The sun slunk out from behind the trees, blinding the girl. Awkwardly, with the loud jangling of stirrup irons startling the nearby cat, she put up a hand to cover the sun. A smile flickered across her lips as a big black horse eyed her off. "General," she said with a nod. The horse turned back to the hay at his feet. Glancing up the hill she grinned. The bronze-colored horse standing in the shade of a tree half sheepishly looked back across the yards at her.

Hefting the saddle up, the girl took in a breath and yelled, "Come on, Rose!" Several horses lifted their heads but only the mare took any notice of the loud yell. Tentatively the mare took a step towards the stall, keeping her eyes fixed on her owner. Then the girl began to walk up the path, her boots crunching on the gravel, and the horse swung her neck and walked purposefully into the stall.

The horses each got a greeting as she walked past them into the tie-up area. She hung the saddle on one of the rails, the stirrups carefully crossed over it. Briefly, she struggled with her pocket to get out the keys to unlock the tack-shed where she grabbed a rope, and then unlocked the stall door.

Rose nickered loudly, the deep, throaty rumble sounded like a purr.

"Hey baby," her hands went out to the horse, who shoved her nose into them, and then pressed her forehead into the girl's chest. The girl lent forward to press her lips against Rose, breathing in the horse's smell. They stood together for a moment.

"Come on, girlie. I've got to clean the yard. You get to hang out in the arena." Gently she worked the rope around the horse's neck and tugged on it slightly. Willingly, the horse bent her head and followed her.

Gently Rose's head brushed against the girl's shoulder and arm as they walked together into the area. She let her hand slip from one end of the rope and it slid off the horse's neck. Rose inclined her head slightly, then took a step forward. Closing the gate, she crossed her arms and lent her chin on them, watching the horse.

Rose walked in slowly, her nose pushed to the ground. With each step she seemed as though she would collapse into a happy, relaxed heap on the ground, but she wouldn't until she found the perfect spot. The horse slipped to the ground near the corner of the arena. She dug her neck into the sand and stretched out, perfectly content as she rubbed her neck and shoulder along the ground. She swung her head to her owner, acknowledging her presence. Then, she stretched out on the ground and closed her eyes.

The horse slept. The girl watched. The sunlight played tricks on the chestnut hair of the horse, turning it from a dull red to a deep bronze and back again. The wind dashed across the arena and formed a little dust cloud. The birds chattered in the trees. The horse breathed in more deeply as time passed, trusting the girl to keep things safe.

Perhaps ten minutes passed before Rose heaved herself up from the ground. She stood, blinking wide-eyed at the world. They looked at each other and the horse flicked an ear, a kind of thanks for standing guard.

"No worries, girlie." The owner smiled at the horse and turned back up the hill towards the yard, back to her work. When she glanced over her shoulder, the horse was snuffling at the grass.

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