He shook his head. “That’s the most Josh response I’ve ever heard. But if you’re happy, I’m happy for you, man.”
A sigh escaped me. “Making these kids happy makes me happy.”
“Then I hope she doesn’t keep you waiting too long.”
“I’m in no rush.”
Before he could grill me any further, Celine pulled up in her minivan, the damn thing making noises that probably weren’t good. I needed to get it over to Frankie for a full tune-up sooner rather than later.
Heading toward the commotion, I dug my phone out of my pocket and prepared for the big moment.
“Is this the rescue?” Maggie shouted. “Can we see our friends Calvin and Hobbes?”
“Actually,” I said, giving her a nonchalant wave, “there’s someone we want you to meet.”
She peered up at her mom, pushing her glasses up her nose, and when Celine smiled at her, she ran toward me.
I hadn’t told Celine about Daisy yet. I’d only asked her to meet me here after school. But I was certain she would love the surprise as much as Maggie did.
“Oh my God.” Maggie squealed when she caught sight of Daisy. “Is she real?I’m dying.”
I put a hand on her shaking shoulder and bent at the waist. “Breathe.”
She was silent, but her body remained trembling with excitement, her eyes huge behind the lenses of her glasses.
“This is Daisy,” I said, nodding at the horse. “And Daisy, this is Maggie Whittier.”
Maggie reached out with shaking fingers, and the mare lowered her head, meeting her halfway. They froze like that, the two of them perfectly still, connected.
Shit. My heart squeezed. I looked over at Celine, who was wiping a tear from her cheek.
“She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Maggie breathed. “Mom, do you see this? Get your phone. Take pictures of me with Daisy, my best friend.”
Logan cleared his throat. “Let’s talk a little bit about how we can care for Daisy.”
Maggie, always excited to learn, snapped to attention.
“Would you like to brush her?” he asked
“It would be my great honor.”
My lips twitched, and beside me, Celine let out the tiniest giggle.
“Here.” Logan held the brush in his hand and showed her how to do it. “Long strokes, shoulder to flank.”
Maggie took the brush and mimicked his motion, a look of fierce concentration on her face.
“The most important signal she can give us is with her ears. If they’re facing forward, that means she’s happy. But if they’re pinned back, that lets us know she’s scared or unhappy, and if we don’t pay attention, she could accidentally hurt someone.”
Maggie nodded, blissfully brushing Daisy, who had lowered her head and was sniffing the ground near her feet.
“Ellie? Julian?” Logan said. “Would you take this bag of dried crickets over to the chicken coop and give them some treats while I teach your sister a few more things?”
Julian rushed up to him and snatched the plastic bag from his hand. “Crickets are gross, but Josh’s chickens love them,”
With a small smile, Ellie led him across the barn, where the chickens were already gathering for their snack.
“Getting to know a horse takes time,” Logan said. “They are big feelings trapped in big bodies. We can’t rush them, and you’ve got to do the work to earn their trust.”
