"I hope Sagebrush hasn't had her foal yet Wes," the wiry young woman said, as she launched herself into the saddle of her tall bay mare.
Being careful not to slide off the other side, like she had done just a few short weeks earlier, she settled into the comfortable Western saddle.
"Now Georgia, these quarter horses aren't pets. Sagebrush herself was born out on the range, about eighteen years ago. She was my first broodmare, Dad gave her to me as a young filly. This will probably be her last foal," Wes replied with some sadness.
"I know Dear, but I would like to be there. To welcome the little one into the world, and help keep the mare comfortable," Georgia insisted.
"That's why we're going to bring her in. She's not due until next week," Wes said confidently.
The new couple rode through a huge expanse of sparse grazing land, searching for the mare.
"There's the herd!" Georgia exclaimed, and headed straight for the group of horses. They neighed in greeting, and several came forward.
"I don't see a brown mare with white splotches on her rump, though... Sagebrush isn't here, is she?" Georgia asked the horses.
Wes rode up a few seconds later.
"She's not here," Georgia informed him, and he nodded.
"Let's look down by the stream. The grass is more tender, and she would have better access to water there," suggested the rancher and horse breeder.
Georgia nodded, and let her husband lead the way.
"Over there, in those bushes. I see something dark," Georgia said, pointing to a little willow thicket.
"Well well, it looks like I was wrong," Wes said, grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh, he's adorable! Jet black like his father. And he has Sagebrush's white splotches!" Georgia gushed, as she looked at the little colt, whose big eyes never left her.
"Where's Sagebrush?" she asked, after gazing at the new miracle for a few more seconds.
"I don't know, but she can't be far. Please stay with the colt while I look," Wes replied, frowning.
Torn between following him and watching the perfect little creature in front of her, Georgia dismounted, and slowly walked towards the colt.
At first he stood frozen, then when she was only one more step from him, he backed up.
Instinctively she stopped, and talked quietly to the baby horse. "Hey little one, we're going to be good friends," she whispered.
A few minutes later, she was rewarded with a velvet soft muzzle nuzzling her hand.
"I'm the first person to touch him," Georgia whispered in awe.
"Give me the colt, Honey," Wes requested as he rode up. Georgia noted that his jaw was clenched, and his words, while still kind, were clipped and precise.
"What's wrong?" she asked, straining her eyes towards the direction he had come from.
"A cougar, close to the stream... Sagebrush must have left this little guy hidden, and went for a drink. I found her, but the cat must have heard us and left," he replied, blinking hard.
"Oh. Is she?" Georgia asked, beginning to blink as well.
Wes nodded. "About eight hours ago, I'd say. We need to get him home and fed," he replied in a determined voice.
Georgia helped to lift the colt onto Wes's gelding, then mounted her mare.
"I'm going to stay with him," Wes said once the stall was prepared, and the first bottle of specialized formula fed to the orphaned colt.
Georgia nodded, then left. When she returned, she had two hot meals, and two sleeping bags.
"You don't have to stay out here, Honey. Go in where you can get a good night's sleep," he suggested.
"No Wes, he's family, and I want to be here with him," Georgia replied firmly, as she handed the tired man a bowl of piping hot stew.
Over the next days and weeks, the colt thrived. For a time, he occupied a playpen in the house. Like with most infants, it was a big day when the vibrant little horse could sleep though the entire night without a bottle!
Five years later, Georgia tore across an arena on a black streak, amidst a roar of approval from the crowd. She raised a silver cup high into the air!
The intricate engraving of a horse and rider making a tight turn around a barrel gleamed in the sun. "I would like to thank everyone here for supporting me. Most especially my husband, Wes."
The audience interrupted with a cheer.
"Thank you. I truly am honored. I would also like to thank someone who is no longer here, who I only had the pleasure of meeting a couple of times. Sagebrush, you barely knew me, yet you left me with the most precious gift you possibly could have," she said, wiping her eyes.
Without even noticing the silent crowd, she continued.
"Before I met your wonderful son, I didn't know very much about horses. But he didn't mind, being a horse was all new to him too. We learned together, you might say. I'll be forever grateful to you, beautiful Sagebrush," Georgia said, as she wiped her eyes again, and smoothly dismounted.
Cover image made in Canva Pro using their gallery