“What are you doing in here?”
“Nothing, I just wanted to see what the stable was like.”
“Why?”
She shrugged. “Just because.”
“Does George know where you are?”
She nodded. But she wouldn’t tell him their secret. That George had told her to come here on purpose because her father had been spending time with Graham and not her.
Her father crossed over to the open room and she followed him, then stood in the doorway and watched as he tossed the coil of rope in a corner.
“This is the tax room,” she said, wanting to impress him.
He glanced up at her. “Tackroom.”
“Oh.” She stared at her toes and felt foolish.
“That was close.” He was grinning at her as if he were actually proud of her, even though she had messed the word up.
“What were you doing?”
“Separating two of the stallions that were fighting.”
“Oh. Why do horses fight?”
“The same reason people fight. Because they want to be the master.” He took something out of a box.
“What’s that?”
“A new bridle. I’m going to put it on Jack and go for a ride.”
“Oh.” She’d asked too many questions because now he was going riding to get away from a silly little girl who talked too much.
He stopped and held out his hand. “Do you want to come with me?”
“Riding Jack?”
He nodded.
“Just you and me?”
“Aye.”
“Oh boy, do I!” She took a hold of his hand and skipped along to keep up with his long strides.
Soon they were riding over the meadow and down the path to the cove below. She leaned back against her father’s chest. “Do you think if you put your ear to a tree trunk you could hear it grow?”
“I think that trees grow too slowly and quietly for you to hear it.”
It was getting darker and colder. The sounds of night came quickly this time of year.
“Why do crickets sing?”
He looked at her. “What?”
“I asked why crickets sing.”
