling. Hooves clattered on brick as the filly bolted across the patio and through the gate to escape. She ran bucking wildly into the pasture, running to the farthest corner.

Meagan remained frozen as Randy stooped to pick up the halter she had dropped. He threw the harness to her. The halter fell on the bricks.