Maggie Cartwright: Book 1 Bad Choices

Earning Tulsa's Trust

We got back to ranch and I tied Buck up as Joe wrestled Tulsa into the paddock. I climbed onto the fence as Joe tied her to the fence to tack her up. She tossed her head and tried rearing up on her hind legs, but Joe had a halter on her and pulled down on her head with all his might.

"Hold her Joe!" I shouted with glee. She stomped on Joe's foot, then side passed into the fence. Joe's faced twisted in pain. I climbed over into the fence, slowly nearing Joe and Tulsa. She calmed down some, but she still had her wild look in her eye. I turned to see Pa and Adam driving the team around the barn.

"Howdy Maggie, Joe." Pa nodded. He eyes Tulsa down.

"Shoulda figured you'd choose that mare." Adam chuckled.

"She already pawed my foot." Joe huffed as he limped over to where I was.

"If we can't handle her, Mag, you're gonna have to choose another horse." Pa spoke with sympathy.

"But pa! Look at her!" I pleased.

"Temper and safety always comes before a beautiful horse." Pa stated.

"Yea, I guess so." I sighed.

"We haven't even thrown a saddle on her yet. Be patient Maggie. She might be a good horse." Joe said, cheering me up.

"Can we work her with saddle today?" I asked.

"No. Today is gonna be about you and her bonding. When she has enough trust where you can run you're hand from her neck, to her rump, then we can work her in saddle. Training a horse, especially a horse that is going to be yours till the day she dies, it's gonna take time." Joe nodded.

"Yea, I understand." I said, looking back at Tulsa.

"What's her name?" Pa asked.

"Tulsa." I grinned.

"It fits her!" Adam nodded.

"Yea, it does." I chuckled.

"She is also you're responsibility. You're responsible for her having water, feed and care. She is going to become a part of you're daily chores." Joe added.

"Okay. I'll take good care of her. Don't worry Joe." I nodded quickly. Joe limped out of the paddock, standing beside Pa. I slowly approached the mare, who tossed her head in disapproval. She lurched forward, and before I could move, her hind end swerved into me. I let out a scream as I was tripped under her hooves.

"MAGGIE!" Joe yelled, quickly coming back into the paddock. He cut the rope that held Tulsa to the fence and hit her rump with it. She quickly leaped and ran over the opposite end of the paddock.

"Maggie, Maggie look at me!" Joe knelt down, cradling me in his arms.

"Ow. Everything hurts." I clenched my fist to keep from crying. Joe quickly helped me up. He put my arm round his neck, resting his left arm under my shoulders.

"I outta shoot that horse!" Pa said, raising his voice.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Please don't hurt her. I rushed into it. Please don't hurt her." I begged, tears starting to well in my eyes. Pa looked at me for several seconds, then sighed.

"Fine." He spat. Joe helped me into the house.

"I thought you're foot hurt." I let out a chuckle.

"Eh, not anymore." Joe chuckled as he let me rest on the couch. I laid my head against the back of the couch, letting out a sigh.

"It's gonna happen Maggie. Almost every rider gets trampled by a horse. It's gonna happen. It just happened for you at the worst time, with Pa there. That's all." Joe said, trying to comfort me.