Moving the Herd

by Donna and Abby

Sierra sat on the hill over looking the secluded valley where the Equinne mares were grazing. They would have to move again soon, now that winter was here. All the mares were pregnant, and needed good forage to keep them healthy.

Their normal grazing area was more open than this, but of course, with the way things were, lately, they had to be extra careful.  Sierra was both a lover of horses, and a lover of mountains, and she had kept them closer to the mountain range since her appointment last Spring.  Sierra, a fae, had come on the Vernal Equinox and had immediately been sent to watch the female Equinnes.

Between her and the senior stud, Duke, they had kept the herd of mares safe from the evil ones. But it had not been easy. Gone were the days that the mares could graze in peace.  But there was hope in sight.  Like the rest of the fae, Sierra had gone to the Solstice party just recently, and more males had been found on Innocent Island!  They were to bring the mares to the Island soon - as soon as they figured out how to do it.  Unlike the studs, they could not grow wings and fly!

Sierra turned her head at the sound of horse's hooves. "Greetings, Duke," she said with a smile as the handsome dun stallion trotted up to her. His body shimmered for a moment, and then he stood before her in his human form. "It is time to move the herd," he said, his nostrils flaring as he tested the air. "There is a storm coming and we must get out of the mountains before it traps us here."

"I was afraid of that," she said.  "I was waiting for more help.  The rest of your kind is on their way from Booker's Ranch.  Perhaps this storm is slowing them down."

Just then, the two of them stopped in amazement!  Someone was *singing*!

"Oh what a beautiful mor-ning, Oh what a beautiful . . . wait," the singing ended abruptly.  "It *was*  a beautiful mornin'.  Now it's . . . Dang it, if'n it ain't gone all stormy!"

Duke snorted and shifted back into his horse form, dancing in place as Sierra easily vaulted up onto his back. Together they raced to the stranger, who was staring open mouthed at the sight of the grazing herd.

"Well if dat don't beat all," he was saying.  "I never did see no herd a' fillies quite like this'un!"

He was reaching for the lasso at his side when Duke slid to a stop in front of him, rearing. "I wouldn't do that if I was you," Sierra said sternly.  "What in the world are you doing out here? Where did you come from?"

He looked up at the woman and blinked.  She sure was pretty!  "Hey, I don' mean nuthin' by it!" he said with his hands in the air.  A moment later a charming smile appeared.  "Honestly, I don't rightly know what I am doin' here, just I ain't where I jus' was.  An' I had no horse, so I was gonna take me one.  Might chilly here, an' I wasn't too anxious t' stick around."  He looked her over again, but it was flirty, not lewd.  "Might jus' stick now, tho."

She studied him for a long moment. "I'm fixing to move the herd. Help me and I'll make sure you get a mount of your own, and a new home."

"Well," he smiled pleasantly, "I'd be right grateful for that, Ma'am!  Any help I kin be to a lovely lady, I will do all my best."  He paused a moment, his charming smile slipping.  "Kin I jus' ask one thin'?"

"Of course," she said, slipping off Duke so he could run to the herd and get them organized for the trip.

The young man watched as the stallion rounded up the mares.  It was unlike any horse he had ever seen.  Still, he had a question, and he was going to ask it.  Scratching his curly head, he said, "Am I still in Oklahoma territory?  I don't remember no mountains where I was dis mornin'."

She shook her head. "No. You are in a place called Edan. I'm Sierra by the way. What is your name?" She turned her head and whistled two different tones. Two ordinary horses turned toward her and then left the herd. Duke let them go, knowing that they would be used as riding horses by Sierra and the newcomer.

"Curly, Ma'am.  Curly McLain?"  He barely looked at the horses coming his way.  "Damn - I mean, shoot!  I never heard of no Edan, except in the Bible, of course.  If I'm not in Oklahoma, though, that means I'm not near Lori no more!"

"I'm sorry," she said softly. "Was she your lover?"

"She were the most beautiful gal in the world."  He looked heartbroken.  "No offense t'you, of course, Ma'am.  I didn't mean nothin' by that flirting back yonder, tho you are a fine lookin' gal as well.  Jus' . . . I've always taken a shine t' Lori."

"You will find another I'm sure," Sierra assured him. "In the meantime, we have a herd to move." Grabbing hold of the forelock of one of the horses, she took a thin rope out of pocket and fashioned a makeshift halter and reins out of it. "Her name is Shadow."

Curly didn't stop to absorb the first thing she said; he still could not accept that he'd never see Lori again!  But he was an easy-going man, despite his size, and he smiled with pleasure at the horse.  "Well, Howdy Shadow!" he said.

That one little act impressed Sierra more than anything! He even stroked Shadow gently before mounting her. With a smile, she jumped up onto Sunshine's back.

"Yee ha!" said the cowboy happily.  "I don' know what's happenin' yet, an' I shore do miss my Dun, but this'un is some piece a' horseflesh!"

The iron grey mare snorted and moved out smartly, the palomino matching her strides. Within moments, they had the herd of mares moving out of the valley and toward their new home!