The Unusual Life of Pearl Lux
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A grey filly was in the bunch of mustangs I’d brought home the day before, and she was a beauty. Not a work horse by any means, but full of spirit. She was dappled with a mixture of blue grey that flowered over her back and rump and swirled down her underbelly. Wild as hell and twice as pretty, that was my challenge for the day. How I’d love to tame her enough to race her heart out, maybe on a race track someplace like St. Louis. Right off she ran in circles on a loose tether rope but wouldn’t allow the halter. I formed a half hitch and shortened up the tether line. Finally, she was close enough to take the half hitch till it was comfortable on her nose. Then I lassoed a front haunch and as she continued to run, I brought the tether line up taut. She knelt on one knee. We worked all morning just getting comfortable until she knelt, and I grabbed both ears and rolled her on her side. We remained there until she stopped struggling, and I could feel her heart beat slow. I whispered sweet nothings to her about joinin' in with me, while she rolled her big eyes back in her head and tried to shake off the tether. I put the halter on and pattered her all down before I released the rope. Her eyes were a little wild when she stood up, but she stood still and I checked her over especially the leg I tethered. Her ears stood erect listening for anything I might have to say to her. She rolled her eyes and pawed the earth with a forefront hoof. I thumbed a molasses ball into her mouth. In a few more days she’d be ready for a saddle and a ride around the acreage. *** Some of the heifers moved toward the river and the Little Blue cut them off. Jesse and B. J. rode close and watched us as we drove the cows into a fence corner, Little Blue moved in close and bit each one. They bellowed and went running off, their tails switching their hind quarters. Little Blue looked mighty pleased with herself. I thought Jesse and B. J. would fall off their mounts they laughed so hard. "Well, Pearl, you shor nuf got yerself a cutting horse haven’t you? That’s what cutting horses love to do. She’ll drive them cows in a corner somewheres and snap faster than any dog could. Those cows won't wander off again." *** Then B.J.s horse became quiet and reared her head up, glancing back over the dunes. She was concentrating on something we couldn’t see. She had scented the herd of her brothers and sisters of the Indiana prairie. A white stallion peered from behind a hill, whinnied a greeting and pawed the ground. I just wanted to stop and observe the group. There was something compelling seeing them as a family. As we watched the stallion raised his tail and pranced about acknowledging our presence. It was a humbling experience seeing them. The three of us knew very little about these wild horses.
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About the Book
If you read The Horsewhisperer you’ll love Pearl. He has taken the role of horse trainer into the arena of fascination where the reader can experience the love he had for horses. The little bad boy becomes a legend that lives and breathes his art. He surmounts all the odds to achieve excitement and love through his passion. He rescues the love of his life, Hannah, from physical and mental abuse then becomes the suspect in the murder of Benny Ahrens. He takes a cattle drive to the Nebraska plains with Hannah, Lone Bear and Sweet Water from the Red Cliff Nations of Wisconsin, along with his pals, Jesse and B.J. A cattle stampede is caused by storms in Wisconsin. It leads them to the traders, Vasques and Wilson, and the rescue of the slave Cynci from the Sauk Nations. The group rescues a courier rider tortured by the Ogallalla Sioux, who dies in the arms of the gentle Sweet Water. Transport yourself to another era and time that fascinates and enthralls the reader with every word.
About the Author
At an age where most people are content to remember the past, Donna McGrew has undertaken the writing of a book about a long gone era that takes her characters through the rich beautiful territories when the United States was being populated by settlers. In addition to The Unusual Life of Pearl Lux, McGrew has written an anthology of poetry, short stories, various essays, and Without Chains a documentary about her travels in a Roadtrek Motor Home with her two dogs. During the academic year, she organizes a Creative Writing course for a group of senior citizens. McGrew is retired and lives in Madison, Wisconsin.