My Friend Flicka Page #4

Flicka understands

everything I say.

Whats more,

she talks back to me.

Aw, poo.

Maybe you dont

know it...

but horses got a language

all their own.

Theres a neigh

of terror...

a scream of rage...

a whinny of nervous

impatience...

a nicker of longing--

Eee-h-h-h!

Theres a nicker

of hunger.

R-r-r-r.

Can you wiggle

your ears?

Oh...

[Whinny]

Whats she saying now?

Oh, shes telling me

shes finished her oats.

Oh.

Maybe shes saying

thank you, too.

Maybe she wants

more oats.

[Whinny]

Maybe shes had

too many.

Maybe shes got

a pain in her stomach.

Maybe she needs

some castor oil.

Only gluttons

need castor oil.

[Whinny]

[Whinny]

She wants something.

Oh, I know.

Shes thirsty.

Why dont you go

and get a drink?

Theres a whole lake

full of water.

Oh, all right.

Boy, you sure are

getting spoiled.

Oh, gosh. I forgot.

Your Pops back.

For Petes sake.

Why didnt you tell me?

Ive got to see him

right away!

[Whinny]

You hear that?

That means she doesnt

want me to go.

Aw, I betcha

it just means...

shes got gas

on her stomach.

[Whinny]

Bet you I didnt forget

anything this time.

Flour, salt, ham--

What about my hairpins?

How could I forget anything

as important as hairpins?

Theyre in there.

Dad!

Dad, did you get it?

Get what?

You know.

Sorry. I forgot

all about it.

You did get it,

didnt you?

Sure, I did.

Its a beauty.

Where is it?

Well,just a minute, Son.

Your work done?

Yes, sir.

Did you exercise

Cigarette?

Yes, sir.

Shes in her own pasture...

and I tied the gate.

Good. Is she hot?

No, sir. I cooled her off

on the way home.

Give her

a good workout?

Yes, sir, and I didnt

lose or break anything.

Good work, Son.

Youre really coming along.

Can I have it now?

Its in the front seat.

You were right, Nell.

The filly

sure did the trick.

Hes a changed boy.

Flicka!

Flicka, Ive got

something for you!

Look. Brand-new

saddle blanket.

Tailor-made

especially for you.

Isnt it keen?

When you grow up,

well put it on you.

Wont even know youve

got a saddle on your back.

Well go riding

on the range...

fly like the wind.

Look.

Got your name on it.

Oh, Flicka, I didnt

mean to scare you.

Honest, I didnt.

Come back, Flicka.

Oh, please come back.

You dont have

to have it.

I wont ever ride you...

or put a saddle on you...

if you dont

want me to.

Youll just be

my friend.

[Whinny]

Mom...

did you ever want

anything terribly?

Most everyone

wants something, dear.

But youve grown up.

Youre married.

Youve got Dad and me.

Why, youre finished.

Then I shouldnt

still be wanting, should I...

if Im finished?

But people do, Ken.

Everyone?

Always, Mom?

Dont you ever

really get finished?

Yeah, I wonder.

Maybe sometimes,

for a minute or two.

What is it

you want now, Ken?

I do so want Flicka

to be all right and not loco.

Oh, perhaps she

isnt loco, dear.

We dont know yet

for sure...

but if she is, Ken...

wanting wont change it.

If she is, itll look bad

for her, wont it?

Lets see what happens

when we try to halter-break her.

Does she have to be?

Weve got to find out,

dont we?

I suppose so.

As soon as shell

let you touch her...

well have a try at it.

What if she

wont let us?

She loves you,

doesnt she?

Oh, yes.

Im sure she does.

Well, that shows

shes intelligent.

How does it, Mom?

Its just a way

of putting away fear.

Dont you understand,

Ken...

that if you find love...

if a person or an animal

finds love...

its the same

as finding safety.

Its comfort and

friendliness and help.

Everyone longs for it.

And if Flickas

found it...

and yet doesnt have

sense enough...

to know shes found it...

and goes around being crazy

and silly with fear, then--

Then shed be loco.

[Humming]

Good morning.

Whered you catch them?

At that deep hole

under the falls.

Put them in here.

Thank you.

Well, Boss,

what today?

Look over

the mowing machines.

We have to get at

the haying soon.

Those stackers

need repairs.

Oh, Gus.

Before we begin...

I want to help Ken

halter-break his filly.

I want you and Tim

to be on hand.

Where, Boss?

The calf pasture,

and well do it right now.

But, Dad, maybe...

maybe we better wait

a little while.

Shell let you close

to her now, wont she?

Oh, yes.

Flickas my friend now.

She likes me, but--

Good. Im glad

to hear that.

Its a fine thing

to have a horse for a friend.

Flickas never had a rope

around her neck.

She may fight us

putting one on her now.

Maybe shell act like she did

when she arrived.

Maybe shell act

like Rocket.

She has to be

halter-broken sometime.

Might as well

get it over with.

Get ready.

Ill be right down.

Didnt you find

a broken mule shoe last night?

Yes.

Thats good luck,

aint it?

Yes, but if I

make a mistake...

Dad may blame it

on Flicka.

And then he wouldnt--

Call her, Ken.

Flicka!

Have your loop

ready, Tim.

[Whistles]

Put your bandanna

around her neck.

Tie it in

a loose knot.

Easy, Flicka. Easy.

Now take your belt off.

Slip it through

the bandanna.

Now take ahold of the belt

and lead her around.

All right.

Now bring her back.

Let go of the loop.

Hold your hand

under her chin.

Thats it.

Id call that

halter-broken.

But it isnt a halter, Dad.

You really take

some convincing, young man.

All right. Give us

the halter, Gus.

There you are.

Put it on her.

Go ahead, Son.

But how, Dad?

Just the way you

put it on Cigarette.

All right,

now lead her around again.

How did she get

halter-broke, Dad?

Thats the way

we break horses...

on the Goose Bar ranch.

You figure it out, Ken.

Come on, boys.

Lets get at those machines.

Then shes not loco.

Shes not loco.

You could have

knocked me down with a feather.

I knew she liked me

pretty well, but gosh...

she let me

halter-break her...

without even

an argument.

Flickas a smart filly,

just like her father.

All girls are smart

like their pops.

[Whinny]

Shes calling me.

She sure is, Kenny.

Thats the nicker

of friendliness.

Bet you

shes just hungry.

Gus, somethings happened to her!

Shes limping.

Somethings wrong

with her front leg.

Flicka, whats the matter?

Whats happened

to you?

Its that barbed-wire cut.

But that was

all healed up.

But it didnt heal right.

The legs swollen.

Is that bad?

Means infection.

Infection? Thats

dangerous, isnt it?

You betcha.

Hildy, you

talk too much.

I think it hurts her.

She aint bearing

any weight on it.

What do you do

for a horse infection?

Just the same

like for people--

put on poultice

so itll drain.

Ill get Mom

to make a poultice.

Ja, I think

you better.

She has got sense,

hasnt she, Mom?

She knows were helping her,

doesnt she?

Of course she does.

Shes a good little girl...

and well get her out of this

in no time.

Slack off!.

Rip it!

Dad, Id like

to talk to you.

What about?

About Flicka.

For the love of Mike,

cant you see Im busy?

Cant be worrying

about that filly.

Im sorry, Dad.

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