The Start of Something Good (Stay Book 1) by Jennifer Probst

Author:Jennifer Probst [Probst, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781503901858
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Published: 2018-06-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Mia approached the barn, picking her way around the piles of mud and hay with a practiced eye. The scent of horse and dung assaulted her nostrils, but she was getting used to it. Her occasional visits kept Ethan on his toes and allowed her to still keep an eye on Chloe. They’d bonded a bit after the cupcake festival, but the girl was still stuck 24-7 to her phone, and conversation still lagged. With Jonathan coming to see her this weekend, Mia figured she’d bring a decent bribe to get her talking a bit more.

Ophelia’s cookies may do it.

The teen had her back turned toward her. Her purple hair was snagged in a ponytail and damp with sweat. Dirt smeared her black tank. She rubbed some sort of brush over a pretty gray horse, talking in a warm, open tone Mia didn’t even know the girl was capable of. The horse seemed to sense her presence first and gave a low whinny.

“Hi.”

Chloe turned, a smile on her face as she met her gaze. “Hi, Mia. What’s up?”

Mia raised her hand, holding out the still warm chocolate-chip cookie wrapped in a napkin. “I brought you a snack. The cookies are usually gone by the time you get home, so I snagged one for you.”

“Thanks! Can you put it on the table for me while I finish up?”

“Sure.” Mia set it down, then watched the girl continue her brushing, moving her hand around in slow, circular motions. “How are things going here?”

“Pretty good. Flower just got a good workout, so I’m brushing her down. Then I have to check on Big Red. His leg got screwed up, so he can’t do the trails for a while, and he gets cranky when he’s bored.”

Mia blinked. “What do you do, then, with him to keep him occupied? Show him your Instagram feed?”

Chloe laughed. Was it her imagination, or was the girl finally beginning to soften? Something about her work with the horses revealed her nurturing, gentle heart. Her appearance had also changed. No more skintight clothes or heavy makeup. Oh, the piercings and black lipstick still showed up, but Mia could actually see her real face, which glowed a golden brown from the sun. She was even more beautiful and looked like a female version of her father.

“No, of course not,” Chloe said. “I talk to him, pet him, brush him. He needs to feel important, or he gets depressed.”

Mia raised a brow, walking closer to the stall. “I guess I never realized how sensitive horses can be. I figured they just ate, slept, and trotted around a bit, not caring too much about who takes care of them.”

Chloe shook her head. “Ethan taught me how horses really bond with their caretakers or owners. If they’re ignored for too long, they become lackluster and lose interest in things. And Harper told me a horse’s heart is a gift. When they give you their trust, you need to take the relationship seriously.”

Wow. That was the deepest dialogue she’d had with the teen since they arrived.

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