The hills were green with the long tall prairie grass dancing as the wind blew it side to side.  The mare a beautiful chestnut had climbed the hill farthest from the main heard.  She had to see what was there that the one who led the herd and warned all to stay away from.  He told them all of danger that lurks just over this hill.  Still she slipped off to climb the hill and see for herself what danger there was.  She looked down from the hill top and saw a strange place.  Odd trees and caves she saw and then in horror she saw it the worst nightmare a wild mare could have. 

Inside these odd looking trees were other mares trapped as if the trees had grown around them and the branches locked together to trap the horses within this place. She called out to them her cries were distant but they heard her and called back to her. She lay down on top of the hill and cried for the ones trapped within the strange trees.

Then she heard a familiar one speak to her she looked up to see her mother.  What are you doing here mare? Her mother was angry that she had wandered off but then when she saw the tears on the mares face she knew now was not the time to punish her precious one.  Come dear we must return to the herd.

As they trotted back to the herd the mare asked Mother how did that happen? her mother told her that the trees were cut by a two legged creature named man.  He then placed the cut trees together and soon he had made a large circle and other larger caves to offer protection from the rain and sun. Then as the days went on he would climb to the very spot you were my mare and throw ropes around little ones as yourself.  Taking them back to the circle he would place them inside.

The mare cried softly as she listened to her mother tell the story. 

We watched as one by one the man would tie ropes around their necks and backs some he would use a whip on to make them obey.  Now they carry the man so he never has to walk.  Some pull his wagons filled with his things while he sits in the wagon.  Fearing for the rest of the herd our leader led us away to the place we are now.  He protects us and keeps us safe from man so we do not end up in the circle. We are free she said.

The mare could not get this site out of her head.  It tugged at her heart and so she would slip off back to the hill top many times.  Then on a day so clear there was not a cloud in the sky she saw him.  The man came from his cave to the circle he entered it and then to her surprise the ones inside the circle were happy to see him.  They came to him willingly and with light steps. He patted them and tended to them.  She watched day by day as he would offer them food fresh hay and oats. Water was running in a small lake near by he always made sure it was full of fresh cool water for them to drink as they needed.  He brushed the horses and kept there hooves clean and free of rocks.

One day the man saw her and smiled to her.  But he did not approach her. She shook her head to him and said you wont put your ropes on me! and galloped off with her tail high in the air.  She heard the man make a strange sound as though he was laughing at her.

Each day the mare would go a little closer to watch the man and the horses.  She began to see that the man was a kind man he offered each horse a special touch.  She would come on the days it rained and saw that the horses were inside out of the rain.  They were dry and warm eating the sweetest smelling of oats the mare had ever smelled.  The mare was now standing against the odd trees that held them prisoners inside.  She was startled when she heard his voice and galloped off.

The next time she came to see the man he offered her some fresh hay.  She shook her head she was no fool it was a trick and his ropes would tie her up.  So he laid the hay on the ground stepped back and waited and watched.  She sniffed and snorted a bit then took a small bite.  Mmmmmm it was delicious much better than the green grass with stickers in it.  She quickly ate it all.  This happened day after day each time the mare came closer to the man until she was eating the hay right from his hands.

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She watched as the horses were made to carry the man off to the fields. She often followed behind them to see what it was they did.  She saw the horses work hard pulling odd things behind them that made the ground crumble.  Why did they do this she wondered when from out no where a wolf came to the field!  The wolf was on the back of the black spotted horse. She heard the horse cry in pain as the wolf sank his teeth into the horse. Then a loud noise louder than any thunder rang out and the wolf fell from the back of the horse to the ground.  The man ran to the horse.

Spotted one was hurt badly but the man he tied his ropes on her anyhow.  This angered the wild mare and she called out to him in an angry tone.  He looked up but did not smile he went back to his ropes on the spotted one.  Then he whistled and for the other horses to come to him and they did.  He tied the ropes from the spotted one to two of the other horses.  Once more the wild mare cried out to him in an angry tone.  He did not even look to her this time.

Then the man walked in front of the two and they slowly dragged the spotted one back to the circle.  The wild mare walked behind and she repeatedly called out in anger to the man.  In the circle the man removed the ropes and brought water and clothes to the mare.  He rubbed some goop on the spotted one and covered the wounds with the clothes.  The spotted one lay on a soft bed of hay and died. 

The man lay with the spotted one all through the night.  Removing the clothes and applying more of the goop and new clothes.  Silly man the wild mare thought spotted one is dead. 

As the sun came up over the hill the wild mare had watched the man care for the spotted one all night long.  He looked tired and as if he were in pains himself.  When from the corner of the wild mares eye she saw spotted one life her head. She is not dead wild mare cried into the air.  The man looked to the wild one and smiled.

The man then brought fresh oats to the spotted one and even to the wild mare.  He tended to all the horses even though he was tired and hungry himself.  He cared for them first before himself.  Now the wild mare knew why the other horses were happy to carry the man and his things. 

The mare never did return to the heard after that night.  She stayed there on the hill top till one day he called for her.  She came to him a bit nervous and afraid but in trust and in faith.  He touched her for the first time and she liked his touch it was powerful and gentle and most of all it was filled with compassion and love.

That first night the man spent hours washing and brushing the mare.  She felt like as if she were the best horse in the entire world for he made her feel beautiful and special.  She slept that night outside the cave from the other horses but inside the circle.

The days went by and the snow fell and covered the ground.  Spotted one healed and was walking and carrying the man once more.  The man had placed his ropes on the wild mares head had even placed an odd thing that the man would sit on someday on her back.  She had not carried the man he had not even tried to ride her back yet. 

On the first day when the flowers bloom and the grass turns green the wind called to the wild mare.  She stood on her back two legs to see the hill top.  She wanted to run free.  The man knew this and he opened the circle and removed the ropes.  The mare looked at him he was letting her go just as he let her in; giving her the choice to be free or to be his.

She took a few steps toward the hill but knew in her heart that she was free only when she was his.  Free to be loved.  Free to be cared for.  Free to be happy.  So she turned and bowed to him and cried so softly take me.  With that the man climbed on the mares back and she gladly carried him around the grounds.  Her head held high as they walked in front of the others.  She was completely happy she was his; No longer the wild mare but now his mare.

-The end -