“Did you go and buy a horse?” mom asked her mother.

She chuckled softly, “I didn’t buy a horse. You might say I’ve been adopted by a wild mustang.”

Everyone’s eyes went wide, “A mustang!” Mom continued, “But I thought there hasn’t been any of them around here in years.”

Gramma tilted her head a bit, which let everyone know she was enjoying this moment of suspense, but before she could speak, Lori asked, “Is it dapple gray?” Gramma nodded yes. Then before anyone could speak, Lori was up and heading for the back door. She was squealing with delight and her bother was right behind her.

By the time that the adults were coming out the back door, Lori and her brother were sitting on the top post of the coral fence. To the surprise of the parents they saw a tall dapple gray horse grazing on the far side of the coral. Even more curious was Allen holding his sisters wrist and he was gazing at the dapple gray with eyes wide and mouth agape. Normally this was be a perfect chance for him to knock his sister down.

The horse was grazing as if no one was there. The adults came up to the fence and everyone admired the dapple gray for a long silent moment. Then Lori broke the silence by suddenly calling out, “STONE!”

Before anyone could let her know that this could not be the same horse, the dapple gray raised its head, looked directly at the white haired girl and then gently trotted over to her and began to nuzzle against her. The horse made some sounds which Lori got excited about, “Ok, I will.” Then she mounted the dapple gray before her mom could protest and the horse slowly trotted around the coral a few times gently picking up speed. The dapple gray moved so gracefully that it made Lori’s mom and grandma begin to believe that this horse must have been trained by someone.

Mom looked at Allen and he had a face that made you believe he saw a ghost. The stories of Avris and her mystical horse came forth in her mind, “What is it Allen?”

He looked down at his mom, “Wings!”

She didn’t know what to say. The look on his face showed he was telling the truth.

Stone was now trotting around the corral at a rather fast pace when she suddenly turned and galloped straight across the coral. She was headed straight for the old fence. Everyone gasped as horse and rider glided over the fence with over a foot to spare. Everyone watched as they went full gallop to the other end of the field.

“Have you ever seen anything like that before,” grandma said.

“No,” mom and dad said together then dad said, “but I’ve read something like that.”

“Is there something that y’all aren’t telling me?” grandma asked.

The look she saw on their faces told all. Mom then said, “I think Lori can tell you better than we can.”

At the other end of the field horse and rider turned and went all out to the other corner. Mom was scared that you little daughter might fall off, since she had no saddle to hold on to. She also was envious of her child as she realized her camera was still in her purse in the house.

“Allen, my camera,” Allen was off the fence and running. He came back out with his mom’s camera just as Lori rode up. Mom began taking pictures and that was when the horse reared back giving her the most perfect photo.

The horse settle down and stood there. “Who wants to ride Stone next?” Lori asked excitedly.

“I’m next!” Allen didn’t hesitate. Stone came right over to him at the fence and he climbed on behind his sister.

As they rode across the field, mom viewed the pictures in her digital camera. Her jaw dropped at what she saw on the little view screen. Grandma saw her daughters expression and came up beside her. The picture she just took of her daughter on the horse. It was up on its hind legs showing what they could not see with their own eyes. Almost ghostlike were wings out spread and a horn from the center of the horses fore head.

Previous chapters with Lori:

Chapter 4:  Remember the Dragon

Chapter 5:  Dancing Girl