Dotty’s Story - Chapter Seventeen - The End
By mosquito
•
17th Jul 2011 •
4,304 views
•
16 comments
|
|
Dottie woke up to the trailer lurching to a stop. She tried to scramble to her feet, but her leg was throbbing, and she just didn’t have room. She could hear horses calling out, sounds that made her feel strangely cold. She could smell the horses, the dust, and a horrible mildew-like odor like sweaty saddle pads or tack that hasn’t been cleaned for ages.
The trailer ramp came down, and a man Dotty hadn’t seen before was signing something and handing it back to a tired looking woman. He walked up, slipped an old length of rope through her halter noseband and tried to tug Dotty up to her feet.
‘Come on little one, let’s get you to your pen.’ His voice sounded weary, but not angry like Reggie’s always had. Dotty scrambled and struggled, and with the man’s help she managed to get up onto her three good legs, although they shook with exhaustion. Dotty suddenly realized how thirsty she was. She limped after the man, who thankfully walked very slowly, with a tired gait. They walked into a huge shed, filled with pipe corrals, each one with one or a couple horses, all different sizes, and colors. Dotty stopped and stared at one pen. There were three horses in there, even smaller than she was. She’d never seen anything like them.
‘What did they do to you?’ Dotty snorted. ‘Why are you so little? Why didn’t you grow?!”
One of the ponies just looked angrily at Dotty, but didn’t say anything. The man gave a tug on the lead.
‘You racers are all the same. Haven’t you ever seen a pony before? Come on, not much further.’
Dotty hobbled on, until she reached an empty pen. The man opened the gate and Dotty limped inside. There was a bucket of water there – it wasn’t very clean and it didn’t smell very good, but Dotty was so thirsty she didn’t care. She drank and drank, relishing the water tricking down her throat. The man smacked Dotty’s rump, and when she looked around there was a number on her quarters, just like when she went to the auction. That seemed so long ago now, and such a different place. The horses here were all different, some big, some small, all different colors, but they all had one thing in common; they looked so very tired. Too tired even to be scared.
Dotty felt a little better after her drink, and she leaned against the pipe fence and stretched her neck out to see what was going on. She looked down the long row of pens, and saw something horrible. There was a flatbed trailer backed up to one of the pens, and some men were using chains to drag a horse out; it was so thin, just skin and bones. It wasn’t moving. Dotty stared; they were a long way away, but the horse looked familiar. When it was on the flatbed Dotty could see the horse’s face – there was no mistaking it now. It was Solo.
Dotty backed up sharply into her pen, throwing herself against the fence when the pain of a misstep shot up her leg. She crouched in the corner, dropped her head and squeezed her eyes tight shut, and tried to block out all the sounds and smells. How could she have ended up here? She had done exactly what Sarah had said; she had always tried her best. And yet this is what happened. Dotty felt herself slowly drift to sleep.
It felt like hours when some distant voices startled her. She slowly opened her eyes and listened.
‘Okay, let’s see what we’ve got,’ a faint voice drifted over the neighs to her ears. ‘I hate this place. I wish I could take them all, but there just isn’t room.’
‘What are we looking for?’ Another voice said, sounding a little nervous and exasperated. ‘I just want to get done and get out of here.’
‘A black filly,’ the first voice replied. ‘Katie called me, said she’d posted bail on her, so we should be able to just load her up if we can find her. She’s got a messy bowed tendon, and she might even still have her bandage on.’
‘Why go out of the way this time? Katie is always calling you with stories of horses to rescue.’
‘This one feels different somehow, I don’t know. It kind of reminded me of a little black filly I used to look after back at the stud farm. Something really special about that one. At least with that one I know she had real class; she’d never end up here. Everyone who met that filly fell in love with her.’
‘Come on; let’s keep looking. This place creeps me out. A little black filly with some white on her face and a whopping great big bowed tendon. Can’t be too hard to find.’
Dotty’s eyes widened. ‘That’s me’ she said. ‘I know it, that’s me they’re talking about.’
The voices came closer, but Dotty was so excited she couldn’t make out the words anymore. Then they stopped. Dotty looked up, she was scrambling, trying to get to the edge of the pen so they could see her. Then she froze and stared back at the girl staring at her. It was Sarah! Dotty couldn’t believe it!
‘Good Grief!’ Sarah cried. ‘Dotty!”
Sarah scrambled over the fence to Dotty. Dotty buried her head in Sarah’s arm, and Sarah laid her head on Dotty’s face. She was trying not to cry, but Dotty could feel her chest was tight and could feel tears dripping onto her face.
‘Oh my, Dotty, what’s happened to you? How could this be you?!’
Sarah didn’t even look at Dotty’s leg. She turned her head back to her friend.
‘You won’t believe this, but...’
‘That’s the famous Dotty?’ her friend smiled. Sarah nodded enthusiastically.
‘Honestly never thought I see her again, and I certainly never thought I’d see her like this.’
‘She’s paid for right? Can we just get her loaded up and out of this place?
‘You bet!’ said Sarah, ‘But she’s not going back to my farm. I need to make a call!’
