Chapter 10 - The Stallion’s Fury
Marcus twisted his torso, the tip of Donald's blade slicing clean through his jacket collar without touching skin. Capitalizing on the momentum, Marcus caught Donald’s wrist, pinning it against the edge of the trailer frame, and struck Donald's elbow with the heel of his palm until the bone gave way with a sharp pop.
The knife tumbled into the sawdust. Donald let out a choked gasp of agony, his face draining of color as he collapsed against the hydraulic lift controls.
Above them, the upper divider of the trailer gave way entirely. With a piercing whinny that shook the arena rafters, Black Sovereign burst through the rear safety chains, plunging down the metal ramp into the ring. The magnificent black stallion’s eyes were rolled back, nostrils flared wide, hooves hammering into the earth like thunderclaps.
Donald scrambled backward through the dirt, clutching his broken arm. ""Stop him, Marcus! That horse is worth more than your entire bloodline!""
The stallion circled wildly, kicking out at the mahogany fencing, disoriented by the harsh lighting and the scent of blood in the air. As the horse turned, Marcus noticed a thick leather restraint wrapped tightly around the animal’s flank—a spiked training cinch designed to artificially agitate performance during sales viewings. Donald had strapped it on to keep the horse aggressive for illicit buyers.
""He's not angry, Donald,"" Marcus said quietly, stepping carefully into the horse’s blind spot, murmuring in a low, rhythmic cadence that he had used with wild colts for twenty years. ""He's terrified.""
May you like
The stallion wheeled toward Marcus, snorting violently, front hooves carving deep gouges into the soil. Marcus didn't flinch. He extended a slow, open palm, keeping his eyes lowered, matching his breathing to the cadence of the panicked animal.
Step by agonizing step, Marcus closed the distance between himself and the thrashing beast. Just as his fingers brushed the spiked cinch buckle, the distant shriek of state police sirens echoed across the valley hills, tearing Donald’s gaze toward the arena entrance.
