The letters to and from the commanding officer of my ex made sure my ex was kept busy. My ex's father got into his and my ex's shared savings and bank account and made my ex pay for my hospital bills in full. I started sending his commanding officers a care package with the approval of their wives. It would mostly be things the wives could not add to the package, but I was able to get it. I would make copies of their letters, especially if they mentioned my ex wanting to harm me.
The top officer got it approved to keep my ex there for a year, even though he only wanted to stay for six months. All the mares are bred, and Ranger is happy spending the time he is not working with me with the mares and foals. I was currently riding him up to the old cabin. No one had realized it had been there for over forty years. Pawpaw only talked about a cabin on the ranch, and no one realized it was still standing until Timothy and Kade stumbled upon it.
I rode Ranger up to the porch and dropped his reins as I dismounted. I walked around the house taking pictures before sending them to my dad. He probably won't get them until after I get closer to the barn. I tried the door and it creaked open outwards. I took basic pictures of the inside and then took a picture from the front door. Ranger's ears perked up. He moved closer to me and stood between the treeline and I.
I slowly moved to him and put my hand on his back. He kept his sight on the trees. I mounted up on his back and looked into the trees. I pulled the rifle out of its holster and racked it. I knew we were being watched by possibly a cat or coyotes. I clicked to Ranger to move, and he turned to walk around while keeping an eye on the treeline. He kept an ear pointed towards the trees while he stiffened up and swished his tail.
He was not happy and was defensive. "Home," I told him as we went around the specific spot. He picked up the pace as we left the clearing. He picked up the pace even more as we moved closer to the ranch. I grabbed the reins, letting him go full speed to the ranch. I turned to look back, seeing a mountain lion running after us. "Go Rang, go!" I yelled. I looked back, seeing the cat getting closer. I aimed the rifle and shot.
Ranger kept pace as we went through the gate. I slowed him down and patted his neck. "Good boy, good boy," I said as he slowed down. As soon as I dismounted, I took his saddle off and swapped the hackamore for his halter. I walked him around the aisle to cool him off before bathing him. I used his purple shampoo and let it sit on his coat for a few minutes before rinsing it off. I conditioned his coat and hair, letting that sit for a few minutes as I cleaned his hooves out.
I did a final rinse, getting everything out of his coat. I took a sweat scraper to get the excess water off him. He deserved this. I was going to do this tomorrow with the mares, but I decided to do him today after we were chased by a mountain lion. He looked better, brighter, and much better. He's my pretty boy, and I want to keep him that way. I turned him out with the mares and foals so he got some free time. He's protective of those mares. He greeted them in pecking order before grazing. After their baths, they are getting pre-checked. As far as we know, we will have ten foals from him next year.
If the mares did not take, they will immediately come back in, or we will separate the unbred mare or mares from the group and put them in with the geldings. Ranger will stay out with them during the year to keep them safe. The foals born this past May will be weaned in November to give the mares enough time to eat all the hay and alfalfa they want.