“Look at this one! Mare, white with black spots. Has a foal. Mare was abused and is fearful of humans and foal has one short leg so he limps. He is a black colt with a white patch on his nose. Price is $250 for both mare and colt.”

Sue sat back and pushed the small paper towards her friends Jimmy, Amy, and Sarah. “You think we can help an abused mare? A limping foal sure; we’ve helped horses who have bad hooves, horses with bad teeth, horses recovering from accidents, horses who are badly sick, horses that were mustangs but this mare is more than wild she is fearful and probably aggressive. Besides, we are JUST 15.” Jimmy said folding his hands together.

“I think we can do it!” Amy said.

“I’ll work with the foal on walking better and I’ll teach him to lead on a lead rope and other tricks!” Sarah put in.

“And I think I can work with the mare on trust. We’ll have her ready to be ridden in only a few months, I am sure,” Sue said nodding.

“Doesn’t any girl on earth listen to logic?” Jimmy asked in frustration. “It would be practically impossible to help a horse that has been abused.” He said lifting his chin.

“That’s what you said about Cinch, the mustang. We tamed him and rode him in six months and found him a good home in nine. We can do this.” Sarah said looking at him with narrow eyes. “Besides, I have $150 from my job and Sarah has $50 left from her work and Amy….has a quarter left from her shopping spree and I KNOW you have at least $50 from your job, as much as you work,” Sue said crossing her arms.

“Can we do it?” Jimmy asked doubtfully.

“If we don’t she’ll probably end up in a slaughter house; her and her foal both,” Amy pointed out.

“Okay then, ALPHA SQUAD, we have our next mission!” Sue said slamming her hand on the table, palm flat. Everyone smacked their hands down on hers and on three lifted up and shouted a cheer.

“Susan, what’s all the noise?” Her mother asked walking in the kitchen.

“We have our next rescue,” Sue said grinning.

“Oh, then I better get down to the store and buy some horse feed,” her mother said smiling.

Ever since they were 14 the kids had been buying horses with problems and working with them until they were great horses for anyone to own. Then they sold them to really good homes and used the money to buy another. So far they had saved about 5 horses.

“Thanks mom, and I’m calling the S.P.C.A,” she said picking up the phone.

“They rescued her a month ago,” Amy read from the paper.

“She’s fully vaccinated and such, but she is so fearful,” Sarah said reading over her shoulder. Jimmy and Sue’s mom exchanged a ‘here we go again’ look and smiled. “I’ll go home and get my grooming brushes and meet you all at the barn,” Sarah said standing up. The barn was built in Sue’s backyard which joined together with Sarah’s and Amy’s too. They fenced in a huge pasture consisting of Amy’s entire yard, a barn that was just behind Sue’s house that had one stall and a supply room; they fenced in a small corral for working with the horses, and a larger corral for jumping the horses. Their parents encouraged it because it was good work and exercise for them and they enjoyed seeing their children working together to help animals.

* * * * *

The next day a trailer drove in the driveway loaded with a mare and foal. They could hear kicking and screaming coming from inside. “Well, looks like we got a fun one,” Jimmy said sarcastically.

“If you don’t want to help and be a supportive member of this team, you don’t have to be here,” Sue said narrowing her eyes.

Jimmy sighed. “Okay, shutting up.” He said shrugging.

Sarah opened the gate to the smaller corral and the trailer slowly backed halfway into it.

“STOP!” Amy called to the driver and the truck came to a halt.

The driver, a middle aged man with dark brown hair and a red ball cap, jumped out of the truck and looked around. “You kids buying this mare?” He asked pointing his thumb over his shoulder at the trailer. Sue, Sarah, and Amy eagerly nodded but Jimmy just shrugged. “Boy, You guys are getting yourselves into a fine mess. But come on; let’s unload her,” he said walking towards the back of the trailer. “Can you open the door and I’ll back her?” he said, looking at Amy. She nodded. “I need you to help me hold her,” he said to Jimmy. “The rest of you can help close the gate,” he said pointing to Sue and Sarah.

The man led Jimmy into a small side door and they vanished into the dark trailer. Sue could hear the shuffling of hooves and a fearful snort from the mare. “Slowly open the door,” Jimmy’s muffled voice called softly from the trailer.

