The Hellion

The Hellion

By

GiAnna Moratelli

COPYRIGHT 2016

GiAnna Moratelli

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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Chapter One

Roxanne looked at the young sorrel colt standing in the stall with his head hanging down. He had small ears that were perked up and alert, a forelock that covered a straight small white mark in the middle of his forehead. As she stepped toward the stall he jerked his head up as he snorted.

Whatcha doin’ girl? a man dressed in coveralls asked as he walked into the aisle of the barn.

Just looking, she replied and pushed her long brown locks of hair behind her shoulder, How old is he?

Eighteen months? he replied and motioned to the horse.

He gelded?

Yeap. You lookin’ to buy a horse?

I’m looking.

Better look at somethin’ older than that.

He’s a good-looking horse and he’s pretty. Mr. Rooker says he’s for sale.

The man nodded, Yeah, I guess he is.

Why?

We have too many horses and Rooker doesn’t think he’s big enough. But if he were any good, he wouldn’t be getting’ rid of him.

Roxanne looked at the colt, How big is he?

Oh, I’d say around fourteen-two.

He’ll grow a few more inches.

The man nodded, You’ll get hurt with a horse like this girl. You’d be better off to go talk to Carol Hinshaw. She has a nice little mare that isn’t working out for her that she’d let go to a good home for a decent price.

Roxanne nodded. She knew the Hinshaws, they were wheeler-dealers in their own right. They never sold a cheap horse, even if it had three feet in the grave. She glanced after the man as he left then she looked at the colt in the stall, watching as he snorted, squealed then whirled around in the small stall and kicked the front of it, splitting the board. He acted like he was a lot of horse, but all that energy stored up in that stall, that would change if he could get out and run it off. She could handle him, she was sure of it. Although she was only seventeen, Roxanne had trained a lot of horses to drive and ride. Neighbors brought her ponies to break out for their kids, giving her a little money, which she’d kept to buy a nice young horse, unlike the others she had. And this was the horse. This red colt was the horse she wanted.

Good morning, Miss Mohr, a small man greeted as he entered the barn with a water hose.

Morning, Mr. Rooker.

Excuse me. He opened the stall door, Get back you son of a bitch. He waved at the horse so he’d move then he filled the water bucket beside the door.

You’re still selling him? Roxanne asked.

Rooker nodded, Yeah, he’s for sale. I have way too many horses to deal with to mess with this one, he said as he turned off the water hose.

How much do you want for him?

Rooker looked at her as he closed the stall door, You don’t want a horse like him, Rox. You want something a little older that you can do things with.

He’s really a nice colt.

Yeah, he is but, Rooker dumped a can of grain into a separate bucket, he’ll hurt you bad if you’re not careful.

I’ve broke a lot of horses.

I know you have. Rooker latched the door of the stall, But he hasn’t been handled much and he’s already over a year.

Roxanne smiled, Then no one’s had a chance to ruin him.

Rooker nodded, You got that right. He leaned against the side of the stall. What’s your parents say about you buying another horse?

They don’t care. I’ve saved my money; they know I’m looking for a younger horse.

These damn horses will break you financially, you know that don’t you?

I go to college maybe I can sell them and make some money.

Rooker laughed, Not the way they’re selling these days. He walked over and picked up a flake of hay, I know you’re good with horses, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable selling you this one.

Why not? Roxanne said bluntly.

Because, he tossed the hay into the stall, if you got hurt I’d feel responsible for it, selling him to ya.

Roxanne frowned, I’m not going to get hurt. How much do you want for him?

Rooker shook his head, Five hundred. How much do you have?

Four hundred.

Well then you don’t have enough money do ya?

Roxanne swallowed, I guess not.

Carol Hinshaw has a nice mare, I’m sure she’d sell you.

Not for four-hundred dollars.

Rooker laughed, No, probably not. Good horses aren’t cheap.

I know, Roxanne stated. She turned and walked out of the barn. If she could come up with a hundred dollars more she could get this colt. How was she going to come up with a hundred bucks? She’d been paid by everyone who owed her for breaking their horses and ponies. Somehow she had to get this colt he was just what she’d been looking for.

Walking up the driveway, Roxanne tripped, almost falling. She looked back to see what she’d almost fell over, Damn, Robbie.

What are you blaming your brother for?

Roxanne looked across the driveway where her dad, Mark was working on an old pickup, Robbie lost a piece off his dirt bike.

Mark walked over and picked up the piece of metal, looking at it, No it isn’t, that’s what I’ve been looking for.

What is it?

It’s a brace for my truck exhaust, Mark replied. Where have you been? You have chores to do you know.

At the fairgrounds.

What’s going on there? Mark asked as they walked over to the pickup.

Dwight Rooker has a horse for sale.

So.

I’d like to buy him, he’s a good-looking young horse.

Don’t you think you have enough horses? Mark asked as he laid the piece on the lid of the air filter, Why do you need another one?

I really like him.

Knowing Rooker he isn’t cheap. How much does he want for him?

Five hundred.

That’s a lot of money for a horse these days, especially when people are giving them away cause they aren’t worth anything.

Yeah, but he’s a nice horse.

