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I looked up from turnin the bacon on the barbie for breakie. To see ol' Ben running up to the shack. I smiled at him. "Mornin Ranger, we got those horses you asked for. They are at the paddock, come down when your ready". I nod "thanks Ben" I say. Ben nods and turns around to walk back to the paddock.

After eating my bacon. I walked off to the paddock. My boots getting damp from the dew on the grass. As I walked around the last of the trees and saw two boys fetching water and hay.

"G'day John, Jack" I greet Ben's boys, "g'day Ranger" they reply. "'See any that goes to your liking?" Ben asks appearing out of nowhere. My eyes scan the beasts until they land on one specifically, a brown stallion. "How bout that one?" I ask pointing to the horse, Ben looks over and nods thoughtfully. "Alright we'll give you 50 for it", "50?" I ask Ben nods. "I'll give you forty and it's a deal" I say, Ben scratches his chin before nodding. He shakes my hand, "alright, you got yourself a deal".

With a nod I jump over the fence.

The other horses raised their heads taking notice of me walking through their herd. I met the eyes of the horse that I liked. It's eyes were curious, yet suspicious. I put my hand out and touched it's velvet nose. The horse snorts and walks around me as if inspecting, before lifting its head. It's eyes seemed to say your not so bad . "This is the one definitely".

I opened the gate to the wooden paddock back at my shack and looked at the brumby. It looked back at me, if horses could raise their eyebrows that's what this one would be doing. "In you go" I say motioning to the empty paddock. The horse snorts and shakes it's head, taking a step back. I tug on the lead rope hoping the animal would move. Nothing. I gritted my teeth and walked around to the back of the horse. Putting my hands on its rump I pushed. Still Nothing. I pushed again my heels digging into the soft ground.

The horse suddenly moves forward into the circular space, without the horse and taken by surprise. I fall forward and face plant into the dirt. I spit out a clump of dirt and look up to meet the eyes of the horse they seemed to say you don't give up do you? I smiled and quickly closed the gate. Latching it up I turned and walked back to my wooden shack I call home.

Sighing with content I sit in the rocking chair and tip my hat forward over my eyes. Hearing a whine I look down to see a black and red kelpie sitting in front of me, his eyes on the brumby who was trying to stay out of the rain that just started. I groaned then almost jumped out of my skin when lightning split a cloud in two. A terrified whinny brought my eyes away from the storm to the brumby.

It was snorting and switching from one leg to the other. Ears laid back against it's skull it rolled it's eyes as another lightning bolt split the sky and landed in the paddock. The horse reared up snorting. Grabbing my coat I rushed into the rain, getting soaked in a matter of minutes. Clipping the lead rope to the horse's bridle I tugged on the slippery rope. The horse resisted. Again I dug my heels into the mud and pulled harder on the rope.

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