The Dark Horse — Will James

Sent away as a colt because his color didn't reflect his fine racing lineage, Colonel-the Dark Horse-finds himself in a strange land thousands of miles from home. Charro, born in the arid badlands of the West and orphaned at a few months of age, is rescued from starvation by a cowboy named Brad. At the Hip-O Ranch on the edge of the badlands, fate brings these two colts together to form an unbreakable bond. At first, the two colts are content to be fed and groomed by human hands. But one day, when someone leaves a corral gate open, Colonel and Charro head off into wild-horse country for adventure and a taste of freedom. Along the way they outsmart four mountain lions, survive a mustang attack, and kick dirt in the face of the mustangers who want to capture them and sell'em to the highest bidder. With forty line drawings and colorful prose, Will James vividly renders two weak-kneed, green colts who become the best of their breeds: Colonial, a race-winning champion, and Charro, the wiliest wild mustang the West has ever seen.