Sundancer and the rest part 1....PLEASE COMMENT!!!!

by Doree
(Canada)

"So Georgie did pretty good today." Said David Gregory as he leaned back in the old pick up truck and smiled at the young woman beside him.

"Yes, I'm very proud of her." Commented Charlie Graham as she thought of her 8-year old daughter, Georgia, who was nicknamed Georgie. She had won first in the junior hunter competition today.

They heard some whinnying from the trailer, which was hooked up to the truck.

"Sounds like someone's eager to get home." David nodded. "So, I wanna ask you something." Said David slowly. "Where is your husband?"

Charlie bit her lip. She knew this question would pop up sooner or later in the two years David had worked for her. "He-he left me 3 years ago."

David furred his brow. "Why?" He asked. "I don't know. I guess he didn't want to be a father anymore. He left me, and where does that leave me?" David smiled. "25 years old, single and with a daughter?" Charlie threw up her hand.

"Exactly!" she cried out. All of a sudden she squinted into the distance as they pulled up onto the gravel road which lead to her barn and house.

"What the heck is that!?" As they pulled up along side of it, she saw it was an abandoned truck with, what seemed, a trailer full of horses. Charlie gasped as she got out and looked inside. Most of the horses were skinny, their eyes sunken in.

"Look there's a note!" David called out. Charlie raced to the side of the abandoned truck. "It was taped to the side. It says, dear Charlie Graham, I can't take care of these horses anymore. I know you will. Their forms are in the trailer. Please take care of all of them. Thank you, Anonymous."

David turned to face charlie, "What are you going to do?" Charlie bit her lip. "I don't know." For the first time in her life, Charlie didn't know what to say or do.

PART TWO WILL BE HERE SOON!!!!!!!! PLEASE COMMENT!!!!!!!

Sundancer and the rest - Part 2 PLEASE COMMENT!!!

by Doree
(Canada)

Jelly Bean

“I have to take them.” Said Charlie graham finally. David Gregory nodded. “I knew you would want to. You’re an animal lover. It’s in your genes.” He said with a smile. “I’ll take your truck and you take them?” Charlie nodded at David. “Okay. I see the person left the key in the engine. That’s good.” David got in his car, waving good bye to her and driving off. As she got in and started up the truck, which sputtered and groaned a bit but started up, she kept telling herself, “It’s the right thing to do.”

When she reached the house, Georgia came running out with an excited grin on her face. “I just talk to David! He said you found some horses!? Can I see them!? Please, please, pleasseee!!!” Charlie held up her hand to stop her. “you have to wait ok? Can you please run and grab 10 lead ropes?” Georgie grinned and nodded, eager to do her mother’s bidding. David walked over towards Charlie.

“I put the horses in the pasture and prepared the stalls for our new arrivals.” Charlie nodded her thanks. Then she sighed. “What if these horses are really stolen David?” He furrowed his brow and shook his head no. “I don’t think so Charlie,” He said, “He said in the letter he’s got their papers.” Charlie shrugged her shoulders. “Still whoever it is could have stolen those too.”

All of a sudden Georgie appeared by their side. “Here is the lead ropes you requested!” Charlie took them and thanked her daughter. She handed them to David who walked over to open the trailer. Charlie’s heart pounded. What if any of the horses were badly hurt?

As he lead out a black shaggy quarter horse with a little white marking on his head, he handed her some papers. “Here is the horses name, gender, age and breed.”

She scanned it then read out loud. “Black Quarter horse, gelding, age 10. Name Jelly Bean.” Charlie patted Jelly Bean on the shoulder. Then handed him to her daughter. “Your in charge of putting the horse sin the stalls ok?” Georgie nodded and lead Jelly Bean up to the stable. "Lets get to the other horses then." Said Charlie.

Sundancer and the rest - Part 3 PLEASE COMMENT!!!!

by Doree
(Canada)

Next, David Gregory brought out a bay. Its coat was not as shaggy as Jelly bean, but it had a special shine to it, one that made Charlie Graham instantly want to kiss its velvety nose and brush it?s black forelock away from its dark chocolate eyes. Her eyes scanned the paper. "National Velvet is her name, Bay, no white markings. Female, age is 15 years old. Thoroughbred/ quarter horse cross." David patted Velvet on her soft muzzle.

