“But—”
“Uh, when you’re ready, Coop,” Fletcher says, looking between us with a knowing smile.
“Thanks, Fletch,” Cooper says, and I’m forced to follow him into the barn.
“We’re going to get Goldfish saddled up, and I’ll take you out,” Cooper says.
“But what about Naomi?” I ask him.
“She’s going back up to Aunt Dixie’s,” he says over his shoulder.
He pulls the door open, and Naomi runs past me into another room.
“You said it’s been a while since you’ve ridden a horse?” Cooper asks.
“I was a kid. My uncle Leo showed me,” I say, looking at the large chestnut horse, who’s staring at me.
Naomi comes back with what looks like a blanket in her hands, and she walks into the stall.
“Do you want to give it another shot?” Cooper asks.
“No time like the present,” I say, standing to the side.
“Goldfish is very nice,” Naomi says, dragging a step stool up next to the horse.
“Naomi, watch Goldfish and Mae while I go get the saddle,” Cooper says.
“Okay,” she chirps.
“Remember how you have to introduce yourself to Abe? It’s the same with Goldfish,” Naomi says, situating his blanket.
Deciding to trust the instructions of a seven-year-old, I hold my hand out, and the horse sniffs my hand, then takes a step, smelling my hair.
“Goldfish, you moved!” Naomi says, frustrated.
Naomi pats the horse on the back, and she seems to understand her and takes a step back. Once she situates the blanket on the horse’s back the way she wants it, she hops off the stool and puts it in the stall's corner.
Then Cooper comes around with a saddle in his hands and heaves it onto the horse. I watch in fascination as Goldfish seems entirely unbothered by what’s going on and watches Naomi with loving eyes. He dips his head and nibbles her hair.
She giggles and sneaks a hand into her pocket, holding it up to the horse. Whatever Naomi has, Goldfish snatches it quickly, and she giggles again.
“Naomi, I told you no sugar cubes before we go out,” Cooper grumbles.
Naomi looks around with wide eyes — caught red-handed.
“We’re ready to go. Naomi, up to Aunt Dixie please,” Cooper tells her.
“Okay, bye Mae!” she yells and takes off up the hill.
I watch her run all the way up and climb the stairs into the house.
“She usually comes with me every morning, but by now she’s with Aunt Dixie.”
“Did Goldfish take to you?” Cooper asks.
“I think? I don’t know.”
He chuckles and pats the horse on the neck. “He’s pretty chill. I made sure of it, especially with Naomi around.”
