“I know better than she does about what she needs in a horse. And we had a plan, which I was putting into action. With your approval, I might add.”
“I understand, and I’m sorry, but things have changed.” Dexter frowned. “You leave me in a bad situation.”
“I’ll be fair to you financially.” Harold stood firm. “I always honour my debts.”
“Okay. I get that you want to give Tall Sox another chance. Let’s get him home and talk this over.” Dexter began to unclip the horse.
Harold stopped him. “I want to keep Tall Sox here. At least for now.”
“Here?” Dexter threw out his arms and looked around. “Moreland’s is a far superior facility, and you’re paid up for the month. With me as Sally’s coach, not Hannah.” He shot her a disparaging look.
“It’s my decision to make, and I’ve made it. Tall Sox stays at Saddle Creek. If I change my mind, Dexter, I’ll certainly be in touch.”
“And what about that other gelding? The owner’s turned down several offers!”
“She can take any offer she wants, and she knows it.” Harold continued to speak calmly, but his tone was increasingly firm. “I never promised to buy that gelding.”
“You’ve made the wrong decision for Sally. You’ll see.” Without another word, Dexter stalked out of the barn. Ed Cage stood beside the truck. As soon as his boss appeared, they both got in, shut the doors at the same instant, and drove away.
Bird felt the atmosphere clear with their departure, but she doubted it was the last of them.
Hannah and Harold let out their breath at the same time.
Harold spoke first. “I’m sorry you had to hear all that. And I’m sorry to have put you in this position. Thank you for stepping up.”
“I had nothing to do with it. It was Bird and Sally who brought him here.”
“But you didn’t send him back.”
Hannah considered this. “I might have, if not for the sore on his back. It made me wonder.”
“That’s what made my mind up — when Dexter tried to put the blame on you. Even a novice like me can see that the sore didn’t happen last night.”
Hannah nodded. “May we treat it? Paul, Dr. Daniels, has already looked at it, and he tells me the horse needs antibiotics and regular cleansing.”
“Absolutely. You have a new boarder. If you’ll take us.”
Hannah smiled. “Of course.”
“I’ll start paying board today. Lessons, too. Sally likes it here.”
“I really, really do!” Sally had finished bathing Charlie and came running to join them. “I’m so happy!”
“We really like Sally,” enthused Bird. “And Tall Sox, too.”
“I’m glad, Bird.” Harold Johns smiled at her as the three of them walked out of the barn.
“See you tomorrow?” called Sally.
“See you tomorrow,” answered Bird. “Oh, Sally? Can I show you where to put your tack?”
“Sure!”
Bird showed Sally into the tack room and closed the door behind them.
“I actually wanted to ask you something in private,” she said.
Sally looked wary. “What?”
“Why did you tell me that your father was going to put Tall Sox to sleep?”
“He was!”
“The truth?”
Sally looked at the floor and mumbled, “Okay, I didn’t know exactly. But I knew he was going somewhere. I don’t trust Dexter, and nobody was telling me anything.”
Bird decided to accept that. “Fair enough. But from now on be honest with me, okay?”
Sally smiled sheepishly, and nodded agreement. The girls walked out to join the adults.
Sally waved goodbye as she and her father drove away. Bird watched from the barn door and waved back, hoping that Sally could keep her promise.
Can I stay here? asked Tall Sox. Did I make a good first impression?
Looks like it, answered Bird. But I have to keep your sore cleaned out. You’re not going to like it, and it has to be done.
If you’re gentle.
And you have to eat all your food, even with the medicine stirred in.
I will.
Good. When it heals enough, I’ll get on you and find out how much you’ve been taught.
I can run fast, and I know how to jump, but I’m not ready to go into competition.
Would you like to?
Yes!
And will you be nice to Sally?
Yes, if I can stay here.
Deal.
Bird laughed in surprise as Sox leapt joyfully in his stall, playfully shook his ears, and bumped Bird gently with his soft nose. Whatever happened next, Bird knew she’d made this horse very happy.
4
HANNAH TELLS BIRD ABOUT HER FATHER
The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves.
— Black Elk, Oglala Sioux holy man
Bird put Tall Sox outside with a barrel of fresh water and headed to the farmhouse for a late lunch. The others were already eating sandwiches outside under the big maple.
On the way down the lane, she walked past Sundancer’s field.
Sunny threw his head up. You’re paying a little too much attention to the new guy.
Jealous, Sunny? Don’t be! You’re my best friend.
All the horses want you to ride them.
Bird climbed the fence and sat on the top rail. Sunny came over to get his ears scratched.
It was fun at the show yesterday,
