Putting the Heart Before the Horse by Zoe Chant

Author:Zoe Chant [Chant, Zoe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zoe Chant
Published: 2017-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Josh woke early, as usual, and lay in bed for a moment, as usual, until he was fully awake and remembered that yesterday had been very unusual. Introducing Hope to his family had not gone well, and he had the feeling he was partly to blame. Hope had been tired and nervous, and certain members of his family tended toward the stubborn. Maybe he should have told her she could skip dinner.

Nothing that they couldn’t overcome, he thought. He just wanted his family all to love her as soon as they met her, just like he had.

He hadn’t had the chance to go out last night, and after the visit to Hope and the plane rides, he wanted nothing more than to shift and run as fast as he could. And maybe roll in the dirt a little. He pulled on his clothes quickly and headed to the back door.

Almost as soon as his feet touched the ground, Josh shifted. He took a deep breath, scenting the cattle on the wind, with a faint trace of the sheep. He could almost taste the pollen from flowering plants and trees. It smelled like spring was kicking into gear.

A lanky young colt trotted by, and he recognized Ian by the bay coat and white socks. Ian pranced in front of Josh for a moment, then kicked up his heels playfully. Josh stretched out his neck and pretended to nip at Ian’s flank. Ian squealed, which Josh knew would embarrass him if he ever mentioned it, and took off at a run away from the house.

He trotted after Ian towards the north pasture, passing other horses basking in the early morning sun, some grooming each other’s coats. When he reached the fence line, he jumped over it and increased his speed to a full gallop, letting the wind rush past him and feeling the grassy ground give slightly beneath his hooves. The cows ignored him and kept grazing, long since used to the sight of horses appearing and disappearing in their pasture.

When Josh reached the northwest corner, he slowed a bit and started looking for the perfect place to roll around. He knew from watching others that it looked ridiculous, the big barrel of the horse’s body flailing around, the spindly legs waving in the air, the snorts you couldn’t help letting out. But it felt too good worry about looking silly.

After a having a nice long roll and shaking off the dust from his coat, he headed back to the house at a slower pace, roaming a little and keeping his eyes out for problems. The fence line looked fine, the cows were calm, and he didn’t scent anyone except his family.

Judging by the sun when he reached the house, it was after ten. Unable to resist, he cantered up to Hope’s bedroom window and let out a ringing neigh. The curtains parted, the sash raised, and she leaned out the window.

“Oh, my God,” she whispered. “Look at you.”

Josh paced up to the window and blew softly into her outstretched hand.

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