Shawn slammed the door and flopped onto his bed. He had hated the ranch from the minute his dad said they were moving. He begged his dad to let him stay in the city with his friends Zach and Justin but Dad said he had to live on the ranch for three months.
 
“You’ll love it; give it the summer,” he had said. Shawn had been certain he would prove his dad wrong.
 
Then early one morning, when he climbed onto a boulder to get a better look at the river below he discovered the wild horses. The Palomino stallion stomped and reared as the mares and foals thundered past and in a magical golden swirl of dust the stallion spun around, showing off, as if he knew Shawn watched and disappeared into the valley.

Shawn kept the horses and his special place a secret – especially from his little sister – Katie the Pest. A spoiled baby like Katie would ruin the magic.

And now – just when he decided he never wanted to leave – old man Harrison and Dad were trying to take it all away.

The knock on the door startled him. His dad opened it. “Shawn, can I talk to you?”

“Has old man Harrison left?” Shawn asked. He dropped his legs over the side of the bed and sat up.

“No,” his dad said. “He wants to talk to you about the horses.”

Unexpected tears stung Shawn’s eyes. He swallowed several times … trying to clear his throat. He couldn’t let his dad see him cry. “Why do you guys want to get rid of the horses?”

“We want to protect them, Shawn,” Dad said.  “The herd is too big – it’s been a dry year. They may starve over the winter if the herd isn’t cut back.”

“Oh,” Shawn said. “I thought…”

“I know what you thought,” Dad said sitting down beside him and putting his hand on Shawn’s shoulder. “Next time don’t jump to conclusions until you have all the facts.”

Dad stood to leave.

Shawn looked up at him. “Can I help?”
   
His dad smiled. “Why don’t you come downstairs and ask old man Harrison?”

“You won’t tell him I called him old will you?” Shawn asked.

His dad ruffled his hair. “No, Son, but you should apologize for running out like that.”

He followed Dad down the stairs. “I’m sorry, Mr. Harrison,” Shawn said. “I thought you wanted to get rid of all the horses.”

“It’s okay,” Mr. Harrison said. “I’m glad you care about the Mustangs. We want to have a roundup and we’ll sell the horses to families who will care for them. I think if we cut the herd in half, the ones left will be able to survive the winter.”

“I want to help,” Shawn said, knowing he had to betray his only friend in order to save him. “I know where the horses go for water and if it will help – I’ll show you, but you have to promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?” Mr. Harrison asked.

“No one touches the golden stallion.”

“So you’ve seen him, too.” Mr. Harrison laughed … holding his hand out to Shawn. “Don’t worry. No one will touch him and that’s a promise.”

He grasped Mr. Harrison’s hand in both of his. “You’ve got a deal.”

***
The morning of the roundup, Shawn arrived at Mr. Harrison’s ranch a couple of hours before dawn. He owed it to his two new friends to be there for the start of the roundup even though he couldn’t ride with them.

Tommy and Bret had grown up riding horses. Shawn grew up riding a skateboard. Until now, their lives had been very different but the Mustangs had brought them together. He would always be grateful to the golden stallion for giving him new friends – and he had repaid the stallion with betrayal.

It hadn’t taken Shawn long to realize – life on a ranch came with a lot of hard work and tough decisions. He may never see the golden stallion after today but if never seeing the Mustangs meant the herd would survive the winter – he’d do it again.

“Hey, Tommy, Bret, wait up,” Shawn said recognizing his two friends among the throngs of horses and riders.

“Hi, Shawn,” Tommy said. “The roundup is going to be awesome. I wish you were coming with us.”

“I’ll be there,” Shawn said. “Watching from the boulder. I just wanted to wish you luck.”

“Thanks,” Bret said. “Come on, Tommy. We still have to saddle our horses. See you later, Shawn.”

“Yea, see you guys later.”  

***
Shawn waited on the boulder for the Mustangs. When the boulder began to vibrate he fought the urge to warn the stallion away.

Tears stung his eyes as the stallion crested the hill and stopped below him in a cloud of golden dust.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

The stallion spun around and pawed the ground. The mares and foals ran past and the golden stallion reared one last time before he followed them down the trail.

Riders appeared just as the stallion neared the riverbank. As soon as he sensed danger, he snorted, whinnied, spun around, stomped his hooves in the dust … trying to warn the mares but it was to late … the men had already separated the herd and were driving them toward Mr. Harrison’s ranch.
***
Several weeks had passed since that morning and Shawn had returned to the boulder every day since. The golden stallion hadn’t returned.

Shawn watched the adoptive families load the horses into trailers. It had been the right thing to do. So why did he feel like a traitor?

“What’s the matter Son?” His dad asked putting his arm around his shoulder. “You did the right thing?”

How did his dad know what he was thinking? “I know but it’s hard. I betrayed him.”

“Sometimes doing the right thing is hard,” Dad said. “But in this case…well…they would have died of starvation over the winter.”

