Blackthorne--Review IX--Ep: 50-51

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Blackthorne

Cinemagenics 50-51

Review  Part IX

“The couple of these reviews only garnered like a half

dozen comments. I understand, but it is disheartening

to work so hard on catching the readership up on the

story so far, only to witness little interest. Of course,

the reviews are lengthy, & most folks don’t want to

read more than one page; there it is--and now to

continue.”--Glenn

Fifty: Deception--Buck & Johnny built a holding corral in

a small alcove in a cliff. They staked out three unbroken 

mares in it. From ten feet or further, the tall sage that was

cut & stacked against the railings hid the corral--it just

looked like an open passage between two large boulders.

Above them, the Appaloosa & his herd stopped to

investigate. The stallion & the mares conversed. The breeze

blew from behind him. He did not smell the hidden men. 

Several of the mustangs were restless in the herd. The

Appaloosa silenced them. The stallion trotted down the

hill & stood at the opening. The tethered mares urged him

to come to them. After a few minutes of alacrity, he came

into the corral, and began nuzzling the mare. The sound of

the first pole slipping across the opening spooked him. He

whirled around & bolted toward the pole, but rapid fire a

second, third, & fourth pole slid into place blocking him--

& there were two men with ropes behind the poles.

Fifty-One: Capture--The Appaloosa raced around the 

holding pen, as the mare screamed & strained against

their lariats. He jumped, bucked, & kicked out hind legs,

then rose up on them, wild-eyed & punching at the dusty

air. Johnny & Buck stood quietly, their faces flushed with

excitement. The Eagle said, “God’s heuvos, that’s one

damn magnificent horse! Buck said, “Hey, brother. it

worked--Chatawa is ours!!” Johnny responded, “No, my 

Buck, he is all yours, jumping right out of the clouds for

you, folding back his wings, the mist still steaming off 

his spotted rump. He has great medicine & a warrior’s 

heart. One day soon he will be pleased to carry your

big bones.”  Buck, “Well, he’s not mine yet, for he has

run wild for a time, & only the arroyo wind has been his

rider.”  Johnny, “With him at stud, you will build the

finest rancho in the territory. Bronson will shit himself

with envy.” Johnny slipped through the poles, & stood

up, his yellow lariat in one hand--then he said, “Do 

you see his split ear? You luck holds, hombre, for he

is Nez Pierce trained. Appaloosas like him have 

already been tamed & ridden, but their spirit has not

been broken. Now he is calm, & he waits for a new

Master.” Buck sprouted a huge smile. The stallion

stood in front of the mares. Johnny, “Sure, I know,

hellfire stud, these now are your women. We are not

here to hurt them or you. No, no, we will give you 

love. Do you remember love, Chatawa.”  The stallion

held the Indian’s scent in his quivering nostrils, &

upon hearing his Indian name, he calmed down. 

The Eagle continued, “Yes, I’m talking to you, brave

boy--with the ass like thunderclouds. Do you remember

gentle hands, the smell of buffalo?”  Johnny pointed

to Buck, “There is a buffalo , right there. You & he will

be compadres. You two prairie giants have seen

plenty of those big humps crashing to earth, huh?”

He moved closer to the Appaloosa, his rope looped

now. “”Chatawa, do you see this rope?” He tossed 

the rope loop on the ground near the horses hooves.

“That’s right, it’s just an old rope, not a snake, harmless.

It smells of horses, mesquite, buffalo crap, sweat, & me.”

He gathered up the rope & stepped closer. The dappled

stud lunged at him, but Johnny side-stepped, & flicked

the wide lariat loop over the horse’s head, then quickly

swing-wrapped it around a breaking post. The horse

stopped & stood tall. “You see, it’s alright, you are not

hurt.” The Indian bent down & plucked out a handful

of sweet bunch grass, & tossed it near the stallion.

Chatawa accepted the offering, & began to munch it.

Johnny unwrapped his end of the rope, & dropped it

into the red dust. Johnny & Buck leaned against the

railings, just smiling & enjoying the company. Johnny

said, “It grows late, boss. Let’s unstake the mares &

let them all calm down over night. We will continue

this in the morning. I tell you he has a great spirit--I

have never seen greater.” Buck said, “Yes, and he has

known love. That will be our key with him--his heart.”

Glenn Buttkus

Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub