Desert Song (Horse Guardian) Read online

  Sophie’s eyes stung as the tears flowed. There was no point in trying to run. There was no way she could run from what she knew to be true. If she was to do the right thing, she would have to return Aria. The mare belonged with Kalene and Joel. And so did all her future foals.

  I might as well face it, I’m just not good enough for them, Sophie thought as she looked toward the distant mountains. They would have found that out sooner or later anyway. Maybe it’s better for them to send me away now, before I start to love them too much.

  Slowly, she climbed to her feet and walked toward the mouth of the main canyon. But it’s too late for that. Much too late. I already do.

  The mountain lion couldn’t sleep. He laid his head on his forepaws, flexing his muscles and twitching his tail. His power was returning, his strength building in fierce, unrelenting waves, fed by his hatred and revulsion of the Bright Creature. He kept seeing the creature in his mind. It hadn’t looked strong physically, and he wondered now if it was. Maybe the only thing powerful about it was its light, its goodness. And there had only been that one flash of light. Once its light went forth, was the Bright Creature without power for a time? And if it was, for how long? Long enough for his teeth to sink into its neck? Long enough for him to taste its blood? The lion growled and stared into the darkness of the crevice.

  Did it have any other powers? Powers like his own? Like his strongest ally: hatred? If not, it was limited. If it didn’t hate, if it was only concerned with good and right, he would have an advantage. It wouldn’t understand the depths of his consuming desire to see it dead. It wouldn’t know the lengths to which he would go to kill it.

  But most of all, if the Bright Creature was only concerned with good, it wouldn’t be concentrating on hurting him. It would only be concerned with protecting the others. In that would be his biggest advantage. The Bright Creature wouldn’t know that he didn’t care about killing the others. It would make the mistake of trying to protect them. It might even want to sacrifice itself for them and in doing that, would fall right into the lion’s trap. He could kill the others afterward, at his leisure, if he wanted. If killing the Bright Creature wasn’t satisfying enough for him.

  The mountain lion knew the Bright Creature would be ready for him tonight. But would it expect him during the day? Rising from his rocky bed in the crevice, he skulked toward the sunlit ledge. He could wait no more. The opportunity was now. The attack would be a surprise.

  The greatest hunt of his life had begun. He would bring down the Bright Creature if it was the last thing he ever did.

  Now that she knew what she had to do, Sophie was determined to carry out her decision. She swallowed her despair as best she could and walked resolutely toward the canyon, striding forward in an effort to look and feel confident. She would do the right thing: she would return Aria. She would make sure the mare was safe, and that the foal was born and brought up in a good home. She would free Angelica from her obligation to protect the mare so she could go to other horses that needed help. Then she would confess everything to Kalene and Joel. No matter what, no matter how much it hurt, she would do the right thing. She wouldn’t burden them with a daughter like her. She would tell them how horrible she really was.

  And then I want to forget about Aria and Sky and Angelica and Melody, she thought. I want to forget about the magical night that was followed by the perfect morning. I have to forget them all, especially Kalene and Joel, or I’ll go crazy.

  When she finally walked into the main canyon, she felt as if the weight of all that stone was heaped on her thin shoulders. She stumbled on a loose rock and automatically tried to save herself with her arms as she fell forward, but the cast didn’t allow her right arm to extend and she landed heavily on her side.

  “Stupid cast,” she said, tears catching at her voice as she pushed her body from the ground and stood. “I’m sure the doctors were wrong. There’s no way my arm is broken.” She turned her left palm upward to inspect it. It was dusty and scraped. A bit of blood oozed from one of the marks.

  “I’ll ask Angelica to cut the cast off with my knife,” she thought aloud. “Joel and Kalene probably won’t even notice it’s gone after I tell them about Aria.”

  Within a few minutes, Sophie was walking into Aria’s canyon. When she reached the willow thicket, she slowed her step and trailed her hand along the willow twigs that lined the trail. Too soon she was at the gate. She stopped and took a deep breath.

