Spirit: Riding Free

- -

Hyah! Hyah! Let's go, girl!

We can make it on time.

Maybe. Kinda.

Aunt Cora wouldn't yell in front of company, would she?

It's Abigail I'm worried about.

She's gonna kill us.

But she wanted to help out at my aunt's tea party.

It's all she's been talking about all week.

Yeah, but she wanted us all to help out together.

Ugh, I knew we should've gone straight to your house after school.

Why did I let you convince me to go on a quick ride?

To be fair, I said a fast ride, not a quick one.

Well, we better go faster.

I was president of our local Ladies Auxiliary chapter back in the city,

and I must confess I've missed it rather sorely.

So I'm delighted and honored that you have chosen me

to join the Daughters of Miradero Aid Society.

It's our pleasure, Cora. You're a great addition.

Look at this crackerjack meeting!

Tea is served, miladies.

-Madeleine? -Don't mind if I do.

That's a lovely quilt, Cora.

Thank you.

It's my most prized possession.

It's been in my family for generatio--

Oh! Abigail. Let me help you.

Since heaven knows Lucky isn't here to.

Yes, I am!

Sorry, Aunt Cora, we were just freshening up.

That's quite all--

You went for a ride, didn't you?

I thought we agreed the real adventure today

was preparing a proper tea party together,

but you weren't here.

I had to make all these madeleines all by myself,

with my own two hands.

Well, Boomerang helped mix the batter.

But still!

Uh, perhaps you girls would like to discuss this in the kitchen?

We're really sorry, Abigail.

We'll do all the cleaning up by ourselves.

We will? We will.

You won't have to lift a finger. Promise.

Good, because these ladies have spilled so many crumbs,

I thought I'd have to get Boomerang in here to lick them up.

Oh, she's joking.

I would never allow a barn animal into my home.

- -

Truly, girls, this is not the place for this sort of discussion.

Ha! You should see the kind of shenanigans we get up to

when we hold the meetings at my inn.

I've seen more than one horse ridden into her parlor.

Speaking of which, we need to discuss next weekend's ride.

Ride? As in... on a horse?

Well, we tried riding swans, but they're mean little critters.

- -Aunt Cora? Riding?

- -Aunt Cora! Riding!

Well, it has been quite a while,

but I love being astride the... steeds.

She sure does.

Oh, yeah.

-She's a real horsewoman. -A rodeo champion.

Oh, you girls.

Stop, stop.

She once broke a wild stallion in six seconds flat.

Stop.

I knew you had some country girl in you, Cora,

under all that city.

All right.

Nothing to be afraid of.

I can do this.

I never noticed quite how tall this horse of yours is.

- -Ah! Oh, I never!

He's just trying to tell you not to be nervous, Aunt Cora.

Pish posh. I'm not a bit nervous.

Oh, good.

I thought you might be scared because you were sweating.

I am not sweating.

I am merely dewy,

and a lady does not remark upon such things.

It'll be okay, Aunt Cora, I promise.

Pru is getting you the sweetest, gentlest horse

in all of Miradero.

Here he is, Miss Prescott.

Malu is the perfect horse for you to learn on.

- - Oh.

Good afternoon. How do you do?

Just give him a scratch behind the ears.

No! Feed him a sugar cube.

No. To make friends with a horse,

first you have to look deep into his eyes,

and once you've got them all hypnotized...

-smooch him on the nose! - Gracious!

I don't think Aunt Cora's the horse-kissing type.

- -Ugh, my heavens!

Do they all smell like this?

I wish. Señor Carrots smells a lot worse.

Oof!

Come on! We made you mounting stairs.

And I made sure the stirrups are good and tight so you won't fall off.

Oh, my.

I was so focused on getting onto the horse,

I hadn't even considered the possibility of falling off.

Then don't start.

-Malu's a real gentleman. -

Heck, he's probably more scared of you than you are of him.

Do you want me to hold your hand, too?

I have been on a horse before.

-You have? -Yes.

Once, when I was a girl. Briefly.

Well, it's just like... riding a bicycle?

Bicycles don't bite or kick.

Oh, let's just get this over with.

- -

There you go.

Why is it so high?

I don't remember it being so high.

It might be better if you didn't ride sidesaddle.

Oh, nonsense.

- Oh, oh! - Oh!

Now, then, where are we riding to?

Well, I thought we'd go around the ramada a few times.

Will the Daughters of Miradero Ride be around the ramada?

Of course not.

Now, I am up on a horse,

and I fully intend to see this wonderful frontier

you keep going on about. Which way is it?

Right this way.

Come on, Malu.

You can open your eyes now, Aunt Cora.

It sure is something, isn't it?

Especially with your eyes open.

It's absolutely breathtaking.

But it looks like there's a storm coming. Perhaps we should head back.

No way. The storm won't hit for hours.

We can stay out here all day.

Well, if you think--

What's that?

Whoa. Claw marks.

That's a mountain lion.

-Uh, we should head back. -

- -Gracious! Help!

- It's okay, Miss Prescott. -

- Just hang on! -Where is he taking me?

Back to the barn!

Probably.

Is it over? Tell me when it's over.

- Aunt Cora! -I'll get out of next weekend's ride.

In fact, I feel a flu coming on.

- -

Are you okay?

I do believe I have had enough riding for one lifetime.

- -Dad?

Dad, what's going on?

What happened to Governor?

Yeah, and where's his mom?

A mountain lion attacked the herd up on Punta Libre.