Amy slowly let the door fall to the ground. Immediately a hoof kicked out towards her. She jumped out of the way. “Whoa, easy girly,” Amy said gently. The mare threw up her head and tried to look at the voice speaking to her. Sue squinted her eyes and saw that the mare was being backed out now. Each of them had a rope that was attached to her halter. Her foal was so small he just turned around and walked out without fear. Amy sucked in a breath. “He has a bad limp,” she whispered, trying not to startle the mare. Slowly Amy reached out and stroked the foal’s neck. The foal flinched at first then walked closer. Amy slung her arm over his shoulder and led him away from the trailer so his mother didn’t accidentally hurt him.

The mare came next. She flicked her tail and danced from side to side, swinging her flanks around. “Come on sweet little girl,” Jimmy said softly. The mare shook her mane and her wild eyes looked around in fear. Jimmy slowly stroked her mane. Her body shivered but she settled down and looked into his eyes. “Easy then,” Jimmy said gently in a low voice. The mare closed her eyes and cocked her ears towards him. Sue felt a rush of joy. Finally the mare backed out of the trailer and stood in the middle of the arena. She looked around and saw her foal. She flattened her ears and shook her head, trying to free herself of the ropes. “Amy, let go of her foal,” Jimmy said in the same soothing voice. Amy removed her hand and gave the foal one last pat before ducking under the fence.

Everyone watched in awe as the foal took steady steps towards his mom. His eyes were bright and happy and his tail wagged from side to side like a puppy. He broke into a trot and reached his mother with a joyful nicker. The man released the ropes and very slowly backed away. He lifted up the trailer door gently and closed it. The mare turned her head around and looked at the trailer, ears pinned back. Jimmy gently tugged the rope to get her attention and spoke softly to her. The man began backing the truck away, and quick as a flash Sue and Sarah shut the gate. The mare threw up her head and screamed in fear. She began trotting a circle around Jimmy. He held the rope and watched her go. The truck gained speed and drove forward, which sent the mare into a mad gallop.

“Steady girl, steady,” Jimmy said soothingly, but the mare refused to be soothed. The colt thought it was a game so he willingly joined his mother in galloping.

Sue and Sarah made their way over to the truck driver who stopped the truck by now and was getting out. “Here’s the money and adoption paper,” Sue said handing him a big yellow envelope.

“Thanks little miss,” the man said, getting back into the truck and starting it up. Sue and Sarah watched him drive away.

* * * * *

After two hours the mare settled down enough for them to remove the rope and she even let Jimmy and Sue pat her neck. She was wary of Sue still and didn’t even allow Jimmy to pet her face. Amy and Sarah were playing a game of ball with the foal and enjoyed his funny little antics as he growled at the ball, kicked it with one hoof, and then shied away. They would roll it to him and he’d hit it with his nose then made a squeaking sound at it.

“They need names,” Amy said rubbing the colt’s nose.

“I think he should be called Spunky or something,” Sarah said giggling.

“Maybe we can call him Comet,” Jimmy suggested. The mare glanced at him in suspicion.

“Good idea,” Sue whispered gently. The mare had enough. She shook her mane and walked away from the teens. She stood as far away from them as she could and stared at her foal.

“Let’s leave them for today. They have hay and water and I think they need to settle in before we try anything,” Jimmy said slowly climbing over the fence.

Amy and Sarah rubbed the foal’s neck one last time, then ducked out of the fence and Sue followed. “The mare should be called Majestic Majesty. We can call her May for short.” Sue said looking back. She was sure the muddy little mare with tangled and matted mane would be majestic with a groomed, shinning coat and silky, smooth mane. They just needed to build trust…

* * * * *

It was a month and three weeks before Amy and Sarah halter broke Comet. He enjoyed when they brushed him and loved baths (or, rather, he loved shaking the water off on them) but the mare was still fearful. Jimmy and Sue worked her every day. They lunged her, they were able to groom her, and they spent time just talking to her, but try to give her a bath and she tries to run you over.

Sue blew through her lips and turned the hose off. “Well May, you’ve managed to spill two buckets of water, BREAK a bucket, and you tried to eat the sponge. What are we going to do with you?” she asked, shaking her head.

Majestic Majesty tossed her head, her eyes shinning. “She enjoys it I think,” Jimmy grinned.

