The morning sunlight coming through the stall window woke me up. I stretched and rubbed my eyes as I looked over my horse. Still sleeping, she gently cocked her ears. Rubbing her neck I gently checked her shoulder. Clean. Smiling to myself I get up and walked out of the stall and onto checking the other horses.
Grabbing fresh hay I refilled all the horses feed and poured fresh water. After all the necessary chores I opened the barn doors to let in some fresh air. The day was beautiful.
“What should I do now?” I smiled to myself.
Looking towards Carter’s house I immediately remembered what he had said. Looking down at myself I grunted in disgust and looked towards Uncle Joe’s house. I ran until I reached the porch steps.
“Where did I leave the key?” I yelled at myself as I searched my pockets.
Happily I pulled the key out of my back pocket and pushed it into the lock. The door creaked open and a gush of cold damp wind tickled my face.
“Doesn’t he have a heater somewhere?” I asked in frustration to the cold.
I walked in and ran to the guest bedroom where my clothes were, all the while rubbing my arms to keep them warm. Reaching the last door in the hallway which was my room I pushed the door open to find all of Uncle Joe’s four blood-hounds upon my bed.
“Get off! This is my bed not yours!” I yelled as I pushed them generously off.
They slid as easily as butter and ran off somewhere in the house only leaving behind the distant jingling noise of their collars. I dusted off the best and went to work on my wardrobe. I picked through my clothes and found a clean black t-shirt and a pair of jeans. My shoes were dirty and smelled foul so I traded them for my cowboy boots. Looking in the mirror I saw that my hair was a mess so I slicked it back into a neat pony tail.
Seeing that I was ready to go I quickly washed my face and ran back towards the barn where I found one of the hound puppies smelling the fresh hay.
“Whoa little guy don’t mark your business there.” I say as I picked the pup up and set it on the ground near the door.
Yapping happily it wandered off outside and sighing with relief I went to my horse’s stall. Finding her in good health I changed her bandages and wiped her wound clean. She didn’t flinch when I patted her neck and I took that as a sign of healing. Looking at her head I figured it was time to coax her up and get her walking again.
“C’mon beauty! Let’s get you up and give you your munchies!” I whispered in her ears gently patting her head.
Tenderly I pushed my hands underneath her belly and started lifting her up carefully. Tired from the weight I figured Carter ought to help me out so standing I went to go call his house.
I dialed his number and waited and three rings sounded then on the fourth he picked up.
“Hello?” He sounded tired and somewhat annoyed.
“Carter, it’s me Adele, can you come over please? I need your help.”
“Sure, but not right now I’m helping Papa tame a bronco. Call me later in the after noon maybe I’ll be free.” He said.
“Alright, but what would you suggest for coaxing a horse to stand up?”
“Standing up? Don’t tell me you’re trying to get Diablita to stand? You know what I’ll be right there. That seems more important than getting my back kicked.” He chuckled to himself.
“Okay, but hurry I think it’ll take the whole day if not then some hours to get her up.”
“Alright I’m on my way. Bye.”
“Bye” I hung up and quickly went back to my horse.
I soothed her achingly red wound and sang her a lullaby:

In the mountains far and wide
Their spirits held with loathsome pride
Far they gather distance spread
The gallant manes and feet ahead
Pounding lofty and pounding strong
They reach their site and gather round
For the horses of the mountains
Their home so ever sweet
They gather round and ever soundly sleep.

She lifts her head at the sound of my voice and snorts softly. Just then something strikes me and a name pops in my head.
“You know something girl? You’re very beautiful; it’s almost like a sin. I think I know what to name you.” I say and wipe off dirt from her golden brown neck. I stand up and look down at her.
“Hello, Devil’s Beauty.” I smile to myself and carefully walk out of the stall and find the name plate on the door.
The name before had been Black Jack. I saw it was marked with a pencil so spitting on it I erased the name and went into the tack room to find a marker. Looking under the oils and polish I found a charcoal pencil and used it instead. Walking back to the stall door I wrote neatly on the name plate: “Devil’s Beauty” then I stood back and admired my creativity.
Devil’s Beauty fit her perfectly seeing as her golden brown coat and black mane made her a precious animal and her hazel-brown eyes made her magnificent. My smile broadened when she swished her head trying to shoo away the flies almost lifting her neck off the bedding a full two feet.
“You’re on your way Devil’s Beauty! Just a little more!” I exclaim.
I hear horse hooves clomping down the cobbled path to the barn and wonder who that must be. I quickly run toward the barn door and spy through the crack. Carter! He finally came and right on time too seeing as Devil’s Beauty was ready to get to work.