  Just get it over with, she commanded herself, ducking down to slip through the hole. She stood on the other side and looked around for Aria and Angelica.

  But what she saw in the middle of the enclosure made her forget everything else. She didn’t hear the distant roll of thunder, rumbling through the mountains, louder and deeper than before. She didn’t notice that all birdsong was quiet. Standing close to Aria’s side was the most perfect foal Sophie had seen in her life. The foal’s head and legs were almost black, while the rest of her body was a deep, blue roan. The only white on her body was a thin streak that ran down her nose and ended in a dot, just like an exclamation mark. The foal was looking at Sophie with her finely etched head held high. Her neck and legs were long and her back was short. Her croup was almost tabletop flat, just like Aria’s, and her short, soft baby tail was held high. Even Sophie, who had only been around horses for a year, could tell the filly was exceptional.

  A high-pitched baby neigh floated toward her. “Hello Melody,” she said in a singsong voice. When the filly neighed back to her, Sophie laughed incredulously. The filly was talking to her.

  “Is she not wonderful?” Angelica asked from the side.

  Sophie turned to look at the golden girl leaning against a rock at the edge of the corral. “She’s incredible!” breathed Sophie and looked back at Melody. “She’s totally amazing!”

  “She is a lot like her dam,” said Angelica. She moved to stand at Sophie’s side. “But she is like her sire, too.”

  “But he looked so rough and shaggy,” said Sophie.

  Angelica laughed, her voice chiming sweet and harmonious like soft bells. She tossed her hair back. “He is a Spanish Mustang. Have you ever seen an Andalusian horse?” she asked.

  “Yes,” said Sophie. “On TV.”

  “Both the Spanish Mustang and the Andalusian are from the same stock,” explained Angelica. “If Sky was pampered and groomed and fed grain, he would look more impressive than many domestic horses.”

  “And he’s Melody’s sire,” said Sophie in awe. “I’m glad.”

  “Come and meet her,” offered Angelica.

  “Will she let me come near her? I don’t want to scare her,” said Sophie, hanging back though her feet ached to carry her to the foal. “Aren’t foals frightened of strangers?”

  “I told Melody you would be here soon,” said Angelica. “She has been looking forward to meeting you.”

  . Sophie held her hand out in front of her as she drew nearer to the filly and her eyes searched for any sign of fear, but there was none. Instead, when they were close enough, Melody reached toward her, nostrils flaring as she inhaled the girl’s scent. Melody’s soft nose felt like warm velvet on Sophie’s fingers as the filly touched her. The tiny muzzle traveled up Sophie’s arm, sniffing, her eyes exploring Sophie’s body.

  Then their eyes fastened onto each other’s. Sophie gasped. She couldn’t help herself. It was as if a thin cord of electricity was connecting them, as if she could understand Melody somehow. It wasn’t like talking. It was much more subtle than that, but the connection was real. Sophie could see there was a something very special about this filly. She blinked and looked deeper into the liquid brown eyes. It's as if I can see her spirit shining, strong and gentle.

  “You’re amazing,” whispered Sophie. “Perfect in every way.” She stroked the filly’s neck with a feather touch. The wavy baby hair under her fingers was soft and sleek and Sophie loved the way the filly’s coat glistened in the sun.

  When Melody whinnied to
her again, this time a soft, squeaky nicker, Sophie smiled. “It’s nice to meet you too, Melody,” she replied. “I’ve been waiting so long! And now that you’re here I can see my plan never would have worked. How could I turn you out to be chased by a crazed mountain lion? And without your dam to take care of you? That would be too hard of a life.” She moved her hand along the filly’s back. “No,” she said quietly. “You belong with Kalene and Joel. I just wish you would belong with me, too.”

  For a moment, Sophie allowed the wonder of Melody to overtake her. What if the filly was hers? What if they could be together forever? Like butterflies of light, the magical thoughts rose and fell and swirled around her.

  “She can belong with you. You are taking her home today,” said Angelica softly at her side and Sophie felt the lovely floating feeling crash to the ground.

