The Importance of Horses in the Old West: A Pair of Western Romances

By Doreen Milstead

Starbright -- On her usual morning ride, a young woman finds an injured young man by the riverbank, & with the help of her father, takes him back to her home on the prairie. Little Star -- The Battle of Valverde Crossing took place on February 20-21, 1862, along the banks of the Rio Grande River in the New Mexico Territory. The Confederate States listed their losses as 36 killed & 160 wounded ... & one missing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Hart
• Release date: Apr 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463738450

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The Importance of Horses in the Old West: A Pair of Western Romances

by

Doreen Milstead

Copyright 2020 Susan Hart

Table of Contents

Starbright

Little Star

Starbright

Synopsis: On her usual morning ride, a young woman finds an injured young man by the riverbank, & with the help of her father, takes him back to her home on the prairie.

As she wiped the last of the water from the dishes and put them back on the shelf, Rebecca glanced at her mother, the plea in her eyes causing the older lady to chuckle quietly. Alright, Becca, you've done well this morning. Enough work for now, go say hello to Star. Smiling at the girl's retreating figure, she raised her voice and called Be back by noon, mind, we've got a lot to do this afternoon.

Receiving the girl's acknowledging wave, the aging mother returned to her work basket in the sitting room, sighing to herself. Rebecca. Whatever shall I do with you? she muttered quietly Eighteen years old and still bouncing around like a cricket. I don't remember the older ones acting like this. Of course, I don't think your papa spoiled them so much, either. Ah, but you've a good heart and soul, you'll turn out alright, God willing.

With a gentle sigh and an inward smile, the good lady pulled another worn stocking from the pile of mending. She worked that morning as she had for decades, needle flashing in the morning sunshine as she hemmed and patched and mended her family's clothing. The room, thanks to her flighty daughter's morning chores, was clean and peaceful, and the good mother was content.

Relishing the freedom that a morning's hard work had bought her, Rebecca raced for the stables, eager to see her best friend, Starbright. The roan mare heard her coming and hung her head over the half door of the stall, the white blaze on her forehead seeming to glow in the dim light of the stables. Rebecca stroked the mare's head, leading her to the cross ties and fetching her saddle and bridle from the nearby stand. By the time the tack was fixed in place girl and horse were both nearly prancing with eagerness, more than ready for their daily romp through the fields to their secret trails in the wooded hills.

With practiced ease, Becca leapt into the saddle and trotted out from the stables, coaxing Star into a speedy trot as soon as they were clear of the low wooden building. The east Texas day was bright and clear, the fields and distant woodlands gleaming emerald after the previous days rain. Rebecca and Starbright raced along the narrow paths between crops, not slowing until they reached the edge of the woods. As they entered the shade of the first trees, they slowed to a gentle stroll, enjoying the play of sunlight on leaves and the myriad small noises of the springtime woodlands.

Approaching the first fork in the trail, Rebecca found herself drifting to the right, though she typically stayed to the left during rainy season. She gave Star a gentle tug to get her back on course, but the previously docile animal refused to turn. Not the best way to go after a rain, old girl, you know the ground is slick that way. Come on now, we'll check it out after it dries out.

Still the mare was unwilling to cooperate; and after a brief hesitation Rebecca gave in to curiosity and gave the horse her head. Alright then, have your own way, but slowly, my lady, slowly. As the steady creature picked her way uphill, Rebecca felt a rising sense of anticipation.

At the top of the hill way her favorite lookout spot on the whole farm, a view she rarely saw this time of year due to the slippery footing. It was anything but wise, really, allowing the horse to head this way, but Star was a sure-footed animal and their mutual curiosity served as a damper to their sensibility. Rounding the final turn, Becca found the entire farm laid out at her feet in a dazzling display of springtime colors.

Looking to the east, she could make out the regimented lines of the village streets and, just a smudge but still visible, the peak of their beautiful church. Gazing at the beloved whitewashed building, she pulled a small blue book from her pocket and sat on her favorite stump to read. Deciding that such a glorious day merited rejoicing, she turned first to Psalms. But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

She read aloud, and paused, letting joy and contentment fill her before turning to continue. In that brief pause, her focus was broken by an odd groaning sound which seemed to be coming from the nearby creek. Picturing an injured animal, she leapt to her feet and hastened to see if she could help. Pushing through the weeds and brush which choked the creek banks every spring, Becca finally came across the source of the moaning. Not an animal after all, but a man; strongly built, from what she could tell as he lay in the creek mud.

Taking another tentative step forward the reason for the moaning became apparent for his face was awash with blood from a nasty cut on his forehead, and he appeared to be unconscious. The sight of his injuries galvanized Rebecca into action and she dove forward to roll him out of the cold water as she looked for more wounds. She found none, which was a relief, but the man would not wake. She would have to go for help. Standing to return to Star, she spied her father in the valley below leading a strange horse toward the stables.

Putting aside manners for the sake of expedience, she hollered Papa! Papa! and when he finally spotted her, she shouts somewhat wildly, Papa! I need your help! Without hesitation, he wheeled his horse around and headed for the woods trail at a gallop, not even bothering to drop off the strange horse he had tied to his saddle horn. Within minutes she heard him bring his gelding to