Dreams

The ground shook from the thunder of drumming hooves.

Wind whipped his long, thick mane back into Keeley's face, getting into her eyes. Her own long tangled hair streamed behind her, the wind from the speed of their passage creating more snarls in her curls. Keeley threw herself into the moment completely- sitting up tall, throwing her arms wide, embracing the wild feel of the horse under her.

Bareback, with her jean clad legs wrapped around her mounts barrel, Keeley could feel every stride, every breath and the sheer power contained in the massive horse. She knew with out a doubt he would not falter, nor would he tire. The big gray covered ground effortlessly, carrying them with a sureness that few can master.

Tears streamed from Keeley's eyes, and laughter bubbled up in her chest. The feeling of freedom was one she relished, and she knew the big horse was feeling the same.

The big horse slowed, nostrils flaring. Keeley took this chance to breathe deep herself, knowing that as soon as he caught his wind, he would be off like a rocket once again. In the far distance, a soft noise caught her attention. She tried to push it away, focusing instead on the majesty of her mount, feeling his ribs rise and fall, tangling her hands into his thick mane hoping if she clung to the horse tight enough she could stay right where she was.

The noise grew from a quiet yet persistent interruption to a loud, abrasive, nagging, nerve jangling dose of reality. A quiet sob escaped her, as reality once again set in. There was no run across an endless plain. No majestic horse to carry her far and away from her lonely reality. No smell of horse sweat, no life between her knees.

She reached a long arm over the side of the bed, once again exhausted from a night of restless tossing and turning, and swatted the offending alarm clock. "Rotten bloody bastard. I ought to just chuck you right out the blasted window," Keeley snarled.

Keeley knew the day had begun, and soon her phone would be ringing. She dragged a hand across her eyes, wiping away the tears and remaining bits from her dream. She took a deep breath and dragged herself to the edge of her bed. A yawn escaped her, as she fumbled with her jeans and tank top, and struggled to remember where she'd kicked off her boots. The happy DING from the kitchen let her know her coffee was ready. "Thank you God for Mr. Coffee. Sweet nectar of life awaits me...." The sarcasm dripped heavily into the room.


The empty barns and paddocks that she would have to face on her way to tend her ailing and elderly father would hit her heart and bring fresh pain, as it did every morning. The apartment she now lived in, situated over what was once the broodmare barn, still clung to a faint scent of horse, hay and shavings. Every time she walked out her door she expected to see faces from the past peering at her from over stall doors. Instead she was greeted by Bad Ass, the lone remaining barn cat. Too old now to do much more than sunbathe and purr, Bad Ass still made his way to greet Keeley every morning.

"Morning you raggedy old wretch. All quiet on the western front so far?"
Bad Ass looked adoringly up at Keeley, knowing his breakfast was soon coming, and he let out a rusty deep purr as he blinked his dark emerald green eyes at her. Twenty pounds of solid black muscle, Bad Ass had lived up to his name in years past and his body showed it. Scars marred his ears, his tail was crooked, and lumps and bumps covered his ribcage. His time of scrapping had passed- now he preferred to soak up the sun and tag along after Keeley, watching over her.

Keeley's cell phone, clipped at her waist, chirped to life. She sighed, knowing that the first round of ritual phone calls had begun. She was tempted to ignore the persistent buzz, but she knew that it would only upset her father more if she did. Sending him into a tizzy first thing in the morning was something to be avoided for sure.

"Morning Dad- I'm on my way. Just let me feed Bad Ass and I'll be right with you."

"Keeley Rosaleen Shannon Cullen! You've got to get here now! She's at it again! That damn harpy! She's gone and stole all my horses right out from under me, and I'll not have it!" Keeley's father barked in her ear.

Keeley gave a heavy sigh. From all appearances, today was going to be a hard day. "Dad," she said in her most soothing voice, "I'm coming. I'll be right there. Breathe deep Dad, and we'll sort this mess out."

"Well, you'd best get a move on, girl. The longer we wait, the harder it'll be to get my horses back from that miserable thieving harpy." With that he slammed down the phone.

She passed a hand over Bad Ass's knobby body, and felt his purr come to life. "Got to go old cat. The Master beckons. Now you stay your crabby old butt out of trouble today, understand?" Bad Ass barely blinked at her as he contemplated his breakfast, his long crooked tail wagging with happiness.

As Keeley made her way to her father's door, she couldn't help but wonder about the horse in her dream. Night after night, for weeks now, that same horse had been haunting her. Pondering what it might mean, Keeley was caught off guard by what surely sounded like the snort of an impatient horse at her shoulder.


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