The Phantom's Daughter

Chapter Five

There was a beautiful white mare set in the paddock next to mine, the humans called her Maggie. Her coat was a beautiful, freshly groomed white that was dotted with perfect little brown freckles all over her body, her face was slightly dished, hinting at Arabian blood in her. Though she was the proper height of a horse, her body made her look like a pony. She was an absolute dream.

I thought the men, fools to pen me next to a mare…how easily I could break in there and claim her, nuzzling her soft coat…biting her little ears….jumping up on her….

But not all men are fools apparently. The mare was put in next to me to school me, and school me she did, treating me like a rambunctious gangly colt and not the fine stallion I was. This infuriated me and I reared, and pawed at the fence on her side, to show her I was alpha. But she pinned her ears to me and kicked up her legs.

The disrespect outraged me even more, and I screamed at her, tearing along the short fence of the paddock, turning sharply and running back. See, for a light draft horse that I am, I am quite agile aren’t I? Soon my jagged, overgrown hooves made a rut in the ground, but the little mare was not impressed. I reached over the fence and made to bite her; yes, a good nip will set her nice and proper!

Instead she made one of those horrible mare screams, lashed out and bit my neck hard. Shocked, I pulled away, just saving my pride from my fall by bucking, hard and mighty, flinging the back hooves almost straight up in the air!

But the little mare Maggie took no notice and went on to eating her hay.

I stood in the far side of my paddock with my ears tucked against my head, resting my back hoof, breathing heavily. I was tired and hungry. The ropes still hung on me, and they made burns against my coat. My black coat almost looked like a dusty brown from the dust and dirt and my mane fell uncomfortably against my neck, making me sweat.

They refused to feed me.

They thought to break my spirit.

But I have played this game before.

And I will not let them win.

All men are stupid.

All men are bloodthirsty.

All men are beasts!

All men—

“Hey!”

I raised my head, interrupted by the small voice.

“Hey you!”

That voice….it was so familiar….

“Hey Sweet Demon!”

I turned my head, recognizing my name and saw her.

The little orphan girl from Pierre’s.