They call the wind Mariah…

Previously:

“Shet-up Pete! I’m gonna teach him not to disrespect me,” Samuel said and turned to the door.

Cooper was well on his way to Coldwater Ranch and didn’t notice Sam’l following.

Season VI, Chapter 5 Coldwater Ranch, Episode 5:

Upon their return they found the buildings were built

Upon their return they found the buildings were built—Camp Coldwater had transformed into Coldwater Ranch complete with a thick-walled fieldstone ranch house, bunkhouse, and barn. The pastures beyond filled with mustangs—all-in-all a fully operating horse-ranch. They thought nothing of the fact that when they left there were only a few tents there.

Susan and Erik returned to Dreadwood and found themselves at work, respectively at Seven Tables and Miller & Blot.

Boomer & Larry were on their way into town to place a few help wanted signs as the ranch need more horse wranglers.

“Good thing Mac sent us to find help,” Larry said through a giggle…

“Good thing Mac sent us to find help,” Larry said through a giggle, “I’d fear for the poor applicants had he sent Susie.”

“As well you should.”

“Oh—I DO!”

On that same road a mile or so ahead of Boomer & Larry, the tall stranger was startled from his thoughts, “We’re being followed, he’s just over the hill behind us. I think we should turn into the brush.”

“Did you just speak to me, horse?”

“Did you just speak to me, horse?”

Before replying, the horse took matters into her own hoofs and moved into the brush where they’d be hidden from the road, “I’m called ‘Mariah’ not ‘horse,’ if you don’t mind too much.”

“I’m called ‘Mariah’ not ‘horse,’ if you don’t mind too much.”

Taken aback, the tall fellow couldn’t help remembering an old earworm, “Away out here they got a name/For rain and wind and fire/The rain is Tess, the fire Joe,/And they call the wind Mariah…”*

“Now what, Mariah?”

“We wait for him to pass, and then begin to follow him.”

“Seems like a good idea to me.”

“A wise human always listens to his horse.”

Indeed!

*From Paint your Wagon, 1951, written by Alan J. Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe
To be Continued…