Fourth Grade
Worksheets
Nathan's Spirit Horse, Part 1
Nathan lay with his eyes closed. The pain of the sudden contact with the dry, dusty ground slowly receded. Something solid nudged him. Now it was sniffing his face. Hot air blew in his nose, and whiskers tickled his cheek. He opened his eyes to a close-up look at his horse's nostril.
"Ugh," grunted Nathan as he began to slowly pull himself upright. So much for not making a fool of himself, he thought.
He groaned as he slowly got up. His hands pressed on his lower back, pushing him upright.
Nathan heard a snort and his back was given a strong push. He grabbed the nearby corral fence to stay upright.
"Hey! Cut it out," he shouted at his horse. As he turned around, Nathan heard a titter of laughter. He figured the kids standing nearby were laughing at him. Nathan's chin went up. He didn't need them. He'd soon be able to ride his horse anywhere he wanted to go. Provided of course, he didn't fall off.
Nathan looked at his horse. He was more than half white with large black splotches. His neck on one side and his shoulder on the other side bore what looked like hand prints. There was also a black spot on the top of the horse's head that included his ears. Nathan heard that was called a war bonnet marking.
The hand-shaped spots were very special. Horses marked that way were called spirit or medicine horses. Even his horse's eyes were funny. One was a normal, dark brown eye; the other eye was a funny bluish-white, a wall eye.
Nathan sensed Laughing Bear's approach before the man came into view.
"Are you ready to try again?" he asked without preamble.
