Finding the Good

By Tanya Patterson

Seventeen-year-old Jackie Gates is more accustomed to wearing designer clothing and possessing expensive gadgets and electronics than wondering how shell eat and pay next months rent. But she knows that running away and leaving Fort Worth, Texasand her former life behindis what she needs to do.

Life in Castlewood, Ontario, is tough, but her goal of earning the local scholarship to veterinary school is in her sights. Her passion for horses and her need to make money lead her to a much-needed job as a farmhand at Starcross Farms. Its here she befriends Dusty Houghton, a local boy struggling with school and his parents recent divorce. She also finds herself face-to-face with the very reason she ran awayher horse, Texas.

After one year of being mistreated and abused, Texas is far from being the horse she used to know. Certain she can mend the damage of his former abuse, she struggles to keep the balance of her new life from tipping into the old one. Just when shes close to finding a solution to keeping the job she needs, the horse she loves, and the boy she has grown too close to, a tragic accident threatens it all. The accident jeopardizes not only her life but adds to the risk of uncovering secretsand the unasked questions from her past.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Dec 12, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462066599

Tanya Patterson

Tanya Patterson lives in Ontario with her husband, three sons and a dog. Together they own a large horse training and boarding operation.

Book preview

1

Sitting in the corner of a local coffee shop, seventeen-year-old Jackie Gates searched the classifieds. She held a lukewarm coffee in one hand and propped her head up with the other. Her stomach growled in complaint at the plain bagel she had eaten for supper, but she ignored it. Her eyes kept moving back to one ad in the newspaper that was spread out on the table before her.

Starcross Farms — Position Available

Wanted male or female available

mornings and weekends.

Light farmwork. Horse knowledge a must.

Accommodations available.

Please apply in person.

Jackie had read it over so many times she had it memorized.

I never had much luck with that paper either, the waitress commented as she wiped off the table beside Jackie.

Jackie lifted her head and smiled. The waitress looked a couple years older than Jackie. Her blonde hair was piled on top of her head, and she had a pencil tucked behind her ear. I think I’m looking for a job that doesn’t exist.

The perfect job never does. The waitress laughed and moved on to the next table, which was occupied by an older couple.

Jackie folded the paper and tucked it into her knapsack. She pulled out a textbook and a binder and placed them on the table. A group of kids entered the coffee shop, and she recognized them from school. A few of them were in some of her classes. They laughed and talked as they made their way across the room to choose a table. If they had recognized Jackie sitting there, they didn’t let on.

Jackie had attended Castlewood High since the start of school in September, and she still hadn’t made any friends. The town was small, and everyone seemed to have their own established groups. She didn’t exactly look like the rest of the girls; she was tall with a slim, muscular build and dark brown hair that fell in curls halfway to her waist. She had been meaning to get it cut, but for now, she just wore it in a braid or tucked in a ball cap. She had a round, thin face with the hint of one dimple on her left cheek. Her eyelashes were long, but her most intriguing feature was the pair of deep emerald-green eyes she had inherited from her grandmother. She wore dark-rimmed glasses, and her blue jeans and buttoned shirts or baggy sweatshirts didn’t quite match what the other girls were wearing—short skirts, low-cut shirts, and skinny jeans with boots. Not that she cared, but there was a time when she had fit in. Not so long ago, she used to do her hair and makeup and dress like them; there was a time when she was like one of those girls, laughing and hanging out with her friends. There was a time she used to laugh a lot.

We’re discussing our English assignments. You could join us. A pretty brunette stood at her table and smiled.

Jackie jumped, suddenly realizing she had been staring. She recognized the girl as Dawn. They shared a few classes, and Dawn was the student council secretary.

We were just complaining about Mr. Neil and trying to come up with subjects for our independent study.

Jackie met the other girl’s eyes and smiled nervously, shaking her head. There’s somewhere I need to be. She started stacking her books and papers.

We meet here every Monday at this time, the girl continued. You’re welcome to join us.

That’s nice of you, Jackie said, realizing that aside from her teachers at school and the waitress that poured her coffee, Dawn was the only other person she had actually spoken a full sentence to in a long time. She stuck her arms in her navy down jacket and stood, gathering her things. I need to get going.

Every Monday, Dawn repeated and then left to join the other girls at their table.

