Chapter 16 ~ Page 226
There, steaming in the chilly morning air, with a spot of blood on her rump, but the afterbirth cleanly disposed of, the center of attraction of many 'aunts' and 'uncles,' while being gently nuzzled by a proud mother—was a blond, blue eyed, curly tailed, bald face, filly.
We thought we had known for months what to name the foal, but when I watched this beautiful creature walk a wobbly step or two, and then lay down in a bed of white crystals etched upon the tips of grass, my first words were, "Hello, Frosty."
I took my time before returning to camp. So my family didn't want to get up, eh? Why there was nothing at all to having a healthy foal along the trail. I'd teach them all that Father always knows best.
I let our little one know this too by running my hand over her still moist body while saying, "Me Da-Da." This brought a response of my hand being gently licked. Then I added a disastrous, "You Ba-by. " Apparently this little thing was insulted. She turned around and let me have it—kapow—with both hind hooves.
It took awhile to limp back to the tents. I was greeted by four faces peeking out, waiting to hear the news. I covered my hurt by trying to whistle casually.
"Everything OK," Bernice asked?"
"Yup."
"Should we get up Daddy," Colette wanted to know?
"Might."
"We moving on today," was Bernadette' s query?
"Nope."
"Did the foal arrive," braved BJ?
We thought we had known for months what to name the foal, but when I watched this beautiful creature walk a wobbly step or two, and then lay down in a bed of white crystals etched upon the tips of grass, my first words were, "Hello, Frosty."
I took my time before returning to camp. So my family didn't want to get up, eh? Why there was nothing at all to having a healthy foal along the trail. I'd teach them all that Father always knows best.
I let our little one know this too by running my hand over her still moist body while saying, "Me Da-Da." This brought a response of my hand being gently licked. Then I added a disastrous, "You Ba-by. " Apparently this little thing was insulted. She turned around and let me have it—kapow—with both hind hooves.
It took awhile to limp back to the tents. I was greeted by four faces peeking out, waiting to hear the news. I covered my hurt by trying to whistle casually.
"Everything OK," Bernice asked?"
"Yup."
"Should we get up Daddy," Colette wanted to know?
"Might."
"We moving on today," was Bernadette' s query?
"Nope."
"Did the foal arrive," braved BJ?
"YES," and I made a dive for my camera, which put me behind in the impromptu race for the meadow. BJ took the lead by running off barefooted. Bernice was next because she had only stopped to wrap her body in our sleeping bags in sort of an Eskimo girls costume. The girls were last. They mixed up their boots in the excitement. Colette was wearing the one's intended for left feet; Bernadette had jammed on two rights.
I didn't have a chance to warn anyone about those two handy hooves. BJ found out all by himself. Because of this he wanted to call our newest member of the herd, Feisty. It seemed very appropriate.
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Text and Photographs © Barry Murray 1971-2007 Mac&Murray Multimedia