Chapter 6



Later that day, Mike had the duty of scattering hay around the paddock. He was getting paid for his work at the stables, nothing extravagant. But it was enough to get by financially.



In the corner of his eye, he spots something with four legs, a mane and a tail. His eyes didn’t deceive him. It was indeed a horse. An impressive bright bay coat and a well muscled but yet lean and streamlined body, which leads Michael to believe that the animal may be a retired racehorse.



Michael slowly approaches the horse. The horse raises his head and whinnies. Michael keeps on approaching the horse, whispering in a low voice.

“Hey there, handsome.....don’t worry, I’m not gonna hurt you....”


He caresses the horse’s left flank gently. And the stallion goes into an absolute frenzy. Michael doesn’t even see the iron horseshoes reach for his head until it was too late.

(THWHACK) “AAAAARRGGGHHHH!!!”



“He gave you a pretty nice cut there. I should have warned you about that bay horse.”
“Am I going to need a few stitches?”
“No, but you should consider yourself lucky that you don’t have a black eye, or worse. But listen to me, stay away from that stallion! He’s a danger to himself and to others! Hell, after what he’s done in the past, you’re lucky you’re not dead!”



After Jack yelled the warning at Michael....Mike gets the courage to speak up.

“Jack, there is something about that horse that you’re not telling me. What is it?”

“(sigh) According to his pedigree, his original owners named him “Tornado” he’s about 14 years old. And he is an Arabian.”
“Well, Arabs, as beautiful as they are, they’re very hot blooded horses that get scared and pissed off easily.”
“Not at this level though. The stallion was treated very roughly by his owner to the point that it was considered animal cruelty. He was always very tough on that horse and one day that horse just couldn’t take it anymore. The stallion attacked his abusive owner, and killed him. And the animal rescue group gave the horse to me because they thought I had special horse whispering skills. But....all of my methods to help this horse had failed. And I’m sorry to say this but.....he’s scheduled to be euthanized in about five days, as soon as the shooter arrives.”
“Are you sure there isn’t anything else you can do?”
“I....I honestly don’t know...”
“God...It’s such a shame that he’s so beautiful...”
“I agree Mike......I agree....”



Now that he knows that he does not need stitches for his face and that the cut will heal on its own, Michael walks back to the stable where he runs into Karilla, who wants to ask him something.

“Hey Mike?”
“Karilla, What’s up?”
“I wanted to ask you something...”
“Ok, I’m all ears.”
“Umm........Uuuuummmm... Oh yeah...Can you take Raven out for me? You see, I’m going to be out all day today and I want to make sure Raven gets her exercise.”
“Ok!”



Following Karilla’s request (or excuse rather) he opens the massive barn door, mounts Raven and takes her on a trail ride.

“Sh*t......that did not go as planned....”



Karilla noticed the cut on Mike’s face during their conversation (and her botched attempt to ask him if they could hang out together) and had to tell someone. She found Jennifer near the porch and she told him.

“I was talking to Mike before, and I noticed he had a cut below his eye!”
“Ok...mabye he accidentally cut himself on something....”
“No...I think...that the Killer Stallion kicked him...Maybe you’re right Jenny.....maybe we would be doing everybody a favor if we put the stallion down....”