Nightwind
Copyright© 2025 by Heel
Chapter 4: The Test Ride
Dawn rose soft and golden over the desert, spilling warmth across the wide horizon. A light breeze stirred the dust around the corral, carrying the scent of sage and dry grass.
Calista Brant stood by the fence, watching Nightwind graze. His black coat gleamed like polished stone, and his head hung low in calm contentment. For the first time since she’d bought him, he looked utterly at peace.
Two weeks ago, he had been all fire and fury — impossible to touch, impossible to trust. Now, when she approached, he lifted his head and waited.
“Well,” she murmured, smiling faintly, “looks like we’ve finally made our peace, you and I.”
She slipped the halter over his head and ran her gloved hand down his neck. Nightwind’s breath came slow and steady. The wildness was still there, but it no longer ruled him. It had become something quieter, deeper — strength under control.
When she laid the saddle across his back, he didn’t flinch. When she tightened the cinch, he stood calm.
Her heart swelled with pride.
“All right, boy,” she whispered. “Let’s see how far you’re willing to go.”
She mounted with an easy grace and guided him toward the open gate. The morning light broke over them as they rode out — leaving the safety of the corral behind, the ranch shrinking into the distance.
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