Sarah turned to Dotty. ‘Everything’s going to be okay now Dotty. And man oh man, there are some folks who are going to be pretty pleased to see you!’
Dotty couldn’t wait to get going; she was so excited she forgot about the pain in her leg and tried to follow Sarah out of the pen through the gate.
‘Just hang on a minute Shorty!’ Sarah laughed. ‘Let me get you sorted out, and see if I can make the trailer a little more comfortable for you!’
It seemed like an eternity, but it was only half an hour and Dotty was loaded up and on her way, away from the terrible smells and sounds of the auction pens. She was squeezed in between the partitions, so she could hold herself up on three legs, but she was so happy anyway she could have stood on three legs forever. As they pulled away, Dotty closed her eyes, and the image of Solo, strong and fast and confident back at the races came into her head. Dotty breathed a deep sigh, and despite everything Solo had said and done to her, she wished things could have been different for her.
Soon the trailer came to a stop, and Dotty breathed deeply, she could smell sweet grass, fresh cut hay, and the clean smell of rain. She was tired now, and she stumbled out of the trailer, leaning on Sarah, and hobbled into the barn. Her eyes were blurry from the medicine Sarah had given her, but the air smelled familiar somehow. Sarah led her into a big stall, deep with straw. Dotty collapsed into the straw and fell asleep.
When she woke, she climbed to her feet and looked around. She couldn’t believe her eyes. She had definitely been here before. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She could still smell the trees, the grass, and sweet smell of Maryanne’s perfume when she came to ride her. It couldn’t be! It couldn’t be that she was back at Maryanne’s farm! Dotty figured she was still dreaming and tried to go back to sleep, but movement at the stable door startled her.
A small, pretty face appeared at the door; she recognized it at once, even though she looked very different. It was Connie, still small, but somehow she looked so much older. ‘I guess she’s the lady of the house now, and that makes you grow up pretty fast,’ Dotty thought.
‘What do you think Dotty, want to try for a little grass today?’ Connie said, her voice and bright and cheerful as ever.
‘Boy, do I ever!’ Dotty thought; she couldn’t even remember the last time she had tasted grass.
Dotty followed Connie and stepped gingerly out into the sunshine, and blinked her eyes a bit. She reached her head down and nibbled at the sweet green grass. It had never tasted so good. She heard hoofbeats galloping up, and frightened of being knocked into, Dotty jerked her head up to see a mare racing toward the fence. She skidded to a stop, snorted, and looked brightly at Dottie. A foal peered from around the horse’s quarters, poking its tiny nose through the mare’s tail.
‘Welcome home Dotty!’ Maid said to her, ‘Where have you been? You must have so many adventures to tell us about – hurry up and get better so you can come out and play with us!”
Dotty breathed deeply and looked around. ‘Oh Maid, you have no idea of the places I’ve been!’ Dotty said, but this time, she knew it was all going to be just fine! |
Related: Dotty's Story - Chapter One, Dotty’s Story - Chapter Two, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Three, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Four, Dotty’s story – Chapter Five, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Six, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Seven, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Eight, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Nine, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Ten, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Eleven, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Twelve, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Thirteen, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Fourteen, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Fifteen, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Sixteen, Dotty’s Story - Chapter Seventeen - The End,
More In This Category: Horse Fiction
More From This Author: mosquito
|
|
Riders Up Ranch
Thank you so much for sharing Dotty's Story with us here on PB. Every single chapter brought tears to my eyes :) This storty should definitely be published so that it can reach more readers!
Thank you so much for sharing Dotty's Story with us here on PB. Every single chapter brought tears to my eyes :) This storty should definitely be published so that it can reach more readers!
|
Jul 17, 2011
• 2,978 views
|
|
|
|
Simplicity
I hope it gets published i have loved them all
I hope it gets published i have loved them all
|
Jul 17, 2011
• 2,851 views
|
|
|
|
Weber98
This is wonderful! Kinda sad it's over.... :D I hope you get published soon!
This is wonderful! Kinda sad it's over.... :D I hope you get published soon!
|
Jul 17, 2011
• 2,877 views
|
|
|
|
FreeRein
its over.. :(
loved it. loved it, loved it. i am glad you made the srory end happily. It should be published. I hope more people enjoy it rather than just pb members because it was sooo good!
its over.. :(
loved it. loved it, loved it. i am glad you made the srory end happily. It should be published. I hope more people enjoy it rather than just pb members because it was sooo good!
|
Jul 17, 2011
• 2,852 views
|
|
|
|
weezapony
I agree with Riders Up Ranch! This story is fantastic! I can't wait to see it published, and I hope you write more stories for us! :D
I agree with Riders Up Ranch! This story is fantastic! I can't wait to see it published, and I hope you write more stories for us! :D
|
Jul 17, 2011
• 2,854 views
|
|
|
|
Raychel
This is a great ending to the story, I'm so glad Dotty got rescued! Thanks for sharing this amazing story with us, I loved all the chapters =)
This is a great ending to the story, I'm so glad Dotty got rescued! Thanks for sharing this amazing story with us, I loved all the chapters =)
|
Jul 17, 2011
• 2,872 views
|
|
|
|
Madeirey
AWWWWWW!!!!! I LOVE THIS STORY!!!!!!!!!!
