Children

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Wendy Dunham Approx. 1000 words
3148 Lake Rd. First rights offered
Brockport, NY 14420
(585) 637-0535
e-mail: [email protected]



Thunder Hooves
by,
Wendy Dunham




Laura swung one leg through the wooden fence of the pasture, being careful not to
scrape her knee, then started to duck her head through. “Come on Rebecca, it’s the only
way we’ll get back on time.” She waited for her cousin’s response as she straddled the
rail. “Are you coming or not?”

“You heard my father,” reminded Rebecca, “he said not to cut through.”

Laura brought her leg back. “I know,” she said impatiently, “but he also said to be
back by 6:00, and it’s 5:50 now. If we take the road again, we’ll never make it. And
remember what your mom said? ‘Be sure you’re back for dinner.’”

“I’d rather be late, than be chased by the stallions - who are in the pasture in case
you forgot.”

“Well,” contemplated Laura, “I don’t see them. Besides, we can out run them and
reach the other side before they notice us.”

“I doubt that; Ben can’t even do that and he’s the fastest on our track team. Besides, we’ve got sandals on - not the best for running.” Rebecca stood on the bottom
rail, scanning the dusty pasture.

“You’re chicken, aren’t you?” hedged Laura. “I bet Ben would do it.”

Rebecca wiped the sweat off her brow, then used her hands to shield her eyes from
the blazing sun. “No, I’m not chicken, and you’re wrong about my brother - he’s too
smart to do something so foolish.” Rebecca took a deep breath. “I just think we should
listen to my father.”

“You don’t always have to do what’s right, ya know.” Somehow Laura had a way
of getting at her cousin’s weak spot. “It’s that Christian thing again, isn’t it?”

“Not entirely,” Rebecca answered flustered. “It’s just that my dad has good
reasons for his rules, and I think we should listen.”

Laura looked at her watch. “Now we are in trouble - we just wasted ten minutes
debating over what to do, and now it is six o’clock. If we take the road we won’t be back
until 6:20. If we cut through, we’ll only be five minutes late.” Laura looked impatiently
at her cousin.

Rebecca scanned the pasture one last time. “All right, I don’t see the stallions.
They must be deep in the woods; usually they’re up here near the barn waiting for their
evening feed.” Rebecca gave the final instructions. “Okay, on the count of three we’ll run faster than ever and head straight for the barn. But whatever you do, don’t stop for
anything, and don’t look back.”

Laura started to laugh. “Come on, Rebecca, you’d think we were going to swim
across a shark infested ocean or something - they’re only horses! Just wait until you come
to Boston next summer to visit me, I’ll think of something to get you going.”

“Laura,” Rebecca said sternly, “I’m not trying to ‘get you going.’ I’m telling you
like it is. These stallions are fast and dangerous.”

“Okay,” said Laura, “I understand. Now can we go?”

“It’s against my better judgement, but on the count of three let’s go.” Laura and
Rebecca climbed through the rails. “One, two, three!”

They started off at a quick pace, but Laura started to fall behind. “Wait up,
Rebecca,” she shouted, “I can’t run any more. I’ve got a cramp in my side.”

Rebecca kept on running. “Don’t stop,” she panted, “keep going.”

“I...I...can’t!” Laura tried with all her strength, but the cramp grew more intense.
“Rebecca!” she shouted, “please, wait!”

Rebecca slowed up and turned to find Laura a good distance back. “Hurry
Laura,” she cried desperately, “don’t you hear it?”

“Hear what?” shouted Laura, trying to catch her breath, “the thunder?”

“It’s not thunder, it’s the beat of hooves! Come on!”

Holding onto her side, Laura again tried to run. The beat of hooves grew louder
and the vibrating rhythm of stampeding horses began to pound in her chest. Rebecca’s
words played over in her mind, ‘Whatever you do, don’t stop for anything. Don’t look
back.’ Laura tried to heed Rebecca’s warning, but the thundering hooves grew louder and
she turned to look. With her eyes off course, her sandal got caught on a root. Laura fell
hard against the dry ground. She tried to free her sandal, but it wouldn’t give.

Rebecca had reached the barn, and with little strength left, she turned to look for
Laura. Coming down the path straight at her were the stallions. “Get up, Laura!” she
screamed, “you’ve got to get up! Run, quick!” Rebecca stood frozen with fear, her body
trembling. Oh, God, she prayed, please help.

Ben was in the barn oiling saddles when he heard screaming. He dropped the
oiling cloth and ran towards the screams. He found Rebecca standing at the pasture
yelling, “Hurry, Laura! Get out of there!”

Reacting quickly, Ben ran towards the four-wheeler parked near the barn. Instead
of using it as he typically did to bring the stallions in, he raced towards them driving them
away from Laura. The blackest stallion, ahead of the rest, was closest to Laura. Ben
headed straight for him. Then rearing up, the stallion’s left hoof came crashing down on
the four-wheeler, making a thundering boom against the metal. Frightened, the stallion
ran away and the others followed.

Laura laid on the ground crying.
“I’ve got to get you out of here,” Ben shouted, “come on, hop on.”

Laura untangled her sandal, got on the four-wheeler and wrapped her arms around
Ben’s waist. Ben floored the throttle and they headed straight for the barn.

“Ben, you got here just in time,” sobbed Rebecca.

“Not a second to spare,” he added.

“Thanks Ben,” said Laura, “I can’t imagine what could have happened if you
weren’t there.”

Ben put his arm around Laura’s shoulders. “What are cousins for anyway?”

Laura hesitantly turned to look in Ben’s eyes. “Are you going to tell your father?”

“I’m going to leave that up to you two,” said Ben. “But for now, we’d better get
inside for dinner - mom’s ringing her dinner bell, and we don’t want to be late.”
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