Scout's Faithful Path

Scout didn't have papers, but he didn't need them. A solid bay of mixed heritage, he had the sturdy build of a quarter horse and the endurance of something wilder. He was my trail companion for over a decade, covering thousands of miles. He had an uncanny sense of direction, finding the way home in blizzards and darkness. He knew how to cross tricky streams, navigate rock slides, and alert me to wildlife before I saw it. The trails we blazed together are overgrown now, missing the sure sound of his hooves finding the safest path. The saddle that fits his broad back gathers dust.