Sue climbed over the fence and gently rubbed under Majestic’s mane. “Hey girl, ready to try something new?” she asked pulling a carrot out of her pocket. They had finally gotten her to eat out of their hand. Sue attached a lead rope to her halter and held her hand at shoulder height. She walked forward and clicked to Majestic. The mare stepped forward to take the carrot. While she ate, Sue took another step forward and clicked to Majestic again. The mare snorted. “Come on girl,” Sue said softly, taking another carrot out of her pocket. She took two steps forward and pulled on the lead rope. Majestic took a step and reached for the carrot but Sue pulled it away. “You have to be a good girl for a treat,” Sue said smiling.

Majestic followed Sue around the corral twice. Sue finally stopped and gave her the treat. “And we’ll end that on a good note,” Sue said, reaching up and removing the lead rope. She rubbed under Majestic’s mane and cooed softly to her. “Good, good girl!” she said, walking away from the mare. Majestic took a step towards her. Sue smiled but didn’t turn around. She took three steps towards the fence and Majestic followed. Sue turned around and slowly patted her neck. She wanted to wrap her arms around the mare’s neck and give her a hug, but that would send the mare into a mad gallop. “I’ll see you in an hour for feeding!” Sue said cheerfully. She slipped under the gate and joined Jimmy who was watching. Amy and Sarah slipped out of the paddock after giving Comet one last playful pat.

“Well, I think Comet is ready to leave the small little paddock. We can move him to the pasture. If we move him there he’ll have more room to exercise,” Amy said, tipping her head to the side.

“Yes, but I don’t know if Majestic is ready,” Jimmy pointed out.

“Perhaps by the end of the week?” Amy suggested.

“We can try, but we’ll need a back up plan in case she goes wild,” Sue said.

“I have an idea!” Sarah exclaimed.

* * * * *

When Saturday came they led Majestic around the small little corral. Amy was leading Comet around. When Sue thought Majestic was calm she signaled Jimmy to open the gate. Sarah and Jimmy both were positioned at different spots and so was Sue’s mother and father. If Majestic tried to run, they’d try to scare her back into the corral. It was likely that she’d consider the corral a safe place. Everyone took a deep breath as Sue led Majestic out of the corral. The plan was to keep the foal in the corral until the mare was safely in the pasture.

Majestic looked around with interest. She sniffed the air and called out in a friendly nicker to Jimmy, but she willingly followed Sue towards the bigger pasture. The gate was already opened so Sue just led the mare right in. Majestic eyed the large space with joy, and Sue could feel her urge to gallop. “Good girl!” She praised her, offering her a carrot. Majestic ate the carrot quickly and tossed her head. Sue looked over her shoulder. Amy was leading Comet through the gate at that moment and Jimmy ran up to close it. Sue unclipped the lead rope and backed away, watching the mare burst into a gallop. Comet joined her and it was a magical sight.

* * * * *

It took a long time to get Majestic Majesty to trust. After five months the mare was leading wall, she accepted baths, she allowed them to touch her head, and she was even carrying a rider. Seven months after the mare and colt came to the Alpha Squad, Majestic Majesty was the perfect example of a gentle, trusting horse. The scars of her past abuse was long forgotten and she was trusting again.

Sue and the gang were sitting around the table looking rather sad. They had finally found her a new home; one with an experienced horsewoman who could help Majestic learn to jump and do other things. She’d be ridden at least three times a week and well fed too. They knew it was a good home, but as always they felt a growing sadness.

“What about Comet?” Amy asked sadly.

“We’ll have to keep him for a while yet. We can’t re-home a horse who can’t even carry a rider yet. We can focus all our attention and time on him now. Between school and such that is,” Jimmy pointed out.

Sue nodded. “And once he’s a good riding horse we can find a good home for him and help another horse,” she said, beginning to brighten.

“We changed their lives for the best; now it’s time to let go,” Sarah said with a sad sigh. The four teens got to their feet and went out to the pasture where Majestic and Comet were grazing.

Sue ran her fingers through Majestic’s mane and the mare blew softly in her hair. “I love you Majestic!” she whispered.

* * * * *

Years later when they were all grown up, they started their own rescue group for horses. They bought a big piece of land after working hard in their own jobs, and finally completed their dream. Sue, Sarah, and Amy lived in a house together as roommates and their barn was full of horses that they were helping. Jimmy lived in a smaller house that was a few miles from the ranch. He drove there everyday to help out, but he had another job too which he went to. Through their efforts over 430 horses found new homes and new lives.

THE END