"She sure is a beauty." He said softly, staring at the bay lovingly. "I agree." Said Charlie smiling at the sight of both man and horse starring at each other lovingly. "Here I'll take her!" Said Georgia, her dark brown eyes lighting up excitedly and her dark hair bounced around on her shoulders.

David handed the lead rope of Velvet to Georgie. The third horse came out. Its mane and tail were cut short, and its whole body was covered in dirty. David brushed some of the drift away. "Underneath all this dirt, it's a bay." He smiled.

Charlie nodded and found the horse on the paper. The wind almost blew it out of her hand as she was looking. The wind was really beginning to pick up. "OK. Bay, white faced. Male. Name is Copper. Age, 10 years old. Dartmoor pony." Again, Georgia took the horse and hurried to the barn. Since they wanted to hurry up, David began taking two horses at a time. This time he brought out two Appaloosa's. Both were leopard spotted.

"How the heck are we suppose to find out who's who?" Mused Charlie. "Well, this one has a star, the other has a stripe." Charlie nodded as she found both horses' papers. "Gina, Leopard spotted with star. Age 14, female. Ginny, Leopard spotted with stripe. Age 14, female. These two are twins it says." David nodded with interest as he hand Gina and Ginny to Georgia, who hurried to the barn.

Sundancer and the rest - Part 4

by Doree
(Canada)

Next David brought out a dapple gray, it was in better shape then the others. Its legs, long and lean, where defiantly made for speed. Charlie tucked a piece of brown hair behind her ear.

?Dapple gray thoroughbred, Mare, 5 years old. Name is Whica? Charlie smiled at David.

?I knew she was a thoroughbred.? He nodded.

Georgia walked over and headed towards the barn with Whica. Next David brought down a Shetland pony. It was a bay, with mud all over it?s little body.

?Shetland pony, bay, gelding, age 19 years old, name is Henry.? David patted the old horse on the back. ?He's kinda sickly looking don?t you think?? Charlie nodded, and as Georgia came and got Henry, she told her to give Henry some extra feed.

David brought out the last horse. The horse was different and Charlie knew right away. There was a sort of power about him. He was tall, at least 16 hands high, and he had a chestnut coat.

?Stallion, 6 years old, Arabian, American Saddlebred Cross. Name is Sundancer.?

Sundancer snorted and pranced in the spot, head held high, ears pointed forward looking around eagerly.

?I think I?ll walk this one back.? Said David gently to Georgia. She nodded and walked beside them as they all made their way up to the barn.

As they walked in side the barn down slammed shut behind them. Sundancer reared, his eyes flashing angrily. Finally David manage to calm him down and put him in his stall. ?Darn wind.? Charlie shook her head.

?It?s really starting to pick up. I feel a storm coming in, so do the horses.? The horses were shaking their mighty heads, beginning to get anxious.?We better get inside.? Said Charlie.

As the opened the barn door, they found the win really had picked up. The thunderclouds that were coming in warned them of soon coming rain.

?I have to get home.? Shouted David at Charlie. Charlie shook her head and pointed to the sky. ?It?s going to be coming down hard in a few minutes. It won?t be safe!?

David followed Charlie inside with Georgia at their heels. As they walked inside the house, the wind outside howled and shook the house slightly at times.

?Mom I?m scared.? Said Georgia running to where her mom and David were sitting on the couch and threw her arms around her. ?It?s okay sweetie.? Smiled Charlie.

?It?ll be over soon.?

Sundancer and the rest - Part 5 PLEASE COMMENT!!

by Doree
(Canada)

Soon enough, the thunder storm was over. Charlie waved good bye to David, who was getting into his truck. He had to go home since it was already 8:00 at night. She and Georgia ran over to the barn to check on the new arrivals. They were fretting in their stalls. Jelly Bean was restlessly pacing his stall in distress and Sundancer was snorting and pawing the ground, while shaking his mane like he was a king, demanding to never go through that again.

Charlie smiled and walked over to pat Sundancer. He backed up and stared at her, every part of his body was threatening to attack if she came any closer. Charlie pursed her lips and joined her daughter at Whica’s stall. “Mom, don’t you think Whica’s a bit fat?” Said Georgia pointing at her bellie. “Georgie…” Charlie’s voice faltered. Her daughter was right; she was big in the stomach! How could I not have noticed that before? Wondered Charlie. “Yes your right my dear! She’s pregnant! And I’m guessing the sire is Sundancer.” She glanced at Sundancer’s stall.

