One to Take (One to Hold 8)

“Well, okay, she’s not technically mine. I just say she is because I love her.”

“The white on her forehead reminds me of the moon.”

“Me too!” We’re speaking quietly, and Jessie seems to relax. Her head lowers, and she takes a bite of hay.

“Well,” Amy pushes back. “If I’m the only one doing any lifting, I’d better get started.”

“I can do the bridles!” I call after her, still watching Jessie. I’m itching to pet her nose the way Stuart let me. She seems so content and happy.

Lifting the latch on the door, I open it slowly and wait a second to gauge her response. She blows air loudly through her nose, but she doesn’t seem disturbed by my presence.

“Remember me, pretty girl?” I say softly. “I’m the crazy lady who named you.”

She continues munching whatever’s in her box, and I think about what Stuart said, Don’t be afraid. Be the boss.

Adopting a confident posture, I go to where she’s standing. I confess, I’m a little squirmy inside. I don’t want to frighten her, and I especially don’t want Stuart getting angry with me for setting her back.

I make the clucking sound with my mouth, and she lifts her head. I want her to come to me like she does Stuart. I want her to put her nose on my chest and let me scrub her neck and hug her.

“That’s a sweet girl,” I say gently moving closer.

She isn’t afraid. She doesn’t lay her ears back or toss her head. She’s not blowing air through her nose, and her hooves are firmly planted on the ground. My insides are buzzing with excitement. It’s working!

“You’re so smart!” I say softly, reaching out for her nose. “I love you, you know that? You’re my little horse.”

In the background, I notice Amy speaking from the stall beside us. “I’ve always loved Freckles. She’s like this mystical grey ghost-horse.”

Thoughts flicker across my mind, Amy is in Freckles’s stall. Freckles spooks easily. It’s only a passing thing because I’m touching Jessie’s black velvet nose now. Her big brown eyes are looking at me with interest and not fear. Joy floods my chest, and I want to hug her. But in that moment, it all comes crashing down.

“OH GOD! NO!!!” Amy’s scream breaks the magic. “RON!!! A SNAKE!”

Jessie’s eyes go wide with terror, and her head jerks back as she lets out a shrill whinny. Her little feet begin dancing fast, and all at once, I realize how small the stall we’re in is. I reach out to grab the wall, but it’s too late. Her front hooves leave the ground, and she starts to kick.

“Oh!” I gasp as pain explodes through my shoulder. Her small hoof strikes my upper arm with the force of an axe. I’m sure it’s broken. “Oh, god!” I cry, shaking and turning my back to her.

Amy screams again, and Jessie’s eyes roll so far I can see the whites around the black. A shrill whinny, and she kicks at me again. Another blast of pain shoots through my hip.

“No no no!” I say over and over. “Stop screaming!”

I think I’m saying these words, but I’m reaching for the door with my injured arm. The little horse jumps forward at me and then rises on her back legs. I can’t get the door open. I can’t lift my injured arm.

“Oh, god.” Hot tears spill down my cheeks as I drop to the floor, trying to cover my head and my stomach at the same time. A blow as hard as a bat hits me in the side. “Oof!” I gasp as I fall onto my injured hip.

“Ow!” I cry out in intense pain. I’m against the wall and another blow like a sledgehammer hits me right in the stomach.

“No!” I grunt, crying harder as the pain blasts through my insides. “Jessie, no…”

I can’t breathe. The wind is knocked out of me, and all I can hear are her high-pitched squeals, the stamping of her hooves, Amy shouting my name.

I try to pull myself to my feet. I have to get out of this stall, but another kick, and I fall back, hitting my head on the post. White light explodes behind my eyes. My grip on the wooden slats fails, and I go down on the damp hay with a hard thud.

On impact the scene changes…

A cool breeze blows over the tall grasses. I’m sitting in a white, lacy dress smiling and laughing as I watch a beautiful little girl dancing through the flowers. Her chestnut hair is long and hangs in curls down her back. I clap as she waves a garland of yellow daisies mixed with happy bluebells around us.

“You’re so pretty, precious!” I call to her, and she laughs skipping to me and hugging me, surrounding me with her sweet baby scent.

Her voice is a joyful, musical sound. Her chubby cheeks are the softest pink, and her bright eyes dance with a mixture of green and gold just like her daddy’s.