Jackie slung her knapsack over her shoulder, tossed some change on the table, and then rushed to the door. No wonder I don’t know anybody. Every time someone comes around, I run. She paused at the door to take one last breath of warm air before merging into the cold March air. The snow crunched under her boots as she crossed the parking lot toward the apartment building on the other side of the street. Trying to hide her face under her collar, she hurried around back to number seven, where she put her key in the lock and threw the door back. She tossed her knapsack onto the floor and didn’t bother taking off her coat or boots because the apartment was cold.

The old lady who owned the building didn’t know enough to turn the heat up at night. Jackie had asked several times, but the woman was getting old and her memory and eyesight were going. Jackie didn’t blame her for the lack of heat; she knew the lady’s son had a lot to do with the distribution of heat to her apartment and the others. He lived somewhere on the other side of town and visited daily to hassle the tenants and argue with his mother about selling the dump. There were cracks in the walls and holes in the carpets. The sink had a permanent water stain around it, and it creaked and groaned when Jackie turned it on. She was just grateful to have a furnished place to stay for so little rent. Even now, she was starting to struggle with the monthly payments. She had to find a job. The waitress was wrong; the perfect job did exist.

Jackie collapsed on the bed after retrieving the newspaper from her discarded knapsack. She scanned the want ads again, stopping at the one circled. She had circled the ad three days ago, and for three days she had a battle in her mind about whether to walk to the farm or not. She had already calculated it would be about one and a half miles, which should only take her a half hour if she walked fast. Each night she would come up with some excuse for why she should wait. Tonight it was definitely too cold. But on the flipside, it was too cold to just sit there. The ad had mentioned accommodations, and even the barn was bound to be warmer than the apartment. She sat up and checked her watch. Five o’clock. If she left right then, she might be there before dark. She wanted more than anything to work with horses, but there was something holding her back.

She left the paper on the bed and headed back out into the cold. She didn’t glance in as she passed the coffee shop, not wanting to see if the girls were still there. She headed toward the road that lead out of town, the same road she came in on six months earlier.

Jackie pulled her hood up, buttoned the top button of her coat, and pulled her hands into a pair of mittens she had picked up at the secondhand store in town. She walked quickly to stay warm, following along the winding turns of the road before she came to a bridge crossing over a small stream. Once the road straightened, the white fencing started. Jackie followed it for the next quarter mile until she came to a long driveway where the fence continued alongside it.

Jackie continued up the driveway, following the white fence past a beautiful, modern stone house. She headed past it toward the barn. There were a few vehicles parked at the entrance to the barn, and Jackie guessed that they belonged to the people who trained with the Birtwicks or boarded their horses at Starcross.

Jackie had looked up the farm on the school library computer. Starcross Quarter Horses was a well-established riding stable and training facility. It consisted of four barns, including an Olympic-sized indoor arena and a smaller indoor. There were miles of trails and surrounding fields with a river running through the middle. Everything was neatly kept with the main barn standing massively in the middle of the many surrounding pens and corrals.

She approached a set of doors on the left side of barn, gave her ball cap a tug, and reached to open them. She stopped when it opened in front of her and she almost collided with a guy from her school.

Hi, he said, sounding startled.

She backed up a step, staring at his hypnotizing blue eyes, and swallowed trying to find her voice. She wondered if she had ever seen anyone with dark hair and eyes that blue.

He cleared his throat, returning her stare, and then smiled as she looked away with awkward shyness.

I’m here to see Kate or Brian, Jackie stammered, staring at the ground.

Kate’s in the house, and Brian’s in his office, the young man said, not moving from his position in the doorway. Which one do you want? His voice was deep, another contradiction she noticed. He was around her age, yet his voice was more mature.

When she looked up from the ground, he smiled again, this time revealing a set of straight, white teeth. She noticed his faded denim jeans and tan coat.

I’m here about the job advertised in the paper. She mentally scolded herself for being so antisocial.

Well, you had best talk to Brian. He stepped out of the way to let Jackie in out of the cold. I’ll show you where his office is.

He led her through the door into the hallway to the main barn. Two rows of stalls lined each side; it was clean and tidy. Each stall had a tack box in front of it in the blue and silver barn colors. A decorative stall sign was hung on each door, as were notes with emergency numbers. The sweet scent of hay and horses reached Jackie’s nose as she passed a number of occupied box stalls.

