s*x IN THE RANCH

8pm at the Schuyler ranch, my father and I were getting ready to leave. The cloud became thicker, a wave of lightening accompanied by rumbling enveloped the sky, a clear indication that it would rain soon. I was trimming Achi's hooves and my father was scrapping his boot sole at the far end of the yard. I scanned by eyes inside the railing and realized that Burly was missing. Burly never comes outside the railing unless she is sick and being attended to by a vet, or I'm riding on her back within the yard. I was shocked! I froze for a second, my breath trapped. "Dad, Burly is gone" I said. Tears walling up in my eyes. "What do you mean she's gone, ain't you suppose to be looking after her?"... I could sense the anger in his voice. My feet became numb. Burly is my best friend, Mr. Schuyler specifically trusted her to me and now I have failed. 1 was 8 when i first followed my dad to the ranch, and that was the day Burly was born. She is unique... very different from the other horses. She is as white as snow with a very long mane. I would plait the mane sometimes, and most of the time i like to comb it. A treat Burly also enjoys... " What are you still doing standing there, go and look for her"... He yelled out angrily. I picked a torchlight through the wind and made to leave; "Tell Bay to give you a ride home when you are done. Your mother and I have an appointment with Mayor Gustavo at 10" he said and he returned his attention on his boot. Bay? the last thing Bay would want to do is to let me sit in his car or come anywhere near him. I turned my heels towards the woods, but paused when my dad huffed. I knew he was about to say something again. ..."and Amy" I swiftly turned to face him... "Yes dad" "Be very careful, and come home if you don't find Burly... I know you very well, don't sleep in the woods" he warned, throwing his ears to give meaning to his words. I drew a sharp breath "okay Dad"... I hurried off before he could say something again. I walked the lonely narrow road into the wood and would shine light at any movement I sensed hoping it could be Burly behind the bushes. The night is silent. The only sound I hear is my heart beat. "Burly where are you?" I called out her. Burly and I share a very special bond. If she hears my voice I know she was going to come running to the direction of my voice I opened my mouth to call out again when I heard what sounded like a footstep. My pulse ramped up. "Burly is that you?" My voice toned down to 1... I have heard stories of evil spirit and ghosts lurking in the woods but I never believed it. Ghost doesn't exist. Evil spirits doesn't exist either. They can only be seen in the movies or in mystery books. made up stories by people who wants to keep the weak hearted in perpetual fear. I tried to control my nerves but heavy fear gripped me. I shined the torchlight towards the direction of the noise but nothing looked odd. I swallowed hard. Taking few seconds to gather my nerves, I took a step forward and I heard a growling sound closely behind me. This time, louder! I froze, all my breath trapped. I slowly turned, I surrendered completely and slowly turned my front to face whatever it was. The sound stopped abruptly. I could feel eyes on me. "Mummy!" I screamed out before taking to my heels. "Monster! Monster!" I ran back to the Ranch panting heavily. I startled when I saw a shape in the darkness. I stiffen and squeezed my eyes tight. "don't kill me! don't kill me.. please don't kill me..." "Amy are you okay?" I slowly opened my eyes to see Mr. Schuyler standing in front of me. "who wants to kill you?" he asked inquisitively. "sir... a monster!... a struggled to catch my breath. "what monster?" " in the woods! there is a monster in the woods" He chuckles and gives my shoulder a soft squeeze. "there is no monster in the woods. by the way, what were you doing in the woods so late at night"? How am I going to tell him that i could not care for his horse. I had just one job and I failed. "sir! I am sorry" I nervously started squeezing my fingers. he gives a very soft laugh " what are you sorry about?... go on, talk to me" " Burly ran away. I was in the woods looking for her"... tears trail down my cheek He laughs uncontrollably. I was shocked. does Burly running away not mean anything to him? he quiets down and clears his throat. "Burly didn't run away. Bay left on her back when you were napping. you should go home. it's late and it looks like it's about to rain" He clapped a comforting hand on my shoulder and stalked off still laughing softly. Burly didn't run a way? a wave of anger rushed down my spine. A reflection galloping in the darkness, and Bay emerges on Burly's back. He slowed down, and jumps down when he got to where I was standing. " how dare you?" I bloated angrily. he ignored me and led Burly into the railing. "are you not the one I am talking to?" I yelled, following him closely behind. " do you know what I went through thinking I lost burly?"... I caressed Burly's mane and gives her a kiss. "baby, are you hurt?" I asked, rubbing her neck. Bay scoffs " grow up, you are not 8 anymore. i***t!... he leaves. I was still making show if Burly was okay when I heard Bay call out to me. I thought he was gone. "hey poop head"... he called I reluctantly turned to face him. "what?" I asked sarcastically. mischief spreads across his face, his hand behind his pants. "Duck!" before i could make sense of what he meant a hot hoarse poop landed on my face. "nice catch poop head" he laughed his way to his car. I stood still, drenched. I could cry, but I won't... Bay and Claire have made me cry so much in the past, but not any more. I won't allow them to get the better of me. It started to drizzle and I hurried towards Bay's car just as he was about to drive off. I knocked on the window and he winds down. "please can you give me a ride home?" He chuckles "is this some kind of joke?" he hissed and started to wind up. "Bay please! it's raining... and I can't walk home this late at night". "go sleep with the horses"... he winds up and drove off. I stood surprised. How can he be so cruel? sometimes i wonder why I fell in love with him. but I guess, we do not tell our heart who to choose. It started to pour heavily. i could not sleep in the ranch because I was hungry and my father would be worried sick about. I decide to walk home no matter what.