Cheryl caught my glance and flicked her hand at me. “Don’t worry, they won’t miss you so much. Have a little time to yourself, dear. You do a lot in your profession. It must be hard what you do, with all the stories I hear.”
“It can be rough some days, but it’s rewarding, too. I mean, I get to work with beautiful little girls like Bella.”
Speaking of the bright, bubbly little girl, she came rushing toward us as we stepped outside.
“Hey, you guys! Grandma, there wasn’t any mail. I checked and checked again.”
The corner of Cheryl’s mouth lifted into a wry smile. “Oh, thank you anyway, baby, for taking a look.”
Bella grabbed on to her grandma’s hand. I still had a job to do, so I asked Bella some questions as we trudged along the path.
“So, Bella, are you ready for your daddy to come home?”
She nodded her head enthusiastically. “I can’t wait. I want to tell him about my riding. I can ride Moonlight by myself. She loves me. Her coat is so shiny. And I look after all the chickens! I collect all the eggs.” A few chickens came gathering around Bella as if on cue as we closed in on the barn.
“They lay their eggs in the barn. We don’t cage them up. We want all animals to be free here!” She twirled around.
I nodded, impressed. “Free-range eggs. Very nice.”
Cheryl looked at me as if she’d forgotten something. “Would you like to take some fresh eggs with you, dear? We have plenty.”
I smiled. “If you can spare some eggs, I will take them off your hands.”
“Yes. Of course we can.” Cheryl patted my arm in reassurance.
I turned to Bella. “Do you love the horse as much as your father does?”
“Yes. He must be missing Moonlight. She’s his favorite. The dark one. I like Moonlight, too. ‘Cept she can be temperamental. I hope she remembers him. If she doesn’t like people, she will just buck them off.”
The lightness of her childlike spirit made me smile. I listened to the rustling of the wind through the trees. I noted the workers coming to and fro from another shed at the back of the property. It prompted me to ask the question, “How are the workers getting on out here without Colt?”
“They all used to work for me. Well, all of them except three new ones. We passed the farming business down to Colt. So it’s like riding a bike for me and Clive. We stepped right back into our old roles.”
Cheryl walked with her hands clasped behind her back. We approached a red timber barn full of hay. The smell of horse manure and feed passed my nostrils. Bella ran ahead to the horses, all of which were standing tall behind stable doors made from wood. The first head I saw was the majestic Moonlight. She bowed her head to us, flaring out her nostrils.
My mouth opened wide. I felt like I was in the presence of royalty. Her coat shone black as night with parts of it reflecting from the sunlight. Her beautiful, huge eyes watched, checking me out. Cheryl gave me an encouraging push toward her.
“It’s okay. She sorts out who is who here. Play nice, and she will play nice with you.”
Tentatively, I stepped forward. Moonlight quietened, and I reached out my hand, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t want her to bite me. I stroked her nose, and she lowered her head and nuzzled my neck. Startled, I jumped back. Moonlight reared her head up, and she appeared to be just as scared as me. Maybe horses are mirrors to us. I didn’t know.
“Easy now. She will be fine. She likes you. That’s why she did that. Take it as a fine compliment from her. She’s been known to give the workers a nip or two. She lets us know who to fire and who to keep.”
“Wow. She is something truly special.”
“We think so.”
“Grandma! Grandma! Can I feed them?” Bella pleaded.
“Sure you can. Go right ahead.”
Bella went to a haystack on the side, and I watched as she lifted the golden straw into the stables of the Palomino horses. She was beyond her years.
I was tired, just watching her. “Where does she get her energy? I mean, she’s like a little adult.”
“That she is. She’s doing great in school, by the way. Gets along with all the kids. They come here and run around. They never want to leave. But why would you?” Cheryl raised her hands as she turned around the stable.
I giggled a little as the chickens clucked near my feet, and the horses kept watch. It reminded me of a scene out of Babe. She was absolutely right. “Can I ask you another question?”