Halfway down the hall, a door led to a set of stairs and then a fully decorated lounge equipped with television, VCR, and neatly arranged couches and chairs. The end tables were covered with books and magazines, and the walls were full of pictures and trophies. A giant window across the front wall allowed viewers to see the Olympic-sized indoor riding arena. Closets were conveniently located on the left of the door. The room was decorated in a southwest pattern using soft pastel colors. A counter with stools along it separated the room from a kitchen area. A fridge and stove occupied the far corner, beside the stove was the sink, and cupboards lined the wall. The warmth of the room was inviting, and Jackie could have easily curled up on one of the couches and fallen asleep.

She waited just inside while the young man opened another door and disappeared inside. He’ll be out in a minute. He’s on the phone, he said when he appeared seconds later.

Thank you.

Jackie—right? he asked.

Yeah. Jackie shifted uneasily. She knew he recognized her from school.

I’m Dusty. So what brings you here? he asked, leaning on the door of Brian’s office. I mean besides a job.

There aren’t many other jobs around, Jackie answered. Castlewood being so small and all.

So then what brought you to Castlewood?

The chance to meet curious people, Jackie said, knowing it bothered the locals that they knew nothing about her.

Dusty smiled. I was just trying to make conversation.

It certainly wasn’t the weather. She turned away, noticing he was staring.

It’s supposed to warm up. Dusty moved toward the counter to retrieve a school bag. They say that today is the last of the bitter cold. Tomorrow it’s supposed to get into the pluses. He slung the bag over his back and smiled at her, but she looked away.

What should I know about the job? she asked.

There are a lot of horses here, and Brian and Kate don’t have a lot of time to get to them all. So they’re looking for someone to pick up the slack, like having horses tacked up and waiting so they can spend more time in the saddle.

I see, Jackie said, trying to organize her plan in her head.

They want someone to feed and be available to be here on the weekends when we go to horse shows, and flexible enough to go to the odd show and act as a groom. Dusty finished just as Brian emerged from his office.

That’s pretty well all I can get away with telling you. Dusty nodded to Brian. This is Jackie. She’s looking for a job. Jackie, this is Brian. Good luck.

Thank you. Jackie shot him a weak smile and then forced herself to look Brian in the eye and shake his hand. Pleasure.

Brian took her hand in a quick but firm shake. See you tomorrow, Dust, Brian called after him and then turned his attention to the young lady in front of him.

Later, Dusty answered and disappeared out the door, leaving Jackie alone with Brian.

I take it you two know each other? Brian said, offering Jackie a seat on the couch across from the chair he chose.

We both go to Castlewood High, Jackie explained. Brian was a tall, well-built man, and he appeared much younger than Jackie had expected. She estimated him to be in his early thirties. He had kind, deep brown eyes with dark eyebrows that matched the color of the hair sticking out from under his ball cap. His face was unshaven and scruffy, contrasting with his clothes, which appeared clean and new. Jackie forced herself to make eye contact; she had always been told that was key. If you don’t have confidence in yourself, then others won’t have any in you either. The problem was that she had spent the last few years avoiding eye contact with almost everybody. It now made her feel uncomfortable and nervous.

I’m sorry for not giving y’all a call before I came out here, but I haven’t been here too long and I haven’t quite got myself a telephone. Jackie bit her lip. She was trying to keep the strong Texan accent under control.

It was a slow night anyway, Brian assured her. Tell me what kind of experience you have with horses.

I’ve been working with them all my life. I know how to groom and lunge a horse. I can muck stalls and throw hay and do any other farm chores. I know how to drive a tractor, and I can handle the hard work.

Brian nodded.

But there is one thing, sir.

What’s that? Brian asked.

I don’t ride.

You don’t because you don’t know how or you don’t because of something else?

I don’t because I just can’t, Jackie stammered. I want to explain, but I can’t really.

Brian stared at her for a moment before continuing. I need someone who can work and ride the extra horses that we don’t have time for. Forgive me, but is this something that you’re going to overcome?

I hope so. Jackie lowered her head and stared at her hands for a moment. Then she lifted her head and smiled unsurely. Have you ever wanted to do one thing your whole life and wanted to do it so bad that it was the only thing you thought about?

I’m doing it, Brian told her.

Well, as I’m sure you know, there aren’t many jobs out there. Especially jobs doing what you love. I’m a hard worker, sir, and I’m good with the horses. I’m sure if you just give me a chance, you’ll see that.

I’ll tell you what, you come back tomorrow morning at six, and I’ll show you around, introduce you to a couple horses, and we’ll see how it goes. There hasn’t exactly been an overabundance of people interested.

That sounds great. Jackie smiled, relief spreading across her face. I’ll meet you here at six.

