The horse whinnied and I ran my head down the white stripe on her head. She nuzzled into Jack’s arm. “Sheisa good judge of character, unlike Kick-O,” Jack said.
“Kick-O will come around. Soon enough he’ll be…”
“Calm-O? Nice-O? Not Bitey-O?”
I smiled. “He’ll be Jack’s Favorite-O.”
Jack’s lips almost turned up into a smile underneath his dark beard. “Let’s get Nick over here and see what the horse has to say about him.”
A buzzing noise came from Jack’s pocket. He pulled out a cell phone and looked at the screen. “Shit, it’s one of the carpenters. I’ve got to take this.”
Nick wasn’t anywhere to be seen. I leaned on the door and looked into Nutmeg’s soulful eyes. She blinked her long lashes and nuzzled into me. It was going to be dark in a few hours.Fuck it, I thought. I wasn’t going to stick around tointroduce Nick to the horse. I saddled her up, took her out to the paddock, and walked beside her around the ring.
“You can take her out to the trails.”
I had been so engrossed with the horse I hadn’t noticed Henri. “I was just getting her accustomed to me.”
“Oh, Nutmeg is a little tramp. She’ll let anyone ride her.”
That was all the permission I needed. I shoved my foot into the stirrup, and as soon as my leg swung over the saddle, I was transported to another place and time. “Come on, Nutmeg.” I clicked my tongue and we sauntered to the gate. As we approached, Henri opened it.
“Just be careful. Nutmeg likes to run.”
I grinned. “So do I.” I didn’t have to urge the mare very hard. The two of us set off at a canter down the laneway. I was wary of the ruts and didn’t want her to have a misstep, but once we were on the dirt road, I clicked my tongue again and we were off. Her powerful legs moved beneath me and I was sure the grin on my face was going to be frozen there until the end of time. She grunted as she galloped, steam puffing out her nose.
It was almost like skiing, with the wind in my hair, but unlike that sport, I was good at this. She was an intuitive horse and seemed to know exactly what I wanted to do.
By the time we trotted into the barn it was like we had been riding together for years. I returned her to the stall, and after I took off her saddle, I wrapped my arms around her neck and buried my face in her mane. One day I’d have a horse of my own, and I hoped that she’d be as cool as Nutmeg. I’d just met her and I was already in love.
“Sorry to interrupt.”
Nutmeg stamped her feet. I didn’t have to turn to know that the voice belonged to Nick. “Jack told me to come in and meet…the horse?”
I rested my hand on Nutmeg’s neck. “This is Nutmeg.”
Nick approached slowly. “Can I pet it?”
“She’s not a dog, and yes, you can stroke her neck.” Nick hesitated. “They can tell when you’re nervous. Try to relax.”
“I’ll do my best,” he muttered. “Jack sent me up here with some carrots.”
“That’s cheating.” I smiled, but go ahead, but make sure your hand is flat.
“Why?” he asked.
I took a carrot from his hand and held it on my palm. Nutmeg took it gently, the hair on her muzzle tickling my palm. “Do you think that your fingers look like carrots?”
“Oh shit.” Nick examined his hands.
Nutmeg didn’t seem to have any issue with Nick, and by the time we were done, the horse was nuzzling into him. “She likes me.” He giggled like an eight-year-old kid.
“Don’t think you’re special. Henri says that she likes everyone.”
Nick brushed his hands together and shoved them into the pockets of his jacket. “I saw you out there.”
“You did?” I wasn’t aware that anyone had been able to see or hear me. I might not have hooted as loud as I did when Nutmeg and I really put on the jets.
“I’ve got a view of the road from my cabin, it loops down through the trees by the river. You’re a really good rider.”
