Mandy

My name is Mandy. I am a hawk. I live in the biggest oak tree on the horse farm known as Bell Run Stables. Oh, I’ve been here a long time. I was here long before there was a Bell Run Stables. Yes, I’ve seen it all and boy… do I have stories to tell.

Well, there was the day Timmy became a Bell Run barn cat. Yes, a barn cat. Bell Run Stables has four barn cats. Let’s see – there’s L.B., that’s short for Lord Byron – there’s K.C., that’s short for Kitty Cat – there’s Archie – just plain Archie and then there’s Timmy. Well how Timmy got to be one of the barn cats is this…

Karen, one of the horse trainers, was riding Grey Lady Dancing, one of the Arabian mares, in the big riding arena. They were getting ready for a big horse show that was coming up soon. Out of the corner of her eye, Grey Lady could see something way out in the big back pasture. She stopped her trotting around the arena, pricked up her ears and gave a bit snort. Karen asked, “Come on we have to work hard if we are going to be ready for the show.”

She pulled on the reins and made Grey Lady start around the arena again. But when they came around to the side facing the big back pasture, Grey Lady stopped, pricked her ears & snorted loudly again.

“Grey Lady!” snapped Karen. “What is your problem?”

Now I was sitting on my nest trying to keep my four eggs warm and could see all this from my perch. I decided to fly over and ask Grey Lady what was up. As I flew over the arena, I gave a squawk & asked her what was the matter. She gave me a soft neigh and told me there was something in the big pasture. So, I had a look. I made a big circle high above the ground and soon spotted a tiny grey & white ‘something’ below. I made my circle lower and soon could see it was a very tiny grey & white baby kitten.