Chapter 5! :)

Chapter 5: Bonding

Kit kept her promise and came extra early, and after church on Sundays. Everyone had something to say about how to gentle Indigo, but Kit had her own plan. And it was nothing fancy.

All she did was spend time with him. The first week Indigo was kept in a closed off pasture by himself. Kit kept his water bucket full and brought him a slice of hay every afternoon, then perched up on the gate and watched him.

At first, Indigo refused to go anywhere near the side of the gate Kit was on, but after a few days Kit took to sitting right by his hay and water, then he had to get close to her, and he did. Cautiously. But just the same he was standing right next to Kit.

After a few more days Kit took to talking to Indigo, and walking about his pasture, Indigo didn't seem to care. Kit let this go on for awhile, and slowly, during those cheery spring days, they got to know each other.

"He's learning to trust again." said Kit to Jen "Just you see, I'll get him yet."

Though it was taking awhile for the little horse to heal on the inside, on the outside he was flourishing. Kit, with Jen and Julia's help, had made up a special diet for the little horse, and it was doing wonders.

"He needs a good grooming." remarked Julia one morning

"I know." sighed Kit "But he still won't let me lay a finger on him."

"Don't worry." answered Julia, "That'll soon change. Just you wait."

And it did change. It wasn't long before Kit was rubbing his nose, brushing his mane, and stroking his strong back. Though it had taken awhile. Indigo was not quick to trust anyone right away, and he certainly had a strong hate for humans. He reared and bucked and kicked and squealed. If Kit had not been such an expert, she would have been badly hurt weeks ago. But she was smart, and knew just how to act with a horse like him. So it really was only a matter of time before he learned that Kit was not going to give up because of his silly fights.

Kit spent every day with Indigo, and her work was really showing. Jen was very pleased with how it was all going, even though the horse was far from being ridden, and nobody could go near him but Kit. He trusted Kit and Kit alone.

After a few more, long, work-filled, weeks, the day had come for Indigo to get tacked up. Not to be ridden, but just to try a saddle and bridal on, and let him get used to wearing such things. Kit was out trying to catch the wild little horse, while Jen and Martha watched.

Kit raced after him, with a halter and lead rope wrapped over her shoulder, he saw this and kicked up his hooves and galloped away. Kit was laughing and pretending to get angry. Indigo was just teasing, he was not afraid of Kit or his halter now. But he did like a good game of chase.

Jen and Martha smiled, and tried to hold back laughter. "Those two are quite a pair!" cried Martha "Who would have known there was such a spirit in that horse? Aren't you glad you saved him?"

"Yes." agreed Jen "I am. There's still a long way to go, but I know he and Kit will make it through. Trust me, she'll be up and on his back before you know it."

"And she won't just be riding him" said Martha with a smile "She'll be galloping."

Indigo finally gave in, and let Kit toss the rope around his neck and lead him through the gate. She forced him to walk smartly at her side and took him into the barn, where she tied him to the cross-ties. There she began a long and thorough grooming.

Indigo was a beautiful horse now. His coat was a fiery red-orange, and his mane and tail were blue-black. He had a perfect white diamond in between his dark eyes and neat little hooves.

Kit found her woolen bareback pad and Rapido's hacamore, and, with a lot coaxing, she got them on.

The rest of the morning was spent getting Indigo used to walking with them all on.

"I want to ride him now." said Kit to Jen "He looks good." She pointed to his long, now well muscled legs, "He's going to be fast."

Jen nodded. "Wait awhile longer before jumping in the saddle," she said "You know as well as I do that he's not quite ready yet."

"I know." said Kit "But he's so close. So very close! Can I ride him this Saturday?"

"Maybe." said Jen with a smile

"I will."

"We'll have to wait and see."

Kit loved working with Indigo, but it was not always easy. Other kids, Jen knew, wouldn't have even begun, and they certainly would have quit after the bitten fingers, extra hours of work, and sudden horse temper tantrums. Kit had given up a lot those last few weeks, and there was still a lot to be done. Jen knew she could count on Kit all the way. Kit wouldn't stop until all the work was done, and done well.