“Danica,” I whispered, not moving.
“Hmm?”She didn’t move.
“Would you be willing to try to go into her stall with her?”
She kept her forehead against Mouse’s but glanced over at me.“I can try.”
“She’s been here nearly a year and never let me brush her.”
“Oh, sweetheart, you need to be brushed.”
“Lift the latch there.Slowly,” I instructed.
With her forehead still touching Mouse’s, she did as I said.Mouse’s eyes went wider when she realized what was happening, and immediately backed away, burying herself in the furthest corner of her stall.
Danica persisted though, and opened the door.She grabbed a brush from the top of the ledge, and stretched out her empty hand toward Mouse as she slowly approached her.“I’m not going to hurt you, baby.Nobody wants to hurt you.”
Mouse shifted and stomped her foot, eyeing Danica warily.But there was also a curiosity there, and an openness in her gaze that I hadn’t seen before.
Cautiously, Danica took one step closer.“I’m not going to hurt you,” she said again.“I just want to brush you.It’ll feel so good to get brushed.I love brushing my hair.Getting out all the tangles.”
Why did I instantly want to run my fingers through Danica’s hair and feel how soft and tangle-free it was?
She reached Mouse’s neck and slowly slid the brush down it.Mouse’s entire body gave a little shake, like a sudden shiver had just taken over her soul.
“See?Doesn’t that feel nice?”Danica asked.She stepped closer and did it again, this time cascading the brush further down Mouse’s body toward her hips.
Mouse gave another little shiver, and she lifted her head.Then, she stepped closer to Danica and showed Danica her side, as if encouraging her to continue.
So she did.
“That’s a good girl.You’ve got such a pretty coat.Just needs a little TLC.Every lady deserves a little pampering.”
Mouse shivered again, and again, then turned her head around and tried to playfully nibble on Danica’s shoulder.
“Hey, you,” Danica said, giving a little giggle.“That’s not food.”She reached over and grabbed some hay from the hay cage and held it out for Mouse.“Eat this, not my sweater.”
Mouse ignored the food, but tried to pull Danica’s hair into her mouth.The light in the horse’s eyes was a new and beautiful thing.There wasn’t fear there.Just curiosity and …trust.Danica was the first person she had ever trusted, and she was showing her affection in her own peculiar horse way.
A hand landed on my shoulder.“We’re gonna head home,” Cameron said gently to not spook Mouse.“She’s a very special lady, Danica St.Claire.”
I glanced at him, and the knowing glint in his eyes made my temperature spike.“Not sure how much you know of their family, but they all deserve only the very best.And I think you do too, my friend.”He gave my shoulder a squeeze, then took off, reaching out his hand for a reluctant Francesca, who scampered out of Galahad’s stall.
“Bye, Tom,” Francesca called to me, waving.
Mouse gave a twitch from the sudden loud noise, but she didn’t back away from Danica.
I waved at Francesca, but didn’t say anything.
“Uh, would you mind, um … ha-ha,” Danica said to me, chuckling.“There’s a hair elastic on my wrist.Could you put my hair in a ponytail, please?I don’t think she wants to eat it, but it’s getting kind of gummy with horse slobber.”
I cleared my throat, and stepped into the stall, careful to keep my distance from Mouse.
Danica kept brushing her, but held out her free hand with the elastic.Her wrist was slender, and her skin was so soft.I gently slid it off, and she tipped her chin to the rafters so her long, blonde waves hung down her back.I swallowed hard as I carefully gathered it all into a ponytail.
“I have a son.I didn’t learn how to do these very well,” I said, praying she couldn’t tell that my hands were shaking as I fought the urge to just continue running my fingers through the silky strands.
“It’s all right.Just enough to keep little Miss Mouse here from getting a chunk off it by accident.”