  Melody will never belong to me. I might as well face it, she thought. But at least I know the decision I made is the right one. Melody deserves the best and I will give it to her. Taking her home may be the only thing I can ever do for her, but it’ll be the best thing I could ever do.

  “She’s so beautiful,” Sophie said, knowing she was repeating herself. “It’s more than just the way she looks. She’s beautiful in her heart. I know I sound crazy, but...”

  “No,” said Angelica. “You do not sound crazy. There is more to her than her physical beauty. Much, much more.”

  Abruptly, Sophie pulled her fingers from Melody’s side and walked away. Her face burned as she strode toward the canyon wall. She bent for a moment at the pool and splashed the cold water on her face, then glanced back at Angelica, Melody, and Aria. Melody was nursing and Aria stared off into space, contented and relaxed. Only Angelica seemed concerned. Her sad eyes were fixed on Sophie. Sophie wanted to tell her that everything was okay, that she wasn’t having second thoughts about taking Melody home, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to speak. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

  Sophie turned, walked to the far side of the small pool, and stepped into the cool darkness of the crevice. A wooden box was sitting on a natural shelf in the rock. Sophie pulled a knife from the box and walked back to the older girl.

  “Angelica?” she asked in a tightly controlled voice. “Can you cut away my cast?” She held the knife handle toward Angelica.

  Angelica nodded. “There is no need for it anymore,” she said and took the knife into her hand.

  “So you know my arm isn’t broken?” Sophie asked, amazed.

  “Yes, I could tell when my light passed through you to the mountain lion,” said Angelica quietly. “I felt it heal you.”

  “So that’s what happened,” Sophie breathed. “You really are magic.”

  Angelica laughed softly. “No Sophie, I am not magic. I am just different from you. No better and no worse. No stronger or weaker. Just different. My differences are a gift to me, just like your differences are a gift to you. My light allows me to help those I love: the horses – sometimes people.” She lowered her head over Sophie’s cast with the knife in her hand.

  “It must be wonderful, going around helping horses all the time,” said Sophie. She looked over Angelica’s golden head and tried not to tense her muscles.

  “It is wonderful,” said Angelica. “Because it is what I was meant to do. All creatures have a purpose. I found mine when I was given the chance to help horses.”

  Sophie felt the cool air against her right arm and looked down. “How did you do it so fast?” she asked, amazed. “You didn’t have time to cut it off. Hey, you said you weren’t magic.”

  “I am not magic,” laughed Angelica as she pulled the cast away from Sophie’s arm. “Not really. I know it seems that way but that is just because you do not know how some things can be done. Do not feel bad. Most people do not understand many of the forces in this world. Most cannot see the beautiful life they can create.”

  Sophie couldn’t stop staring at Angelica. Slowly she flexed her right arm. How could Angelica have this strange power and then say it wasn’t even magic. What else could it be?

  I don’t care what Angelica says, decided Sophie. She is magic. There’s no other explanation.

  He is here. Suddenly I can feel him, like a black cloud that creeps across the sun. He is watching us, preparing himself to attack.

  Why did he not wait until evening? Could he hate us that much? Is he insane?

  Or both?

  We must go. Now. First I must get Aria and Melody and Sophie away from these bluffs and rocks. There are too many places for him to ambush us from in these canyons. We will be much safer on the desert.

  The mountain lion spotted the Bright Creature below. He was sure it hadn’t seen him or smelled him. He had used all his skill as a hunter in approaching the lip of the canyon and had come from downwind. Yet he could tell it had sensed him. Although it seemed to focus on the others, the human and the two horses, he felt its consciousness searching for him, probing into the shadows, looking behind rocks.

  The lion wasn’t worried. The Bright Creature was searching the wrong side of the canyon. Its consciousness probed the side he had attacked from the night before. By the time it finished searching the far side of the canyon and skipped to the side where he now crouched, he would be gone. He would be lying in ambush, waiting for them to pass beneath.

