“So now I shall no longer call you daughter of the sun. You are daughter of the tortoise,” he said, and came the closest to laughing with me.
“You shouldn't stay here, Natani. This is a mean and ugly place. You don't belong here.”
“I must stay with my plants, my animals, my trees. We look after each other. Someday, daughter of the tortoise, you will learn that the Earth Mother is your true friend and the only home you will have.”
“I think I learned that already, Natani. Thanks again for what you did for us.”
He nodded and smiled. “You did well with what you learned.”
Because of our near exhaustion and what we had endured, we weren't given heavy, long labor during the first few days after our return. Most of my day was spent helping Natani with the horses, work I had come to love. One afternoon, Natani asked me if I would like to learn how to ride Wind Song. I was terrified of the idea, but he told me I was ready and Wind Song approved. I had little doubt that he could speak to horses.
Natani showed me how to ride bareback. His first instruction was to mount Wind Song from the left side. Even at his age, he was nimble enough to leap and swing his leg over Wind Song's back. I tried it and failed miserably, probably because I was too frightened. Finally, he boosted me up and I swung my leg over. It was not exactly the most comfortable place to be, but Natani said I needed to relax and believe in myself, and if I did, it would be like riding on a cloud.
“Be one with Wind Song. He will know if you feel like a stranger. He will not expect it or like it if you don't join with him,” Natani advised.
I put my hand on Wind Song's powerful neck and he shook his head and then tapped the ground with his right hoof.
“He says hello,” Natani told me.
“Hello, Wind Song,” I replied.
Natani handed me the reins, which he wanted me to take in my left hand first.
“Never let go of the reins,” he said. “It is how you talk to Wind Song, to tell him which way to turn and when to stop. He is rein trained.” Natani showed me how to lay the reins on Wind Song's left side to turn him right and vice versa.
"Do not pull back when you are standing still. He will think you want to go back. Hold the reins like a bird: too tight and you will choke it, too loose and it will fly away, daughter of the tortoise.
“Wind Song likes you, but he will want to ride you and not you ride him. It is natural to him. He is a proud animal, full of spirit, so be firm with your movements. You must feel his moves, and when he starts to turn where you don't want him to turn, stop him, becauseonce he is into it, it will be hard to make him change his mind.”
“Do I say giddap?” I asked.
Natani smiled and shook his head. “You watch too many cowboy-and-Indian movies. You press firmly with your heels into his sides when you want him to go forward. Don't worry about hurting him. You won't, but he will know you are serious if you press firmly. Bounce with him, daughter of the tortoise.” Natani then slapped Wind Song on the rump and he started around the corral.
Bounce I did and I came down too hard and fast. Natani told me I was being too stiff. I knew I had to hide my fear, but it was hard. Finally, I discovered that Natani was right: If I relaxed, it was less difficult and I didn't bounce as hard. I softened and I could feel I was riding better and better. After a few more trots, Wind Song stopped as if he was testing me, and Natani urged me to move him ahead. I did so, firmly kicking with my heels. He began to trot again and Natani shouted for me to practice turning him.
“Firmly, firmly,” Natani called to me. “Do everything to show him you mean it.”
It was easier than I had expected, and soon I began to enjoy it. I even turned him sharply, then started around again just to see if I could make him do that. My courage was building with every minute I rode.
Look at me, I thought. Look at me. Who on the street in Atlanta would believe Phoebe Elder would be riding a horse bareback?
On my next turn, I saw M'Lady One standing next to the fence. She was smiling, but it wasn't a friendly, happy-for-me smile. It was impish. I looked to Natani, but he didn't see her.
As we drew closer, she leaned over the fence. “Having a good time, Phoebe bird?”
I was about to say yes when she flicked a cigarette lighter, one of those that had a knob permitting you to increase the flame. Wind Song caught sight of it and reared sharply to his left, whipping into a gallop. I tried holding him back, but he was excited and afraid. I thought he was actually going to try to leap over the fence, but he stopped short and raised his forelegs. I lost my grip and slid off his back, splashing down into the horse manure.
M'Lady One, now joined by the other two buddies, roared with laughter. Wind Song trotted away and stared at me, snorting, brushing the ground with his right hoof like a bull about to charge. Then Natani entered the corral and walked toward him. He held out his hand and placed it on the horse's head. For a moment Wind Song looked like he would throw it off, but he didn't. He calmed down and stood still, his tail slapping at flies again.
“I guess