AWWWWWW!!!!! I LOVE THIS STORY!!!!!!!!!!
|
Jul 17, 2011
• 2,852 views
|
|
|
|
Carpe Diem
Aww, so sad it's over.
Aww, so sad it's over.
|
Jul 17, 2011
• 2,854 views
|
|
|
|
T W I
Aww, such a touching story!
I'm so sad that it's over, you did a great job with it!
Aww, such a touching story!
I'm so sad that it's over, you did a great job with it!
|
Jul 17, 2011
• 2,915 views
|
|
|
|
Stay Untamed
Sweet ending! I'm going to miss this story. It's my favorite
Sweet ending! I'm going to miss this story. It's my favorite
|
Jul 18, 2011
• 2,893 views
|
|
|
|
Soul Horse
Thanks for this awesome series I hope it gets published! Any new stories coming up? I'm dieing for more!
Thanks for this awesome series I hope it gets published! Any new stories coming up? I'm dieing for more!
|
Jul 18, 2011
• 2,884 views
|
|
|
|
Breegirly
Didn't you say you'd tell us Dotty's full name and show us a picture???
Didn't you say you'd tell us Dotty's full name and show us a picture???
|
Jul 19, 2011
• 2,885 views
|
|
|
|
Aslans Roar
:"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""(((((
:) i luved it all. :""""")))
:"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""(((((
:) i luved it all. :""""")))
|
Jul 20, 2011
• 2,859 views
|
|
|
|
lovehorse
I loooove this story!!!!!!
I loooove this story!!!!!!
|
Jul 21, 2011
• 2,850 views
|
|
|
|
Placebo
Nice writing, and a nice ending :)
Nice writing, and a nice ending :)
|
Jul 25, 2011
• 2,920 views
|
|
|
|
Balla Eclectic
MOD
Well done and congrats on getting to the end of a very well written and engaging story. Only criticisms would be that some of the chapters felt a bit short, especially towards the end and there were a few typos. If you are going to self publish then I'd recommend getting it proof read and having an editor go over it. If you are going through a publisher they would do this as par for the course. Good luck with your plans for this story and future ones. I'm sure there will be more as no doubt you have the 'writer's bug' now. If you are looking for a publisher in Australia, then have your people call my people. -)
Well done and congrats on getting to the end of a very well written and engaging story. Only criticisms would be that some of the chapters felt a bit short, especially towards the end and there were a few typos. If you are going to self publish then I'd recommend getting it proof read and having an editor go over it. If you are going through a publisher they would do this as par for the course. Good luck with your plans for this story and future ones. I'm sure there will be more as no doubt you have the 'writer's bug' now. If you are looking for a publisher in Australia, then have your people call my people. -)
|
Aug 3, 2011
• 3,124 views
|
|
|
|
|
More News by mosquito
|
|
10th Nov 2012 |
Horse Fiction |
mosquito
I couldn’t believe my eyes. For having been so little there before, it looked like a whole town had been turned inside out. Ben shook his head, and walked down to the trail slowly, carefully, picking out way around what was now de ...
|
|
21st Oct 2012 |
Horse Fiction |
mosquito
We’ve seen how the lower legs and hoof all work together to help the horse move, even without any muscles there. Now let’s start looking at how the muscles of the horse really give him power, speed, and balance. Where better to st ...
|
|
We’ve taken a look at the solid structures of the lower leg – the bones – now let’s see what makes those bones move. First of all, remember that there are no muscles below the knee or the hock, so there’s no actual ‘engine’ to mov ...
|
|
25th Aug 2012 |
Horse Fiction |
mosquito
There was no shelter, no trees, nothing. Ben called again and we turned further right, angling away from the train. We were going uphill, and that seemed even more foolish to me until we reached the crest. What goes up, goes down, ...
|
|
It wasn’t long before Luke rode up alongside us on Snowy. I couldn’t see him for my blinkers, but I could hear Snowy’s little quick hoofbeats and smell his carroty breath. Snowy reached over and gave me a nip on my muzzle; I turne ...
|
|
29th Jul 2012 |
Horse Fiction |
mosquito
As the sun grew higher in the sky, the dew dried on the grass, and the last few lingering clouds fluttered and disappeared. The bright blue sky – with that deep blue of a cold morning – changed to a softer hue, as a muggy haze be ...
|
|
19th Jul 2012 |
Horse Fiction |
mosquito
Now that we have the foundations – the hoof – let’s move up our horse and find out a little more about how he moves. In this article we’ll visit the lower leg. For the most part, the front and hind legs (below the knee and hock) a ...
|
|
15th Jul 2012 |
Horse Fiction |
mosquito
I heard the rooster crow, and shifted in my stall to try and stretch as much as I could. First he crows, then Farmer Ben comes along, Bess and I have breakfast, and we get to work. Sunday was yesterday, when we got brushed up nice ...
|
|
|