Thunder: The Maverick Mustang

A sharp peal of thunder rumbled, and the pony started to rear

and plunge again. . . . Lightening zigzagged across the dark sky,

and the frightened pony gave another wild leap that pulled the

rope through Ken’s hand, taking some skin with it. He felt the

tears of pain behind his eyelids, but he held even tighter to the

rope. . . . “It’s only thunder, it’s only thunder,” he repeated softly.

When the horse stopped plunging, Ken looked at Bob, who was

brushing the dirt from his overalls. “Bob, let’s name the horse Thunder.”

Twelve-year-old Ken and his 14-year-old brother, Bob, worked hard on old man Weese’s ranch to earn the black mustang. Ken loved the fiery pony with all his heart, but Thunder didn’t trust people, and he refused to be tamed.

When a forest fire burns the fence posts to the mountain pasture, allowing Thunder and the other wild horses to escape, Ken is heartbroken. Will Ken ever see the black pony again?