At six, Brian repeated. And call me Brian. ‘Sir’ makes me feel old.

Thank you, Jackie said. She stood up from the couch and made her way toward the door.

You’re welcome, Brian said, also getting up. I’ll see you then.

Jackie smiled as she walked down the long lane. It had been a while since she had stepped foot into a barn, and just being there for that short time convinced her she would never be able to work anywhere else.

Tomorrow will tell, Jackie said out loud as she met the end of the lane and rounded the corner to walk on the side of the highway. Brian seemed like a decent guy, and he hadn’t said too much when she said she didn’t ride. I’ll just have to work extra hard, she told herself. It’ll be a long time before an opportunity like this comes up again.

When Jackie got back to the apartment, she slipped into her pajamas and jumped into bed. Shivering, she pulled the blankets up around her neck. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this cold. She searched for her socks and tugged them on. She laid there a minute trying to think about the next day, but the only thing she could concentrate on was the fact that on Saturday there was bound to be a pile of people at the barn. She was never a big fan of crowds. She tossed and turned, finding it hard to fall asleep. It had taken her a long time to get used to the streetlight that shone in no matter what she put over the window, but she knew that probably wasn’t the reason.

In the dim light, Jackie glanced around the rundown apartment that she called home. It held her belongings but not the memories she had of the farm in Fort Worth, Texas. It would be so easy just to go back. It would be so easy to just call for money, but with the money came the pain and the fear. Here no one knew who she was or where she came from. The Quarter Horse world was small enough that her riding skills would wave some red flags. There were enough people looking for her that she had to be careful. She couldn’t ride for fear of someone recognizing her. The one thing she couldn’t mask was her strong southern accent; she had no hope of hiding from her voice. Jackie pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them tight. Just six more months. Six more months and she would be eighteen—old enough to legally be on her own.

2

The next morning, Jackie got up, grabbed a clean shirt, and made her way across the dark room. She slid her hand up the wall to find the light in the bathroom and then splashed cold water on her face and flattened her hair with her damp hands. Gently, she pulled her hair back and tucked it into her hat. She traced her finger along the scar that ran from the top of her left temple down to the bottom of her ear lobe. Making sure it was well hidden behind a strand of hair, she double-checked in the mirror.

Jackie stared at the person looking back at her. Blinking hard into the mirror, she remembered her promise to be at the farm by six o’clock. She turned out the lights, grabbed a banana and an apple from the small fridge, and then locked the door and walked out into the cool morning. Dusty had been right; it had warmed up a bit overnight. Jackie pulled her hood up anyway and jogged to the end of the street.

When Jackie got to the farm, Brian was just heading to the barn.

Punctual. I’m impressed, Brian said smiling.

Good morning, Jackie greeted him.

Sure it is, Brian said. Are you a coffee drinker?

That might be an understatement, Jackie said.

Good. One of your jobs in the morning is to start the coffee pot in the lounge before you start to feed. That way there’ll be fresh coffee for me when I get out here. He held the door open for her.

Sounds fair. They walked into the barn to a greeting of whinnies and calls from the horses.

Usually Dusty feeds on the weekends, but I want to show you around and introduce you to our schedule. Tomorrow I won’t be here until after nine. Kate drags me off to church for eight o’clock mass when we aren’t at a horse show, Brian explained. This is the main side of the barn. We keep all the show horses on this side and the stud. There’s a tack room on each side. I’ll have Dusty show you where everything is later.

The barn was clean, and the stained pine boards had no traces of cobwebs.

Can you go up to the loft and throw down hay? Brian asked.

Sure, Jackie answered.

Just go up the same stairs you went up yesterday, but turn right and go up the second flight. The hay I want is the pile on the right hand side.

Jackie went up the stairs and started throwing the hay onto the hall floor until she heard a voice yell from below. When she came down, Brian and Dusty were taking sections of the hay and putting them in the corners of each stall.

Hello, Jackie. Dusty nodded to her.

Good morning. She followed him silently until all the horses were fed and only the droppings of the bales were visible on the floor.

This is the feed truck, Brian said, wheeling a large cart with many feedbags in it. Someone had painted a happy face on the front of it.

We usually start at the front of the barn and work our way down to the end. That way no one is forgotten.

Once all the horses were fed, Brian led Jackie up the stairs to the lounge. I know you’ve already been up here. This is my office, and this is the bathroom. And the third door leads to the showers. Just help yourself to anything and treat it like home around here.