“Why him mommy?” Charlie laughed. “Well Georgie, he’s the only stallion here! I wonder if any of the any mares are…” She walked down the aisle and peered into the stall of Velvet. She was calmly eating her hay. She glanced up and stared at Charlie. “Hmm she’s not.” She then went to Gina and Ginny. Both were not pregnant. Charlie sighed in relief. One mare pregnant was enough in Charlie’s case! She walked back to Whica and guessed she was about only 3 months pregnant.

Before leaving the barn for the night she checked on Henry and the horses that were outside. All were fine. “Mommy, I really like Henry, he’s so sweet. When we find him a new home, we’ll make sure it’s a good one ok?” Her daughter wore a serious expression. Charlie stifled a giggle and nodded ok. “I defiantly well make sure they all get good homes.” Georgia smiled in relief.

Sundancer and the rest - Part 6

by Doree
(Canada)

The next morning, bright and early, David came over. "Hey David. Greeted Charlie as she walked out of the farm house, the air smelled fresh and the ground was moist.

"Hi Charlie, how are the horses doing?" Asked David with a grin as they headed into the barn.

"I checked on them last night, they're doing great. I also found out something last night." David raised his eyebrows.

"Do tell." Charlie led him over to Whica's stall.

"She's pregnant, and I have a pretty good idea of who the father is." David peered into the stall.

"Huh, wonder how I didn't notice that before?" He said scratching his chin curiously. Charlie nodded.

"Same here. So, I was thinking that once the horses get all better, I'm going to sell them."
David's head snapped up from checking on Jellybean.

"What?" David said. Charlie sighed, she knew how David got easily attached to horses.

"David you know I can't keep them. This stable is going down! It needs repairs that I can't afford! To take on 8 extra horses of my own would be plain stupid." David frowned.

"I know, sorry I just find something special in these horses." Charlie gave him a half smile.

"Don't you for every horse?"

Both of them laughed.
************

Sorry for such a short part!!!

Sundancer and the rest - Part 7

by Doree
(Canada)

The next day, Charlie got the vet out to her house. "She is about 3 months pregnant." Confirmed Dr. Holden. Charlie smiled.

"Well that's good, now we will soon have a foal here!" David raised his eyebrows.

"I thought you said, I'm going to sell them soon as possible?" Charlie frowned slightly, David was right. She did say that, now she wanted to keep them.

"Well, I might keep some of them, you know, as lesson horses. I'm going to try and work the two twins under the saddle today, maybe Copper too." Charlie said. She wanted to make sure all were broke and had no problems.

An hour later, after the doctor had looked at each horse, confirming each was healthy, Charlie was lounging Gina. Ginny and Copper patiently watched, tied to the fence. Charlie clucked her tongue and made the mare change directions. Gina shook her mane and whinnied. Charlie grabbed her western saddle off the fence and walked towards the horse. After putting the blanket down she put on the saddle then the bridle.

Gina took it all easily, she had obviously had done this lots. Charlie climbed up on the mare, just as Georgia ran to the fence and sat down on it beside copper and Ginny. Charlie trotted Gina around the pen a bit before asking for a canter. It was a smooth, beautiful canter. She would make the perfect lesson horse! Thought Charlie excitedly.

"Mommy, you forgot your whip." Georgia called out. She jumped from the fence and started towards Charlie and Gina, the riding crop waving in her hands. All of a sudden without warning, Gina began to buck wildly and threw Charlie high in the air. "Mommy!" Screamed the young girl.

Charlie sat up slightly, gasping for air, the wind being knocked out of her. Her teary-eyed daughter fell down beside her. "I'm so sorry mommy. I didn't know she didn't like whips." Cried Georgia, her head down in shame.

As soon as she felt good and stable again, she stood up. "It's ok Georgie, I didn't know too." Charlie walked over to Gina and grabbed her. Gina rolled her eyes in fear at the riding crop now lying on the ground. Georgia quickly grabbed it and put it back on the fence, away from Gina's view. As soon as it was gone, Gina was back to her sweet old self.

"Well now I know this one has a deep fear of crops. She won't be able to show, because of her fear of crops, but she'll still make a good first lesson horse for some little girl or boy." Georgia nodded, agreeing with her mom.

"Let's get to Ginny now."