I grunted, and secured the elastic around the hand at the base of her neck, then flicked it over her shoulder that was furthest from Mouse.
“Thank you.”
I cleared my throat again, murmured, “Mm-hmm,” then stepped back out of the stall, mesmerized by woman and horse while the tingling sensation of her hair against my fingers remained like the whisper of a touch.
Turning away, I pulled in a few deep, fortifying breaths.As if she knew something was up, Portia left her bed, because I still hadn’t collapsed the cot or brought her princess bed back into the house, and came to stand at my feet.
I crouched down and scratched her ears, letting her wiry hair and warm skin settle me.
“You’re very sweet, aren’t you?”Danica murmured softly to Mouse.“Such a pretty girl.Look at all the hair coming off you.I bet that feels good, huh?”
“Wow, Mom.Mouse is letting you brush her.”Sam came to stand beside me, surprise and glee in her eyes—the same green-hazel shade as her mother’s.
“Come in,” Danica said to her child, motioning for Sam to join her.“Slowly.”
Sam approached with measured footsteps, and Mouse watched her with caution.But she was so subdued now from Danica’s brushing that when Sam started to brush her neck, the horse didn’t even flinch.
“Her eyes are so expressive,” Sam marveled.“She’s also filthy.”
“Maybe one day you’ll let us give you a bath.Hmm, Miss Mouse?”
A rush of conflicting emotions filled my chest.Anxiousness mixed with excitement.Desire mixed with unease.Joy mixed with sadness.It was hard to believe that today was the same day that Raven arrived and we buried Angel.All those things felt like a lifetime ago.And all I’d had to eat was an apple.
My belly rumbled loud enough that even Portia grunted.
“I heard that,” Sam said, craning her neck around to face me, a carefree smile on her face.
“I’m fine.”
Danica checked her watch and gasped softly.“Oh wow.It’s late.We should head home.You still have reading to do as well.”
Sam whimpered.“Awe.Do we have to?”
“Y-you can come back tomorrow, if you’d like?”I suggested, eager to see Danica again.
Sam grinned wide, then faced her mother.“Can we, Mom?Please?Midnight will be growing so fast.And we don’t want to lose all the progress we’ve made with Mouse.”
I could see the war within Danica’s eyes that she wanted to return for the same reasons as her daughter, but wasn’t sure if she should say yes.“Maybe just quickly after school.We definitely don’t want to lose the progress we’ve made with Mouse.”
Sam did a little bounce on her toes, jostling her blonde locks.That just seemed to draw Mouse’s attention though, and the mare decided to try to munch on Sam’s hair.Sam giggled and gently pushed Mouse away.“Mouse, gross.”
They spent another five minutes with Mouse, petting and brushing her, then they said their goodbyes and closed the stall door.
I walked them out, battling with the melancholy feeling settling in my chest at the thought of having to say goodbye—to either of them.
“I’m sad that Angel died, but so glad that Midnight is going to be okay, and that you were able to get Raven over here so quickly,” Sam said as I followed them to their RAV.The rain had ebbed, and just a heavy mist hung in the air now as the sky grew darker.Spring was certainly on its way, but winter seemed to cling to dusk and dawn the longest, making the air crisp and biting in the lungs.
“Me too,” I said to her, holding onto Danica’s open door as she climbed behind the steering wheel.“Thank you both for all of your help.And to see Mouse that way …” I shook my head.“I’m so glad she’s bonded with someone.Withtwosomeones.”
“She’s a sweetie,” Danica said, tugging the hair elastic out of her hair and fanning her locks around her shoulders again.
“See you tomorrow, Tom,” Sam said, clicking herself into her seat.
I leaned forward a little to peer into the back seat.“See you tomorrow, Sam.”
Danica’s eyes met mine, and her chest inflated.“See you tomorrow, Tom,” she whispered.
“Buona notte, Danica.”