You guys have a great place here. Jackie picked up a picture of a bunch of people gathered around the sign at the end of the road. It looked to be all the people who rode at the farm. Brian and a pretty lady Jackie assumed was Kate stood in the center.

The telephone from inside Brian’s office rang. That’ll be the guy from Texas, Brian said. Dusty, do you mind introducing Jackie to the other side?

Jackie’s head shot in Brian’s direction, and she dropped the picture onto the floor.

Sure, Dusty said, bending down to pick up the picture. No sweat. He smiled at Jackie and said, That’s why we don’t put them in glass frames.

I’m such a klutz.

That’s his cave. No one is allowed in there. Dusty checked his watch. I have an hour before Sarah comes for her lesson.

You give lessons too? Jackie asked.

Brian gives the pleasure and hunter under saddle lessons—he works on the horse mostly. Kate does the lessons on the rider and does the trail. Together they make a pretty good team. I just help out with the odd one.

Jackie listened as Dusty continued to explain the program. She followed behind as he led her down the stairs on the other side of the barn. This side was almost identical to the other, but only a few stalls had tack boxes, and there were no blankets on the doors.

Most of these horses belong to boarders that don’t show, Dusty said. A few are the farm’s that we use for lessons. This is Bucky.

Jackie peered into a stall and saw a small paint pony. He’s cute.

We use him to babysit the foals when we wean, Dusty said, reaching his hand through the bars to pet the pony’s nose.

This is Major; he belongs to a boarder who shows on the trillium circuit. And this is Molly, he said, opening the stall door and handing her the lead shank to an even taller chestnut. They’re both owned by the same family. We turn them out in the field to the left, marked B.

Jackie took the two horses and led them outside to the pen. She opened the gate and turned the bay horse loose first, then the sorrel. The two jumped and bucked before running the length of the pen and back. Jackie was standing watching when Dusty called from the door, holding two other horses.

This is Joe and Sammy; they both go in D. Dusty handed her two lead shanks. Just tie their leads to the fence. Jackie led the two horses down to the other field and turned them loose.

On the way back, she met Dusty with a small bay mare being followed by eight others. They all followed the little horse into the field, and Dusty closed the gate behind them.

Most of them know where they go, Dusty said, going back to the barn and opening the door to a pretty palomino’s stall. The next seven go in field C.

Jackie just stood back as the palomino led her bunch toward the field. A bay mare followed two paint geldings, one buckskin pony, and two sorrel ponies. She shut the gate behind them and went to help Dusty with the next bunch, trying to remember the names of each horse.

What about this guy? Jackie asked, approaching a stall in the far corner of the barn. The horse was all by himself and apparently rather upset about being ignored.

He’s not on our list. Dusty put his hand on the stall door to keep her from opening it. He’s mean and dangerous.

The horse inside attacked the bars on the front of the stall and then backed into the corner, uttering a low, deep noise almost sounding like a growl.

Jackie peered into the stall at the enormous black horse. He’s beautiful.

Dusty rolled his eyes and walked away. That’s all he is, he mumbled.

Jackie stepped closer to get a better look. The horse responded by rearing and striking the front of the stall with his front hooves. His hatred was apparent in the way he charged the bars and rattled his teeth on the metal.

Texas! Jackie gasped, covering her mouth in shock.

Jackie froze, breathless as she stood face-to-face with the horse—her horse. The reason she couldn’t ride. One of the very reasons she had left Fort Worth. Here in front of her was her beloved horse, now labeled mean and dangerous.

3

Jackie gasped for air, sure that her body was soon going to fail her. She squeezed her eyes closed and tried to push the vision out of her head—the vision that had finally started to fade. With her back to Dusty, she swallowed hard and took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure.

Jackie wanted to open the door and rush in to see her friend, but the stallion’s scream and bared teeth made it obvious that he wasn’t as happy to see her. She glanced from the stall to Dusty and then back to the stall again as Dusty continued down the hall without her. She needed to just focus on the job, but she had so many questions. Who owned him now? Why was he so angry? What was he doing here? Her head felt like it was spinning, but she forced herself to follow Dusty. She rushed after him.

What usually happens on the weekends is, I come in at six and feed everyone. If there are any horses having lessons before noon, I leave them in. The others go outside, Dusty said.

How do you know if they have a lesson? Jackie took a deep breath and hurried to fall in step with Dusty.

There’s a schedule in the tack room. It usually takes me an hour to feed. Then the cleanup crew comes in at seven.