  Just before he pulled back over the edge of the canyon, the lion looked more closely at the others. He was glad the mare had foaled. Now there were four of them. The lion licked his lips. After he killed the Bright Creature, he would take them all down. One by one. They would not leave the canyons alive.

  “We must go,” said Angelica abruptly. “The mountain lion is here. There is not much time. We must get to the desert.”

  Sophie shook her head. “What? I thought he’d wait until night to attack. I thought we were safe during the day.” She spun around to face the canyon wall Angelica was staring at. “We can’t let anything happen to Aria or Melody. We have to keep them safe.”

  “Yes, and we will. It is time to take them home,” said Angelica. “You ride Aria in front and Melody will follow. I will come last.”

  Sophie ran back to the box and pulled out Aria’s bridle. Within seconds, it was on the mare’s head. Angelica was right. They would be much safer on the desert. On the flat land, they could see the lion coming. Angelica boosted Sophie onto Aria’s back and then she untied the ropes and pulled the gate back. Sophie encouraged Aria to walk through onto the willow-lined path leading down to the main canyon. She could hear the creek bubbling and rushing off to the side. A puzzled look crossed her face. The creek sounded louder than usual. She cast her mind back, trying to recall what the pool had looked like when she had bent over it, but she couldn’t remember if it was muddier than normal. She had been too upset to pay attention to how stirred up the water might be or if it was higher than usual.

  “Does the creek sound louder to you?” she called back to Angelica.

  “Yes,” the older girl replied. “I think it is because there is much rain in the mountains.”

  Suddenly, Sophie remembered the thunder she had heard earlier that morning and the black clouds perched over the mountains like an ominous bird. “I hope the big canyon is safe,” she said to Angelica. “We have to make sure before we go down. It’s one of the major channels out of the mountains and there might be water in it.”

  There was no reply and she looked behind her. Melody was following, close on Aria’s heals, but Angelica had stopped. Her amber eyes were searching the canyon rim. Sophie reined Aria to a halt and watched as Angelica shut her eyes. She stood for a full minute, eyes closed, perfectly still. Then her eyes shot open.

  “He is ahead of us,” she said to Sophie in an urgent whisper. “He waits in the narrowest part of Aria’s canyon, where it meets the larger one. He wants us to pass beneath him.”

  “What do we do?” Sophie whispered back, trying to keep the panic from her voice. There was only one way out and if the lion was guarding it, how would the
y escape? They could take Aria and Melody back to the enclosure, but that wouldn’t be any safer. The lion could easily get close enough to them, under the cover of the willow bushes, to attack. Melody was especially vulnerable. Sophie couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to her.

  “Is there another way out of the canyon?” Angelica asked quietly.

  “I don’t think so,” answered Sophie, wishing she had more to add to the sentence. An alternate plan. Another escape route. She turned Aria around so that she was facing Angelica.

  “Let me think for a minute,” said Angelica.

  All Sophie could see was how effectively the mountain lion had trapped them. She knew there was no way they could get past him. The entrance to Aria’s canyon was narrow and the rocks were high. It would be easy for the predator to wait until they walked beneath him and then leap on one of them. The lion could be immediately fatal to herself or Melody. Aria might be able to shake it off, although Sophie doubted it. The mare was weakened from giving birth and any horse was at a disadvantage against a mountain lion’s teeth and claws. Angelica could not, or would not, hurt the lion. She could possibly frighten it away or maybe throw it from them with her light. Or try to change its mind, try to convince it to leave them alone.

  But it has already made its choice, Sophie realized. It wants to kill us all.

  “What if we run as fast as we can through the opening?” she said, but as soon as the words came out of her mouth, she knew it wouldn’t work. Aria could run fast, but Melody wouldn’t be as quick. Could she outrun a mountain lion? And even if she could, Angelica wouldn’t be able to. “No, we can’t do that,” she said before Angelica could agree. It would be just like her to sacrifice herself to the lion so we could get away, thought Sophie.