Why Am I Blamed For A Horse On The Porch?

By Nancy Reishus

This is an adventure story of sixteen-year-old Angie James. She acquires a kennel full of dogs and then a little red horse named Cheyenne. This spirited horse gets into an endless amount of mischief when he becomes friends with the dogs.
Angie also meets Donnie, a handsome veterinarian assistant, but embarrasses herself and becomes too shy to get to know him. Angie's best friend and the crazy horse Cheyenne set out to remedy the situation. This is a joyful, fast-moving story about kennel life, showing dogs, and all the crazy things that can happen with a menagerie of animals.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nancy Reishus
• Release date: Feb 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201482374

Book preview

WHY AM I BLAMED FOR THE HORSE ON THE PORCH?

A Teenage, Horse Adventure Story

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FOUR FRIENDS PUBLISHING

Whitehall, MT 59759

Copyright owner Nancy Barnes Reishus

2021

All rights reserved.

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The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

ISBN: 9798754555396

Cover design by: Caroline Yarbrough and Nancy Reishus

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309

Printed in the United States of America

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NOTE: -

*Although Why Am I Blamed for the Horse on the Porch? is a fiction, all the dogs, the horse, and other animals were real and most the incidences that happened to them were true.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

DEDICATED TO my devoted husband Randy Reishus and his patience.

My good friend, Liz Hughes; and my younger brother, Clint and Jeanette, and their family.

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Chapter 1

The whistle screamed through the air, first as it reached the small town of Craig and then again as it left. It was a lone engine, off schedule, rushing down the track at top speed.

The engineer relaxed after he had passed by the town and looked out across the country. This small valley was so pleasant, surrounded close by mountains and sheer gray cliffs, with the wide Missouri river meandering through it. As the engineer thought of the countryside, he failed to notice that down the track walked a girl and four dogs, and the engine was bearing down on them with tremendous speed.

Angie had taken her four dogs out of their kennels and for a walk across the green meadow and down the railroad track that ran between an interstate highway on one side and the Missouri river on the other.  Running at the head of the four dogs was the Samoyed, Cressa, her white coat shining in the sun as she happily bounded along. An Afghan Hound romped behind her while the Shetland Sheepdog trotted beside Angie. Gypsy, a gold and white Sheltie, as they are called for short, wore a large potbelly and would soon be due to have puppies. In her arms, Angie carried a young male Sheltie that had just been purchased as a future mate for the adult female. This Sheltie pup was the son of the famous show dog Champion September Showdown from out of Oklahoma. Angie was happy with this dog as she could raise top quality dogs that could win in dog shows.

With the dogs, Angie walked the railroad until she came to Jackson Rock. This large cliff-like rock extended out into the river, sloping down from the top to a flat area that was easy to walk, to a sharp drop off into the river, the rock protruded out into the depths of the river causing the water currents to swirl dangerously at its base. These currents had overturned many a small boat and had legendarily drowned a man named Jackson, and thus the rock was named. But despite its danger, it was a place of beauty. Angie sat on the rock's floor while the dogs ran freely exploring it, the wide river reflected the bright blueness of the sky, and beyond, the mountains stood high and distinct emphasizing the beauty below them. Angie sat and soaked in the sun on a lazy afternoon and thought about the morning conversation. It was nearing her sixteenth birthday, and she had been hinting for a horse, a bridle, or anything that went with a horse. She really didn't expect much, but she had big hopes. Mom was a horse lover, but Dad was another story.  When Angie talked about the horse to him, his first reply was a grunt, and his second reply was, We need a horse around here like a hole in the head! Horses are nothing but trouble! Angie didn't feel too discouraged though because she knew if she could get Mom's support, Dad might yield. Dad was married late, and had his children when he was older, so he had a tendency to spoil them.

Angie arose to walk home. She had just crossed a railroad bridge with the dogs when she saw the train. Her body froze when she saw how close it was. Angie was right beside an interstate highway and the cars rushing by made so much noise that she had not heard the train until it was extremely close. Panic rushed over her. The dogs were all running free, off leash and although she knew they would come to her, there was very little time to get them safely off the railway.

Come on dogs, Angie called to them trying to keep her voice steady and happy sounding so they would come with her. She started to walk down the steep embankment as the dogs came but she stopped when she saw her young male Sheltie, Flame, confused and hesitant at climbing over the railroad rail. She quickly moved back for him knowing the hesitance of youth could snuff out his life. She scooped him into her arms and moved off the track and into safely below. Angie called to the dogs, her voice shaky, and they all responded and followed her down the embankment except for one. This was Janene, her most expensive and prized dog. She was an elegant Afghan Hound. Angie had shown her in Washington and Montana, and she had brought home many ribbons and trophies. She was a two-year-old dog, and her cream-colored coat was long, well brushed, fine and soft. She was a creature of beauty, but she stood at the top of the tracks defiant at the idea of going any direction except home.

Janene! Angie screamed at her, and then trying to control her voice to make it sound pleasant enough and yet demanding enough for her to respond, she repeated over and over, Come here, come on! 

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An Afghan Hound is an independent creature with a mind that is quite their own and although they can be obedient, it is only by their choice. Janene looked at Angie but then placed her nose into a high position as she made her decision and started down the tracks. Angie started up the embankment after her, but as the dogs came faithfully with her, she stopped.

She could not endanger the rest of the dogs for one dog. Angie went to call for her again, but the train was too close, and she stifled her call so she would not distract the dog when she needed to be aware of the engine.

In a moment, the train roared past, and Angie saw the engineer look to the side as if he had seen Janene, Angie felt relieved as the engine rushed away and she thought Janene must be safe. She walked to the top of the railroad and horror filled her when she saw crumpled across the tracks, her Janene.

Oh no! Oh no! Janene! Angie cried out as she ran toward her. Angie thought she was dead but when she got close to her, pained eyes looked up.

Oh Janene, why don’t you listen to me? Angie moaned as she knelt beside her. She put her arms under the dog and lifted her, feeling an urgency to get her off the railroad. The Afghan cried when she lifted her and turning her head, she bit Angie's arm. Her arm hurt but the skin was not broken, and she knew the dog had to be in terrible pain to have bitten her. After Angie got her fully off the ground, she relaxed in her arms, and