“C’mon, Carter! She’s already trying to get up.” I exaggerated to make him walk faster.

“Ya voy! No me apures! I’m coming don’t worry, Adele.” He said hauling his horse behind him.

“Okay. Guess what?” I asked as I helped him put Grey into one of the empty stalls.

“What?”

“I named my horse. Want to know her name?”

“Si por favor. Yes please.” He replied.

“Her name is Devil’s Beauty.” I informed him with a smile.

“That’s a pretty name. How’d you come up with it? El Diablo’s Hermosa, that’s pretty cool.” He smiled back as he walked toward her stall.

We both looked at her as she swished her tail to and fro trying to swat flies. Sensing our presence she raised her head and neighed hello. I laughed and soon Carter started laughing too.

“She looks pretty good.” Carter acknowledges.

“Yeah, I can’t wait for her to get up. That way I can start riding her.”

I walk into the stall and brush her mane away from her eyes. She breathes heavily and softly snorts into the straw bed. I pat her neck and look at Carter.

“What do we start with?” I ask.

“First we need to lure her up, maybe with some carrots or treats.”

“Last time I checked there were carrots and some salt blocks in the feed room. Can you go get some?”

“Yes, I’ll be right back.”

As I watch Carter go I realize I had been absentmindedly stroking Beauty’s forearm and that caused her to close her eyes. I smile and whistle to get her attention, and then I dig my hands underneath her and gently push upwards. She thrusts her legs and in no time she’s halfway up but not completely. I sigh and wipe sweat from my brow as I get up and dust my jeans.

“Here are the carrots, Adele!” Carter exclaims while he walks into the stall.

“Thanks. I think she can get up without them. All we need to do is help her.”

“You already tried it?”

“Yes.”

He nods his head and says, “Ok then lets get to work!”

“Alright.”

He instructs me to take command of her head area while he gets the rear. Once we’re in our place we both count to three and push her upwards. She neighs and shudders at the impact.

We only succeed in raising her into a sitting position when Carter comes to my sides and says, “Ok help me push her up from the rear but grab a halter and slip it on her head, ok? Then keep grab of the rope to help urge her.”

“Aye-aye Captain!” I respond as I find a halter by the door.

Once the halter is on and the rope attached I slide into place by Carter and once he counts to three we push together and I pull hard on the rope. Sweat dripping down from my face I blink away dirt and exhale deeply the smell of horse. Carter does the same and on the count of three we push again and this time Devil’s Beauty comes to stand. Smiling I wipe away the drizzle on my face.

“We did it!” I exclaim as I watch her settle herself to where she can drink her water.

“Yes, we did.” Carter sighs.

As I look over at his face he catches me staring so he smiles and grabs my arm pulling me out of the stall. Curious I open my mouth to speak but he shushes me and gestures to stay quiet but follow him. I obey and soon he leads me out towards one of the big pastures that have been over run by weeds. We keep walking until he stops in front of a rose bush and peeks inside. After several minutes he looks at me and gestures to come look.

I bend over and peek. What I see amazes me. A bird’s nest in the midst of many thorns carries four baby birds. I watch them and smile as they rest their little heads on each other for warmth.

“How long have you known they were here?” I ask whispering.

“I barely found out today. I heard them screaming for their mom when I got to the ranch so I came to check it out.” He said looking at my amused face and chuckling to himself.

I gently touch their tiny heads and feel soft fluffy feathers beginning to grow. Awed I step back quietly not to awaken them in case their mom comes back to watch over them. I walk away slowly and Carter follows close behind.

“I am really tired what about you?” I yawn.

“Just a little. I want to stay outside.” He looks up toward the sun and the light reflects off his hazel brown eyes.

A feeling like I’m falling overcomes me and I realize something big. I’m in love with Carter!