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The horse was tired and found soft ground beneath the shade of a several ironwood trees, where pink-flowered limbs provided protection for sweet, green grasses that shot up through the sandy soil. The animal devoured the tender vegetation, then lay down to rest.

Later, a sound woke the horse. He lifted his head and smelled the other creature. With much effort, he stood, his hip stiff, painful from being immobile while he slept. Dark dried blood clung to his side.

A young sheep with a white body and black head and ears emerged from under a creosote bush and bleated. They stared at one another, then the horse turned to continue his trek along the river. That the sheep tagged along was no problem for the horse. The little animal reminded him of a new foal.

The horse and the sheep walked alo……