Eve, Part Four

~ ~ ~

Charpter 9

A young filly cantered across the desert plains. She kicked up dust that swirled around her hooves and streamed behind her. Her black tail flared behind her, like a black cloak, and her mane clawed at the sky in a frenzy. Her streaking black coat glimmered in the afternoon sun as she kelp a steady pace, enjoying the beautiful day, yet always on alert.

Eves dark eyes scanned the desert, just waiting for something to suddenly appear, like they always do. Her hooves kicked at the dry ground as she bounded along. She was going to no certain place. The hot sun beat down on her back, and her eyes scanned for shade, but never found any.

A white stallion cantered a distance behind Eve. He was a quarter mile away, but he could see a black shape of a horse in the distance that he was following. His heart pounded in tiredness. He never knew how the filly could run so long and never tire, and he probably never would know.

Charlie slow to a trot for a few paces, and when he noticed Eve getting smaller and smaller in the distance, he galloped a bit to catch up, then slowed to a canter. The two matched paces, even though they were far away. Eve would never hear Charlies hoof beats, all she would hear is her own, because Charlie was in step with her.

Eve slowed to a jog, then a standstill. Her ear cocked to one side, listening. She heard horses, many, four? Her nostrils flared, scenting the still air. The air wasn’t perfectly still, and she was able to pick up a strange scent. A scent she had smelled such a long time ago. Humans. She looked off to her left, seeing shapes in the distance. Calvary. They stopped, noticing Eve. Eves eyes widened and she burst into a canter. She suddenly heard whooping and yells of excited men, then the gallop of many hooves.

Charlie galloped quickly behind the men. He didn’t care about them, he wanted Eve. He raced past the men and behind Eve. If they got anyone, it would be him. Charlie veered off to the left, hoping to lead them away from Eve, but only two followed. He heard the men galloping at his heels and he watched Eve from the corner of his eye. She kept her distance from the men, but her nostrils flared and her eyes were wide, her legs pounding aimlessly. A horses shoulder rubbed agents Charlies hindquarters, then he heard the whoosh of a rope as it sailed around his neck. It tightened quickly and he was pulled to a stop with a jerk. He stood, confused, then stared after Eve. His legs told him to race after her, but his mind told him no.

Eve galloped hard, but she was tiring. As she slowed just barely, a man on horse-back galloped beside Eve and a rope sailed around her neck. His horse stopped abruptly and Eve jerked back and sailed onto her back. She fell with a hard thump and a burst of dust. When the dust settled Eve was on her feet, her skin shivering in pain. Her feet danced nervously beneath her and she trembled in fear, eyes wide and pulling away. Eve leaped away, and before she knew it a rope tightened around her front leg, and she fell hard on her side. Her breathing was hard, nostrils flaring, as her legs kicked as she laid in pain on the desert floor. The other horses breathed hard for a moment in excitement then were silent. Eve laid on the ground for a minute, then slowly made her way to her feet. As Eve trembled they began to lead them away. They led Charlie behind Eve, and his eyes never left her. She walked slow and her one whole side seemed to be weak. She must have hit the ground harder then it looked. She walked with a slight limp, her feet dragged, head hung. She was tired, but it wasn’t her fault. It was going to be a long day. The sun beat down on their backs and they walked in silence.

The men led them to a large wooden fort. As they approached, Eves head jerked up and her pulled at the end of her rope. By the time they had gotten their it was dark and stars speckled the sky. They were all tired and ready for a nights rest, but when they got their the Colonel waited for them. He walked up to the two horses.

“Yes, yes,” He said looking Eve over. “I remember her,” He walked to her face and rose her chin with his whip. Eve didn’t allow him to and shied away from the whip. When she did that she earned herself a smack in the face with it. She squealed, raising her head as high as she could, her eyes rolling, showing their whites, and pulled at the end of her rope, as far from the Colonel as she could.

Then he walked to Charlie. He stood with his head low, whole body tense and waiting. The Colonel ran a hand from his neck to his hindquarters, and Charlie never flinched. When The Colonel walked up to Charlies face, Charlie rose his head willingly. He studied his scar over his eye, then snorted and walked away.

“Take them to the stables,” He said with a flick of his hand as he walked away. “We’ll deal with them in the morning.”

