Dreams of a Dancing Horse Read Online Free

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    Lena and I walk up to the barn and peer in through the window. I can see cowgirls and their cowboys, farmers and their wives, stomping their feet to the music. Couples whirl around the barn, the dusty floor transformed into a dance hall.
    â€œSo how do you like your first hoedown?” Lena asks. “Truth is, it’s my first too. Mind you, I’ve snuck down here before to watch the action and listen to the music. But this will be my first time to dance.”
    I kneel on my forelegs to make it easier for her to dismount. It would be such a treat if I could remain by the window so I can watch Lena dance with the other humans. Once she’s firmly on the ground, I peer in through the window again, hoping she understands and doesn’t take me back to the other horses.
    â€œWhat do you think you’re doing there, Fred?” she asks, her hands on her hips.
    I nod. I’m sure she’s right. I do belong with the horses, after all. I turn to head back with my own kind.
    â€œWell, now where do you think you’re headed?” she demands.
    Humans can be quite confusing. I crane my head around to see her.
    Lena crooks her finger at me. “How are you going to be my dance partner from way over yonder?”
    I perk up. Lena wants to dance with me ?
    â€œYou didn’t really think I was going to dance without you?” she asks. “We can cut a rug here just as good as any spot inside, don’t you reckon?” She holds out her arms.
    I rear up on my hind legs and sway to the music. We’ve danced together a dozen times in our old barn.
    They play a tune called “The Hokey Pokey,” and Lena and I do what the song says. We put our right legs in, then our right legs out. We stick our legs in again and shake them all about. We do the Hokey Pokey and we turn ourselves about. I believe I love this odd dance.
    Lena sways and twirls to the next song, and I follow her lead. Soon we’re sashaying and do-si-do-ing all around the outskirts of that barn. We square dance, just the two of us. It goes on for a couple of hours, the most fun I’ve ever had.
    And then I have an idea. As much as I love dancing with my friend, I know in my heart of hearts that a wonderful dancer like Lena should be seen and enjoyed by other humans. If Lena could understand how amazing she is, maybe she could regain her confidence—and more importantly, her dream of becoming a dancer.
    When the music starts up again, I take the lead. Faster and faster we spin. As usual, soon as Lena gets caught up in the music, she closes her eyes. This time, I’m ready. I gently nudge her through the open barn door.
    Staying outside, I peek in and watch my Lena swirl and sway to the music. I’m sure she hasn’t realized where she is. She’s spinning too fast, twirling with the grace of a fawn.
    Two by two, the other dancers drop back, their mouths gaping open at this young prima ballerina. Soon, no one is left dancing except Lena.
    The music stops. Lena laughs and open her eyes to the thunderous applause breaking out all around her. “What? I—” she sputters, eyes wide at the cheering crowd.
    Then with a hearty laugh, she bows. “Much obliged.”
    Lena races out of the barn and straight into me. “Fred! Why, if you didn’t fall out of the sneaky tree and hit every branch on the way down!” I think it’s an insult, but Lena is laughing, glowing. “Well, don’t just stand there like a bump on a log. Bad as I hate to, you and me done got to get along home.”
    Lena hugs my neck, then swings up onto my back.
    I prance toward home.
    I can still hear the hoedown music when I feel Lena pull herself up to a standing position on my back. She is light as a twirling feather in the wind. I tread carefully, and she stays on my back, where I feel her turning and spinning, twisting and dancing under a full moon and a sky full of stars.

 
    6
    The Moneymaking