Chapter 23 - My Life: Running Free

It was late summer and it stayed light until close to nine o'clock.  We all were in bed and sound asleep when the telephone rang.  Back then, there were not phones in every room.  Our telephone was on the writing desk next to the small lamp at the bottom of the curved staircase.  It was about 2:00am when the call came in.  The call was from a local resident who knew us.  The State Police had been notified.

My Uncle immediately began to wake all of us up so we could help.  Putting on our dungarees, boots and a lightweight shirt...a shirt with long sleeves though...we all jumped in the pick-up.  My Uncle and two of my cousins were in the front seat and my cousin and I were riding the back of the truck leaning against the cab, watching the roads sail by as we headed towards Southford.  It was only going to be a 10-15 mile drive.  We would be there soon enough.  It was pitch dark. 

We wondered how it could have happened.  We tried to recall if any of us had left the gate open when we were there earlier.  Something had spooked them.  They were running free!  They were running all over according to the State Police between Southbury and Southford.  Now we had just had to find them, catch them and bring them all back to the barn.  They were gone...Sandy, Rocket, Perty Hal, Judy, Daisy and Star,our six horses, and Rebel and Destry, our two Shetland ponies!

 They were grazing in people's front yards!  They were leaving hoof prints on well manicured lawns!  They were leaving their "residue" where ever they felt like it!  And my Uncle was not happy.  He worried about damage that they might cause.  He worried about the horses crossing the road...causing an accident.  We all worried.  That's how it was living in the country.  When your folks worried, you worried.

Once we got to the barn, my Uncle looked for tracks so we would at least know in which direction to head.  Did they head up towards the fields?  No.  Tracks headed toward a more populated area.  The State Police met us so they, too, could help us search.  By daybreak, we had gotten them all and the ending was a happy one.  

What made it take so darn long was that there was only four of us girls so we had to ride one horse bareback and have one "in tow" so to speak all the way back to the barn.  We were up all night that night and I remember how we all wanted to just hit the sheets when we got back home.  Nope...it was time to get our chores done.  That was how country life was.  Chores first, then rest.




Don't forget to head over to W Va Treasures with Angela for more animal adventures!

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