North Oak 2- Yearling by Ann Hunter

Author:Ann Hunter [Hunter, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: E, YA
Publisher: Rebel House Ink
Published: 2015-10-02T04:00:00+00:00

Alex watched Promenade careen recklessly around his paddock in the late-May sunset. Tiny specks of dust floated in the rays of light around him.

She leaned against the fence post, resting her head on her arms. When Promenade settled down to graze, she clucked at him to see if he would come over.

Promenade's ears twitched, but he ignored her almost as usual.

Alex bit into an apple she had brought, trying to make him jealous. At the crunchy snap of apple skin, he raised his head and swished his tail, but went right back to grazing. Alex sighed.

"Sure is a nice night."

Alex recognized Brooke's voice and chewed the piece of apple like she hadn't noticed her creep up.

Brooke hitched her toe over the bottom fence board and folded her arms over the top. "How are things going with the whole tutoring thing?"

Alex shrugged and took another bite.

Brooke nodded as though Alex had spoken til she was out of breath. "Why do you call her Marshmallow?"

Alex wiped her lip with her wrist. "She's a softie."

"Not because of her weight? She's not really fat, y'know. Maybe baby fat, but not, like, a whale or anything."

Alex shrugged again.

"Softie's don't usually laugh when their horse goes nuts like that."

"I'm surprised she hung on." Alex chirped to Promenade again, stretching out her arm and offering the half-eaten apple.

Brooke turned her back to the fence and leaned against it. "Do you know the saying 'You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink'?"

"Maybe."

"You can teach someone to do something, but you can't make them do it."

"Going somewhere with this?"

Brooke nodded. "Gimme a second here."

Alex blew out a breath that made her lips flap together. Promenade shook his white mane and batted his tail at a couple of flies. He rubbed his nose against the tall sock on his leg.

"I watch you…"

"Creepy." Alex bit into the apple again when her effort proved fruitless.

Brooke chucked her in the arm. "I watch you with Promenade. He trusts you, but he hasn't chosen you."

Alex lifted an eyebrow. "Chosen me?"

"See with horses, when you make a bond, it's because the horse chooses you. You don't choose the horse. That's what makes the bond special. It's kind of like love. You don't get to choose who your family is, or your friends are, or even who you fall in love with. You open yourself to it, and love finds you."

"So the dumb horse doesn't love me. Big deal. Y'all are gonna sell him anyway."

Brooke hopped up on the top board of the fence, and folded her hands between her knees. "There you go again."

"What?"

"You putting up that shield of yours. Disconnecting so you don't have to hurt."

Alex grunted, "That's stupid."

"But it's true. Hurt can be a good thing.” Brooke shoved her toe into Alex’s ribs, giving a little push.

“Ow!” Alex glowered.

“See? It means you're alive. Much better than the alternative, don't you think?"

Alex shoved Brooke’s knees away from her, and sank her teeth into the last of the apple.

"You can't win over a horse by force.

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