Sun, the magnificent palomino stallion that was her favorite mount, came prancing up to greet her. Jessie rubbed the golden animal’s velvet nose, and whispered into his ear how happy she was to be with him again. Neighing, Sun tossed his head, reared up on his hind legs, and moved with careful balance toward the corral gate. “Reckon he’s right glad to see you, Miss Jessie,” the horse wrangler said as he came from the hay shed to investigate the reason for the palomino’s neighs. “He’s in pretty good shape for not working such a long time, ain’t he?” “He looks just fine, Speedy,” Jessie replied. She gazed across the range land that stretched invitingly from the corral’s bars, and said, “Saddle him for me, will you, while I go inside and change? I think I need a little ride as much as Sun does.” She got back just as Speedy tightened the last cinch-straps of the saddle he’d put on the palomino’s back. At the ranch, Jessie defied the convention of sidesaddles and rode astride.