“I know,” Shawn said kicking a rock. “But the stallion hasn’t come back to the boulder – not since the roundup. It’s like he knows I was the one.”

“He’ll be back, you’ll see,” Dad said. “He’s being cautious. Give him time.”

“Do you really think so?” Shawn asked feeling a stirring of hope.

“Sure,” Dad said with a grin. “And in the mean time you can get to know the two mares and foals we adopted.”

Shawn stared at him.

“Aren’t you going to say something?” Dad asked. “I wanted it to be a surprise. I thought you’d be excited.

“I am,” he said so surprised he didn’t know what to say. “When? How? I mean …”

“We live on a ranch now,” Dad said with a chuckle. “You and Katie should have your own horses.”

Shawn couldn’t believe it. He had his own horse. Him…a city kid … “But I don’t know how to ride.”

Dad nodded. “I know. The mares and foals will stay at Mr. Harrison’s for awhile so he can train them…and us.” Dad laughed. “He wants to teach you and Katie how to ride. Said it was the right thing to do since you were such a big help with the roundup. And since we’re on the subject of ‘doing the right thing’. I’m counting on you to take your little sister to Mr. Harrison’s for riding lessons and it wouldn’t hurt you to take her on some of your walks. I know she’s only six but she’s had to start over just like you.”   

“I’ll take her to lessons and help her with the horses,” Shawn said. “But does she have to come on my walks? She’s such a …”

“Pest,” Dad interrupted.

Shawn stared at the ground. “Well … yea,” he said. He could feel his face grow warm.

“No…she doesn’t have to,” Dad said smiling. “But Katie looks up to you. You’re her big brother. She wants to be part of your world. Just think about it.”
***
Shawn woke the next morning before daybreak like he did every morning. For a few minutes he stared at the ceiling. What’s the use, the golden stallion wouldn’t be there. He dragged himself out of bed anyway – he wouldn’t know for sure unless he went to the boulder.

He hurried to get dressed, thinking about the things his dad said. He did the right thing; helping with the roundup but taking Katie with him on his morning walk would only ruin things even more.

She’s such a baby and besides the time he spent watching the horses belonged to him – and the golden stallion – once the stallion returns.

Shawn slipped out of his bedroom and headed down the hallway.

“Shawn, where are you going?” Katie whispered from her bedroom doorway. “Can I go?”

Oh, great…Katie, just what he needed. “No, go back to bed.”

“Please,” she said, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Just this once.” She swallowed … trying not to cry. “I’ll hurry.”

“No,” he said feeling guilty.

Katie wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’ll wake Mom and Dad,” she said.

Man … little sisters … nothing but trouble. He’d have to let her come if he wanted to get there in time. Mom and Dad would make him take her anyway. “Okay,” he said. “But hurry!”

They slipped out the door into the gray morning light. It would be sunup in a few minutes.

“Where are we going?” Katie asked.

He looked down at her. She was almost running. If he slowed they’d miss it for sure. Katie stumbled over the rough ground and he caught her before she fell.

“You’ll see,” he said no longer feeling guilty. “Watch where you’re walking.” He didn’t like this one bit. He took her hand and pulled her over the dry dirt. The golden glow of the sun was peeking over the horizon just as they reached the boulder. He helped her onto the top and climbed up beside her.

“What are we waiting for?” Katie asked in a loud whisper. “I don’t see anything.”

“Be quiet,” he said. “Watch the sunrise.”

They should have been here by now. They weren’t coming. His chest felt heavy and his throat burned.

Then the rock began to vibrate and relief flooded through him.

Katie felt the vibrations too. She moved closer to him but didn’t complain – her eyes wide with fear.

He felt a stab of guilt. Maybe he had been too hard on her. “Don’t be afraid, Katie,” he said. “They can’t hurt us. We’re up to high.”

“Who?” Katie asked.

“You’ll see. Look in that direction,” Shawn said pointing to the sun peaking over the horizon.

The Palomino stallion was first to crest the hill, creating a shower of golden dust as he came to a sudden stop below them. As the sun rose behind him … his coat glowed like embers of golden fire. He reared, pawing at the glistening dust and tossing his mane and tail, throwing golden sparks all around.

Katie sucked in a sharp breath. “Wow, is he magic? It looks like fairy dust. Do you think he can fly?”

Shawn smiled. He couldn’t help himself. He’d thought the same thing the first time he saw the stallion. He was glad he let her come.

“I like to think so,” he said.

The other horses thundered past, disappearing into the valley below. The golden stallion reared again, sending golden sparks into the air. In a cloud of golden dust, the Palomino spun around and joined his mares in the valley.

“That was awesome,” Katie whispered her blue eyes wide. “Will they come back?”

“Not today.” He helped Katie off the boulder and took her hand as they walked toward the house. He matched his pace to hers. Next time, they’d have to get an earlier start. 

“Want to come tomorrow?” He asked.