Fury

[Fraroc]

Chapter Seven




“Hey Mike! Can you come over here for a sec?”

Mike hears the voice of Jack calling him over. He wondered what he wanted; to his knowledge, he hadn't done anything wrong on the job, so there was really no reason for him to be concerned about him being angry.
“Maybe, he just wants a favor” Mike thought to himself.




Mike walks into the house where Jack is waiting for him in the dining room.

“Hey Mike, I called you in here because I have an idea....”
“What is it?”
“I’ve really paid attention to what you said earlier about it being a shame that we can’t help the stallion. But now, I thought of a way that could possibly, and I mean POSSIBLY break him.”
“Yeah? Let’s hear it!”

Jack pauses for a few seconds.

“Mike.......I want you to tame the horse.”




Shocked is the only word that could describe how Mike felt at that point in time. Is Jack trying to get him killed? Had he gone completely off his rocker? Mike didn't want anyone to know about this but even though he is sympathetic to what happened to the stallion, ever since he was kicked in the face, Mike had become genuinely afraid of the horse, something completely uncharacteristic of the Michael Schaefer that a lot of people in Crystal Falls knew and feared.

“Are..you...KIDDING ME?! You said it yourself, Jack! That horse is a KILLER! I’m sorry, but even though I have done plenty of stupid ass things in my life, trying to break that untamed.... DEMON of a horse is something that I can't do!”
“(sigh)...You know...I had to do a background check on you before I hired you. I knew about your criminal record, but I hired you anyway. In a way Mike, you and that stallion are not that different, dangerous and aggressive, but yet incredibly spirited.”




“You.....really think that?”
“My friend....I know that.”
“Ok....I’ll try to tame him...Anything that could save that beautiful horse’s life."





Just minutes later, Jake and Michael meet up near the paddock where the bay stallion is kept, currently awaiting euthanization. Both of the glance at each other and Jack says something to Mike before he attempts to tame the horse and in the process, save the horse's life.

“You know what to do....now do it.”




Michael starts to walk very slowly towards the unstable steed. Like a timber wolf stalking it's prey, Mike doesn't hesitate, but at the same time, he doesn't want to risk spooking the horse.

“Easy boy....I promise I’m not gonna hurt you....”




Unbeknownst to both Mike and Jack, a small audience formed to watch what happens next, Julian, Jennifer, Karilla and Marissa all run to the stable door to look at what is happening.

“I can’t believe Mike is really doing this...” Karilla whispers..
“If he can touch that stallion without it killing him, then he is my hero.” Said Julian.




Mike continues to creep closer and closer to the horse, but as soon as Mike gets too close for his comfort, the bay stallion perceives this as a threat. He freaks out and rears on its hind legs, Mike jumps back, the hooves missing him by a fraction of an inch.

“WHOA!!! Easy there!! Now calm down!”




The stallion appeared to have calmed down again. Mike then continues to stalk the horse quietly, but again, he gets way too close to the unruly horse and he bolts, possibly as an attempt to jump over the fence and escape. Mike then gets angry and yells at the top of his voice at the stallion as he nears the edge of the paddock.

“I know that you blame us for whatever happened to you....BUT WE’RE ONLY TRYING TO HELP YOU, GOD DAMN IT!!!!!”



Shockingly, Mike's yell causes the horse to stop dead in it's tracks, seemingly docile again. Jack smiles at Mike and commends him for what he did.

“Good....you made the stallion realize who’s boss. The next step is to have him realize that you’re not trying to harm him.”





Mike then approaches the stallion quietly and slowly and in fear because he doesn't exactly know what the stallion may do next. But instead of freaking out and attacking Mike, the horse stays right where he is. Mike extends his hand and actually is able to pet the horse on the forehead.

“I......I understand why you’re so dangerous and aggressive. You don’t really hate humans, but you’re afraid of them...The cruel, heartless, sonovabitch that abused you, he’s gone now, forever. You’re with us now, you’re safe here....You know.....I see a lot of myself in you.”




Mike then jumps over the fence and walks over to Mike and the stallion. He then gives Mike his next mission in conditioning the stallion to stop being afraid of human beings.

“You're doing an excellent job, Mike. Now the next thing I want you to do is..... ride him.”
“What?”
“Jump on the stallion's back and ride him. Trust me, you and that stallion are both ready for this. You are ready to conquer your fear of him, and he is ready to conquer his fear of humans.”




Michael has rode horseback enough times in his tenure at the stables to know what it’s like to ride bareback. He did have some concerns riding a horse that was just tamed without a saddle, but he jumped on the horse’s back anyway and the animal didn't move at all.




Mike then kicks the side of the animal and the stallion darts through the corral, seemingly at the speed of light.

“Atta-boy! Faster!!”

Jack would have expected him to fall off, but No. Mike seems to be in total control of the horse’s actions.




Mike rides up to Jack and dismounts the horse. Not surprisingly, Jack is in absolute awe as to what he just saw Mike do.

“Mike..... There is absolutely no other way to say it but....you were born to ride that horse. I...don’t even know how you did it. You’re a true horse whisperer...I'm guessing now I should call the Equine Rescue group and tell them the good news...




“What should I name him, Jack? I was thinking about naming him ‘Killer’ but I kind of think that’s a little inappropriate. Should I just call him by his original name, ‘Tornado’?”
“You can name him whatever you want, man. You know what this moment reminds me of, have you ever heard of that old western TV show from the 50s named ‘Fury’? It's about these ranchers that round up wild horses and they encounter this beautiful black stallion and the only one that can ride that black stallion is a little boy that saved his life!
“Fury? Hold up....(GASP) THAT’S IT! That’s his name!! Fury!”

And so, the stallion was now christened “Fury” by Michael Schaefer, who in turn is the only human being that has earned his trust.



Mike walks back to the stable where Karilla, Jennifer, Marissa and Julian were waiting for him. They were all absolutely starstruck at what they just witnessed.

“MIKE!! HOW THE HELL WERE YOU ABLE TO DO THAT?!” the four of them screamed simultaneously. Mike’s only reply was....

“According to Jack, I guess I have that special talent to earn a horse’s trust.”