Caleb jumps up from the couch, “Now!?”
“Can Miss Juni come!?” Rosie jumps up and down, and I flick my eyes to her, her hands cradling her coffee cup as she takes a sip.
“If she would like to,” I address her directly.
“Do you want to!?” Rosie gets real close to Juni, staring up at her with big blue eyes, pleading, “You want to, right!?”
“It’s Dottie,” I inform her.
“I would love to,” she smiles down at Rosie.
My daughter’s eyes light up, and she seizes Juni’s hand, leading her to the front door.
I step up behind her, purposely leaving a gap between us, but there’s no stopping the heat of her pressing into me or the way her scent wraps around me like a drug.
“If it gets too much, let me know.” I whisper so the kids don’t hear.
She gives me a soft nod, eyesmeeting mine. “Thank you.”
Rosie leads the charge, dragging Juni with her as they walk hand in hand toward the stables Dottie has been placed in. She settled in pretty well, though that fiery attitude of hers still remains with everyone else but me. I’ve placed her next to Mars, my gelding Mustang I’ve had since I was about twenty-two. I’m thirty-four now, but I raised him from a colt, and I know him. He’ll help Dottie in a way only horses can, or at least that’s the hope.
Rosie stops outside Mars’s stable and waits for me, even though his big white head shoves over the door, his dark eyes on his favorite person. His head nods up and down in excitement, lips smacking as he waits for Rosie to kiss his nose like she always does.
“Hi Mars!” Rosie grins up at him, giving him exactly what he wants. When he’s satisfied, he swings his head up to Juni and reaches forward with his nose, turning soft as he presses it to the bruise on her cheek. And this is why I love my horse. Because he knows.
“Oh,” Juni lifts her hands to cradle his face, stroking him, but the moment only lasts a few more minutes when Dottie decides it’s time for attention. She kicks the door and shoves her head over it, huffing through her nose.
Rosie gasps, running to the door where she can see the Appaloosa, “I love her.” She squeals.
Juni and the kids spend the morning on the other side of the fence, watching me as I continued Dottie’s training. The filly has come along in leaps and bounds since the first day I met her, but there’s still a long way to go. Our biggest task will be getting her used to more people than just me.
The day turns hot as midday rolls around; the sun beating down on the ranch, no cloud in sight, so I take Dottie down to one of the shadier pastures to let her roam for the afternoon. Mars is in the one beside her with a few of the other geldings, a fence separating them. She can’t be trusted yet with other horses, but constant exposure to them will help her become used to their company and also aid her training as she watches them interact with the other people on this ranch.
We are all just heading back to the house when a familiar SUV pulls up to the pasture. From the driver’s side, Darcy climbs out, a folder in hand.
“I’ve been looking for you,” she says to me directly before she gives my kids a quick greeting, eyes pausing on Juni. Her brows lower, “Wait. Do I know you?”
“Darcy, this is Juni; you met her when you came to look over Dottie.”
“Right,” Darcy nods. “But why are you here? If you think you’re taking that filly back, you’re mistaken. I’ll have you arrested for animal neglect.”
Juni’s eyes widen, and she takes a step back.
“Darcy,” I snap, “She’s a fucking guest.”
“Why are you being mean?” Rosie tells her off.
“A guest?” Darcy blinks, and as if only just seeing the bruise on her face, her eyes widen. “Oh, shit.”
“That’s a bad word!” my daughter helpfully points out.
Juni stares down at the ground, her shoulders curving inwards, and I don’t think, just respond, subtly reaching for her pinky finger with my own, giving her a point of contact to rely on.
“I didn’t realize,” Darcy softens, “Shit, I’m so sorry.”
Juni gives her a fake smile, “I didn’t know she was young either.”
“It’s not easy to tell unless you know what to look for,” Darcy swallows, looking to where my finger is linked with Juni’s. “I really am truly sorry; I thought the worst without asking questions first.”
