Chapter 21

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Stables, Arched Q Ranch

11:43 A.M.

We turned the horses around and headed back at a gallop; the storm had rushed up in a matter of minutes and was almost directly overhead. The blue-purple-gray sky was pouring down rain by the time we reached the barn, complete with thunder, lightning, and wind.

Cord closed the barn up tight against the storm and we unsaddled the horses. They were spooked by the storm, and we soothed them as we wiped them down. Blade’s stall was next to an Appaloosa with a burned-wood sign saying “Oscar” on the stall door. Oscar poked his head out of his stall and gave a huge whinny. Blade answered with a huge whinny of his own, and the two horses tossed their heads at each other, almost making me think they were greeting each other. Tyranny shared a stall with with Collin, another Paint, and both whinnied with delight, shaking their heads. Two more Paints were in a third stall. Cord told me they were twins, Jack and Jill.