When they put the two in the stable, Eve found an empty corner and laid down,avoiding the other horses. The geldings lunged at her, teeth bared, but Charlie kept them at bay. He might be young, but he was strong. He reared before the geldings, telling them not to come close, or they would regret it. He let out a victorious whinny then dropped to all fours. He turned and looked at Eve. As she laid their, he was so tempted to lay beside her. He lowered his head and breathed on her shoulder. Her skin flinched, but she didn’t move. When he rubbed his muzzle along her shoulder, she didn’t pull away. She closed her eyes and blew threw her nose in a sigh of contentment. Charlie had sudden hope. He stood behind her and gently folded his legs underneath him, laying. She didn’t stand and run, but nuzzled up to him. A wave of joy you could not imagine washed over Charlie. When he laid by her she felt cold. She laid her lead down, and Charlie laid his head on her withers. He heard her sigh again and listened to her sleep. Charlie closed his eyes, then he let out a happy sigh and slept with Eve, happy to finally be able to feel her silky coat without her running, and not feeling or seeing her fear, but actually, happiness.

Morning came, but the sun had not risen yet. They were awoken by the shouting of men. Charlie felt Eves warmth leave, and when his eyes opened, he saw Eve standing, staring out the windows in the stable. Charlie scrambled to his feet, but didn’t approach Eve. He still knew she wasn’t comfortable around him, and he didn’t push it. A man slammed the gate opened and walked in. He headed straight towards Eve. She jumped away, smashing into Charlie. In Eves sudden shock, he shoved a halter onto her head and clipped on a rope. He pulled Eve from the stables, which took a while. He pulled her and slapped her hindquarters as she pulled away and wouldn’t allow him to lead him. But soon enough, she was saddled and bridled. She was shoved into a small box on the outside of the corral, where men were thrown on to her back. Her eyes rolled with fear, showing the whites. The gate opened, but she didn’t race out. She stood, trembling in fear. When the man slapped her rump did she run. She raced out of the shoot with a leap and galloped with amazing speed. The man jerked the reins tight, and Eve was taken aback and reared up on her hind legs. Eves eyes were wide and her hooves scratched at the sky. The man began to fall, but did not release the reins. He pulled the reins tighter and tighter, pulling Eve farther back. Soon eve lost her balance. She fell back atop the man with a crunch. She leaped back to her feet and went as far from the men as she could. Right in the center of the corral. Eve felt all eyes were apon her and trembled as she stood motionless.

Men ran into the corral as the man laid in the arena motionless. A few men made their way towards Eve, and Eve back into a corner. Her hindquarters pushed hard agenst the fence, and she threw her head when the men tried to reach for the reins. Her eyes rolled and her hind legs lifted in a rear, but she never rose high, in fright she would once again fall backwards.

Charlie watched helplessly from the stables. If they got her they would hurt her. He couldn’t let that happen. He reared up on his hind legs and let out a loud whinny.

This whinny startled Eve. She reared up high on her hind legs in fright, her hooves clawing at the men infront of her. She burst into a gallop, shoving past the men. She ran around the corral, near the edges, but not staying their for long, scared the men would hit her or jump out onto her back. She galloped hard and the men left the corral, allowing her to run. Her legs pounded hard and her breathing was quick. Her eyes shone the whites and she galloped, just galloped and galloped.

“Let her run,” The Colonel told the Sargent when he asked what they should do. “She’ll tire soon enough.”

Eve ran for hours. When she showed sighs of slowing, men would try to enter the corral, then Eve would start up again and charge at them. They would leap out of the corral and wait once more. Eve stopped in the middle of the corral, and men surrounded her, then she leaped out of the circle and started galloping once again.

Now she was utterly tired. She slowed to a slow trot, and men began to pursue her. She cornered her she her legs trembled beneath her. The men got a few feet from her, when her legs caved beneath her and she fell like a rock. Men quickly ran up to her, not scared if she was dead and held her down. On men held her head down, others grabbed her legs. Her stomach heaved in great gulps of air. Her legs and lungs felt like they were on fire. A man rushed in with a small box. She felt a hand smother a strange substance on her shoulder and them felt something similar to a