chapter nineteen

wild

The warmth of the day had cooled to evening’s chill. When I returned to the hogan, Shimá was already sleeping. I lay down on my cot, pulled up the wool blanket. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out. But not for long. I felt the earth trembling, and I was gasping for air, trying to shout, to run. My legs wouldn’t move. A wall of water rushed closer. My eyes flew open. All was dark. I was in my bed, safe. The nightmare was gone. I curled up tight on the narrow cot, reached for floppy-headed Pluto, and remembered I hadn’t brought him to sheep camp.

As soon as I closed my eyes, it started again—the same nightmare, water roaring, the ground shaking. Blue rearing. Red mud swirling around us. In the distance was a giant boulder. A Yé’ii stood on top. His face was sad, and his empty hand was held out. Where were the cookies? Of course. They were gone. Everything. Washed away. Gone.

Now the Yé’ii was riding Blue away. Blue broke loose, whinnied. Stop. Come back. I tried to yell. No words came out.

I woke up, sweaty and shivering. Had something happened? To my sister? To Blue?

Another Yé’ii dream. Yé’ii weren’t supposed to appear in dreams. Gaby had explained that to me a long time ago. I was little and hadn’t really listened. She had said something about needing a ceremony if one ever did appear in a dream, but why? And what happened if I didn’t tell anyone and never had a ceremony?

Blue whinnied from his corral, and this time it was real. I had never heard him call out in the night before.

I wrapped the blanket around me and hurried out to the corral. Blue sniffed at me, snorted, backed away, began running in circles.

“What’s wrong? Another storm coming?” I searched the sky, but it was clear. The full moon shone silver on the canyon walls, changing the familiar landscape into an eerie place of stone statues and shadows. I listened but heard nothing unusual, not even a coyote yipping. Blue trotted over, tossed his head, blew out a snoutful of dust.

“Still upset about today?” I shivered. “Me too.” I held out a flick of hay. Blue backed away. “Maybe we both need to take a long run, feel solid dry earth beneath us.” I tossed the hay into the corral. “OK. First thing in the morning, we’ll take a run.” I filled his feed bucket with oats, glanced around one last time, and walked back to the hogan.

—

The next time I opened my eyes it was morning. The nightmare had not returned, and I could smell coffee.

Shimá stood in the doorway, staring at the horses.

Blue was prancing around and around in his corral, whinnying and kicking at the fence. I got up, hurried over to her. “What’s going on with him?”

“The mares. He smells the young one. She’s come into season. Earlier than I figured.”

Blue snorted, ran from one end of his corral to the other. I threw on my clothes and started out the door. Shimá held my arm. “Stay here. He’s a stallion, too crazy to go near when he’s worked up like this.”

Blue ran straight at the fence and reared, his front legs wheeling. The top railing splintered and tumbled off. Blue jumped over the remaining rails and tore right over to the mares. Already Chaco and Bandit were prancing, trotting, calling back. He kicked at their fence until the railings shattered and leaped into their corral. Tail up, ears back, he bit at their rumps, rounding them up. His own herd. He wanted them out.

“Stop, you stupid horse! Stop!” I yelled.

“Wait.” Shimá held tight to my arm.

Blue raced around the mares, reared, and then jumped over the broken railings. The mares followed. Blue circled back, nipping, urging them on, and led them down the wash.

“I’m going after them.”

“Stay here. Blue’s dangerous. I need to move the sheep upstream where they can graze. The dogs can guard them. We can go after the horses together.”

“No, Shimá. That’s too much for you, and it’ll take too long. I can run after the horses right now. They’re headed down the wash. Their tracks will be easy to follow.”

“I don’t know….”

“Better if I go now. I’ll catch the mares, bring them back.”

“Stay away from Blue.”

“Blue won’t hurt me. I know he won’t.”

“Catch Chaco. Bandit will follow. Once they’re back, Blue will show up.” Shimá frowned. “One hour. Be back. With or without the horses.”

I grabbed a halter, stuffed my pockets with sweet oats, and raced down the wash. After a half mile or so, their tracks left the main canyon and veered off into a muddy arroyo. I had gone that way once with Grandma and the sheep. A little farther down was an open area with a wide meadow. Maybe that’s where Blue was taking the mares.

I couldn’t see them, but I could hear them calling to one another. I wasn’t sure which way to go, so I ran to the top of a low dune. There they were.

Blue was shiny with sweat, running around the other two, prancing, head bobbing, tail held high. Darting one way, then the other, he never stopped moving. He kept prancing around Bandit, nipping her rump, nickering, calling to her.

She began to return his dance.

Bandit high-stepped in circles with her tail arched. Bobbing her head, she answered, snorting and neighing an unmistakable reply.

Blue neighed too. They touched noses, sniffed. Backed away, tails swishing, heads held high. Blue trumpeted. His entire throat vibrated. His body quivered.

Around and around he circled, ever closer, kicking up grit and dust.

Bandit pranced back, head raised, and screamed in a high, excited voice.

Their heads bobbed, and their eyes were wide and fixed on each other. The rhythm of their movements quickened until suddenly Bandit stopped. She stood statue still, panting, her back legs planted, slightly parted. Blue circled behind. I couldn’t look away. I had watched plenty of livestock mate: sheep, goats, and cattle too. But it was never like this. This was powerful. Beautiful.

When they were finished, Bandit slipped from underneath Blue. Tail down, she walked over closer to Chaco and began grazing.

Blue trotted to the top of a nearby ledge and turned to look at me.

He watched as I approached, holding out a handful of sweet oats, calling his name. He hesitated, still looking at me. Suddenly he spun around and took off.

Blue was gone.