He led her into the tack room and showed her a chart on the wall. This is the list. Jackie followed his finger. The list had the name of the horse, the rider, and the instructor with the date and time.

Sarah’s lesson’s at nine. She usually rides for an hour and a half. I’m going to let you brush Timmy while I give Sarah her lesson, Dusty said. Brian said to have you lunge one of the training horses while I work on my horse, so after Sarah’s lesson, we’ll do that.

Sure, Jackie said.

We feed the foaling barn next.

On their way across the driveway, Dusty and Jackie met a tall lady carrying a bunch of boxes and bags. She had long, dark brown hair, which was pulled back into a ponytail. Jackie thought she was very pretty.

Do you need a hand? Dusty asked.

I’m okay. This is the stuff everyone ordered from the tack shop. It came in yesterday. It’s not heavy. You must be Jackie.

This is Brian’s better half, Kate, Dusty introduced her.

She laughed. Some days.

Ma’am. Jackie nodded and went to offer her hand but realized Kate’s were both full.

It’s not very often you’ll catch these hands empty.

Jackie smiled.

We’ll see you later, Dusty said. We were just on our way to feed the mares.

You’ll never meet two greater people, Dusty told Jackie when Kate had left. Brian and Kate are like my extended family.

How long have you been working here? Jackie fell back into step beside Dusty as he led her to a small barn.

I’ve only worked here a couple years. Dusty opened the door to a chorus of whinnies. But I’ve been riding with them for ten.

This is a great place.

Kate and Brian started it up eleven years ago. It was a lot smaller then. Each year, it grew, and now there are about eighty horses here when it’s full.

Wow.

Brian says he doesn’t want to get any bigger than this.

So how many people work here? Jackie asked.

Kate and Brian do a lot of the work themselves. They have Lynda who teaches lessons full time. Sid and Calvin clean the stalls and do the farm maintenance but don’t have anything to do with the horses. Zac works weekends, and Beth takes care of the mares and foals along with Brian’s help. The major part of the farm is the training and showing. We have seven youth kids who show and train with us, as well as five adults. That number changes all the time. People buy new horses or go to college. Some give it up. Both Brian and Kate do the training on their own, and I help with anything they need done.

Like teaching the new kid.

Like teaching the new kid, Dusty agreed.

The foaling barn was smaller and had only twelve stalls. The stalls were larger in size to enable the mares to foal without any problem. There were video camera monitors and intercoms set up in two of the stalls. There was also a small section for someone to stay and offer nighttime supervision for the mares in case they had problems foaling.

Dusty introduced her to the mares and their foals. Jackie crouched down to see the babies, talking softly to them. They approached her cautiously, and Dusty watched her intently.

These guys go in fields A1 and A2, Dusty explained. The mares and foals go in A1, and the others who have yet to have theirs go in 2.

This is Cagney, Dusty said, introducing her to a very large sorrel mare with a white face. She’s due in about a week. The bay is Lilly, and the black is Coal. They’re both due next month. Jackie took over the leads to the three mares and led them to the field outside the house. Dusty followed with three more. They went back for the ones with foals, and this time they led them one at a time to give the foals some handling.

Jackie put her hand out for a little black foal to sniff. The baby, scared at first, shook his head and snorted then stretched his neck out to touch her fingers. Jackie stood very still and whispered to him. He tilted his head to the side as if he fully understood but wasn’t sure if she was telling the truth. Finally, curiosity won over fear, and he stepped toward her. Jackie didn’t move but continued to speak to the foal, and within moments, he was nudging her and tasting her hair.

They sure are cute, aren’t they? Dusty said. I’ve been trying to get close to that foal for two weeks. The closest I ever got was to rest my hand on its butt while he was nursing.

They’re definitely my favorites. Jackie had already started to make friends with the foal across the hall. If I had my choice of anything in the world, it would be just to raise these guys.

Would you like to lead the foal? Dusty asked, opening the door wide enough for the two to fit through safely.

Jackie put one hand on a little sorrel filly’s chest and the other on her rump. Obediently, she trotted along after her mother. Jackie laughed when she gave a few bucks.

Does she have a name? Jackie asked, setting the filly free to chase her mother down the field.

Not yet. Dusty eyed her strangely.

What about Mittens? Jackie asked.

Mittens? Dusty looked at the filly and then back at Jackie.

Yeah, she has mittens on her legs.

Dusty looked again at the foal