Perfect Gift
By Cierra, The Horse Lover

Chapter One:

I looked out of my window at the empty corral below.  That's how I felt.  Empty.  Ever since my beloved horse, Golden Nugget had been sold, I couldn't bear to speak to anyone.  I had bred Nugget about ten months ago to a beautiful bay Appaloosa.  Then, she was sold to someone we didn't know that well and he sold her in an auction.

Quietly, I tiptoed back to my bed.  As I lay there, shivering, I couldn't take my mind off Golden Nugget.  My eyes burned.  I bit my lip. "Don't cry," I told myself, "You're being a big baby."  I couldn't stand it. Tears came streaming down my face.  

"God, I love Golden Nugget.  She was my best friend.  All I want you to do is to bring her back." 

I know he was stressed out because of his job.  That little note on the table said that he would come back as soon as he found a new job.  Yeah, right.  I really didn’t mean that.  Mom didn’t, I didn’t.  But, we had been so close, to lose him was more upsetting than sorrowful.  When he left, I didn’t break down in tears, like my best friend did when her Dad left.  Mom was so quiet now.  She never called anybody.  I answered the phone.  I answered the door.  I told everyone that Mom wasn’t feeling well.  I told everyone to leave.  It was like it was my house.  If Grandma was still alive, we would’ve been okay.  Now, we’re not.  We have no money to keep a horse; neither mare, stallion nor foal.  I glanced at my green overloaded backpack.  For days, I had been planning this. 

I have everything I need to run away - money, clothes, food and my Bible.  I got up, grabbed my backpack and turned towards my window.  

"God, I hope I'm doing the right thing."

I looked at a few horses grazing in a pasture.  How I missed Nugget.  I had been walking for hours, with no sign of a town.  I wasn't sure where I was going, but I just wanted to get away from my house.  I wondered what Mom would be doing right now. She'd probably be calling all of the neighbors and maybe the police.  I was starting to get tired.  I lay back in the haystack I had luckily found and dreamed about the last ride I had on Nugget…

A shrill whistle sounded through the trees.  Suddenly, a large horse came galloping to the pasture gate.  Her delicious chocolate brown coat glimmered in the sun.  Along with the maple-colored spots on her rump, she looked exactly like what she was, my Appaloosa. "Come here, Nuggie."  Nugget snorted at the bucket.  I set the bucket on the ground and while she ate the oats, I carefully slipped the green halter on her head.  I tugged on it and she gladly came along.  I brought her to the meadow behind our house and took off her halter.  Grabbing her black mane, I swung my legs over her flat back.  Although she wasn’t the most comfortable horse for riding, I loved the feeling of being with Nugget.

"Let's ride, sweets," I whispered into her ear.  She took off at a steady trot.  When we got to the end of the meadow, I dismounted and picked an apple from Mr. Perry's orchard.  As I munched happily away, Nugget grazed the baby grass.  I mounted again and rode back to the pasture.  

My mom was waiting there for me.  I wondered what she wanted.  Mom doesn’t really like to ride horses all that much, but she loves how beautiful they are.  I slowed to a walk.  

"Kathryn, I don't want to tell you this."  I could see tears in her eyes.  "Tell me what?" I asked, dreading the next words.  "The bills are too high since your father left," she paused.  I could tell she was gathering up courage.  "We'll have to sell Nugget."

"What did you say?" 

"Honey, I told you, I'm sorry."  

I burst out crying. 

"God, no!  Don't let her sell Nugget!  Please!"  

I slipped off of Nugget and hugged her neck.  My chest felt like it was about to explode.  My mom came up behind me, her cheeks wet with tears.  I knew she was crying because she knew how much it hurt.  I turned around and hugged her.  Nugget seemed to know that something was wrong.  She nuzzled my ear with her velvet nose and made a soft nicker.  

"God, I can't understand why…"

I sat up.  Oh, it was just a dream.  It seemed so real.  I must have fallen asleep.  I had a way of doing that.  Never knowing when I'm going to fall asleep can sometimes be irritating.  I looked around me.  There were the haystack, the horses and the decaying barn.  Everything was the same.  I glanced at my watch.  1:25.  The sky was still dark.  I'd better get some more sleep.  A faint pink light drifted upwards into the sky, beckoning the sun to rise.  The sun peeked over the mountains, dotted covered with pine trees.  The pink light started to fade away, leaving a cerulean sky in its place.  The haystack where I was sleeping slowly filled with sun.  The day promised to be bright and airy.  I breathed in the scent of the hay, along with the sweet, familiar aroma of Ponderosa pines.

"Chicka-dee-dee-dee!"  A few yards away from me, a little chickadee was singing.  He let out a little warble and flew to another tree closer to me.  "Fee-bee!"  

Then I noticed what he wanted.  A large feeder filled with millet and sunflower seeds was hanging almost above my head. "So, you're hungry.  Okay, gobble up all you can eat."  I started walking away while he fluffed himself up and fluttered to the feeder.  I watched him for a second, then stood up and grabbed my backpack.  The gravel road made my feet sore, but it was better than being in a big city with lots of cars zooming around and no familiar faces.

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