Not any nicer than anything you don’t have out there is he?

I know, but he’s young -.

How young?

Eighteen months.

Well, Mark looked under the hood of the pickup, if you want him that bad then you can sell one of your other nags can’t ya?

Roxanne nodded, Yeah, I guess I can.

Don’t sell the one your sister rides.

Which one’s that?

Hell I don’t know.

Roxanne thought as she walked to the house, trying to figure out which horse would be best to let go of. Rae Anne liked to ride Brandie and Toby she thought as she went up the steps to the porch.

A tall, teenage boy came out wearing sweats and tennis shoes, Watch where you’re goin’, Rox.

I am. Where are you going, Rob?

I got practice. Don’t have time to drive me to the gym do you?

Joey isn’t picking you up?

Robbie shook his head, He has to drop his sister off at a friend of hers.

Yeah, let me grab the keys and my phone.

A woman with short hair, sitting at a computer looked up as the door slammed, Don’t slam the door! Where are you going in such a hurry?

I’m taking, Robbie to basketball practice.

Well when you’re in town pick up a gallon of milk and some bread, and take your sister with you.

Roxanne frowned as she hurried into her bedroom. Where is she? she asked as she grabbed her phone from her dresser.

I don’t know. She was out feeding the dog the last I knew.

Roxanne looked on a small table sitting by the door, Where’s the keys?

In my purse.

Roxanne retrieved her mother’s purse from the bedroom and gave it her, looking out the window for her sister she saw a Golden Retriever out in the pasture, I see Chance, but I don’t see, Rae Anne.

She’s out there. Wendy handed her daughter the car key and some money, Get whole milk, your dad likes whole milk and light bread. Should I tell your sister or are you going to remember?

I’ll remember, Roxanne replied as she took the key and money, We won’t be long.

About time! Robbie exclaimed as Roxanne came out of the house.

Where’s, Rae Anne?

I don’t know, why?

Because we have to take her.

God, Robbie rolled his eyes, I’m gonna be late.

Rae Anne, come on! Roxanne yelled and waved at her young sister as she walked to an older Dodge Charger.

A young girl with yellow pony-tails ran up to the car, Where are we going?

I gotta go to practice, Robbie said.

Mark watched as his kids all piled into the car, I just put fuel in that car so don’t be running all over with it!

We won’t, Robbie said getting into the passenger’s side.

Roxanne put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway out onto the gravel road. She noticed her brother looking at his phone, You won’t be that late.

I will if you don’t hurry up.

We have an accident and we’ll never get the car again, Roxanne said. She sniffed the air.

Something stinks, Robbie stated.

It smells like shit, Roxanne added.

I stepped in the dog shit, Rae Anne announced.

And you didn’t scrape it off? Robbie asked as he rolled down the window.

I tried too, but I couldn’t get it all off, Rae Anne exclaimed.

When we get to the school, try and get it off, Roxanne said, And don’t let it get off your feet into the car.

Roxanne pulled up to the school and parked beside a red Mustang. Robbie jumped out. I need to pick you up? she called out after him.

No, Joey’ll give me a ride home! he yelled as he ran up to the door of the building.

Roxanne took her phone from the console of the car.

Aren’t we going? Rae Anne asked.

Did you get that dog shit off your shoes? Roxanne asked as she pushed the button of her phone.

Not yet.

Well get off. Hi, Charlie, this is Roxanne Mohr… I was wondering if you think Patty’s still interested in, Ruby..? Yeah, I’ve decided to sell her… Well I’m at the school right now and I have to pick up bread and milk for mom, I should be back home in an hour… Okay! I’ll see you then. She looked at her sister’s shoes as she got in the front seat, Did you get that off your shoes?

Yeah, I think I got it off. Why are you going to sell, Ruby?

I’m going to use the money to buy a younger horse, Roxanne replied as she put the car in drive.

What am I going to ride?

You don’t ride, Ruby.

Yes I do!

No you don’t. You either ride Brandie or Toby.

Then what are you going to ride, Pat?

No, I’m going to be riding new horse.

Is it a mare or gelding?

Gelding.

Oh. I like mares better. But can I ride him?

No, Roxanne shook her head, He isn’t broke yet.

How old is he?

He’s only a year and a half.

Rae Anne frowned, He’s too young to ride.

No he isn’t.

How big is he?

I don’t know for sure but I suppose he’s fourteen-two, but he’ll grow a few more inches.

What color is he?

He’s sorrel.

You mean he’s red?

Yeah, he’s red. I don’t think you got that dog shit off your shoes.

Rae Anne looked at her feet, Best I could.

Yeah, well they still stink. You’ll have to wash your shoes when you get home. You can’t wear those things to school smelling like that.

Charlie McDowell, a tall man in his forties with red hair looked at the small brown mare, How much do you want for her?

A hundred dollars, Roxanne replied looking at a eight-year-old girl with red hair standing beside him. She looked just like her dad.

I don’t know, Charlie shook his head. He looked in the mare’s mouth.

She’s only twelve, Roxanne said, She has a lot of years left in her.

Has she ever been bred?

Roxanne shrugged, Not since I’ve had her, and that’s been four years.