CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
Parked behind the stables, the Fraser Hills Percherons’ semi rig and trailer stretched over fifty feet along the loading-paddock fence. Mike finished winching the show wagon into the back, and locked down the straps to keep it from moving during the trip. He brushed the sweat from his brow and walked down the ramp to close the doors and secure the latches.
It was an all-day affair getting ready to leave.
In a few hours, the guys would arrive to help load the horses and start the trip to Pennsylvania for the annual Christmas parade appearance. The parades were one of Mike’s favorite parts of the business, and he was lucky to have a team of men that had been with him for over eight years to help make it all happen. They worked together with barely a word. Quick and precise down to every buckle and bell that went on each horse.
He knew he couldn’t do this without the generous gift oftime and muscle his friends gave him. He was so thankful for them.
He went inside and packed his suitcase, then had some lunch. As he was putting his plate in the dishwasher, he heard Randy’s truck pass the house toward the barn.
Mike checked his watch. The morning had flown by. He carried his suitcase out of the house to put it in the trailer. Randy was already moving hay into the front storage area when he got there.
Mike walked around to the side of the trailer and opened the doors there to get ready to load the horses. Inside, the equipment boxes had already been rolled on and secured for the long ride.
Mike heard Scooter bark. That puppy was like Houdini. Impossible to restrain.
He tromped down the ramp to see what Scooter was into now.
“Look who I found.” Misty walked toward him down the stable alley with Scooter in her arms. “He must have crossed the pasture last night. He was at the front door of the warehouse when Vanessa got home. She took him in.”
“He’s venturing too far away. He’s going to get himself eaten by a coyote, or hit by a car.”
Misty rubbed the pup’s head. “Vanessa loved him. She’s never had a dog. Can you believe that?”
“Her dad could have had allergies. I’m sure he had his reasons.”
“She said he didn’t like dogs, so even though she’d always wanted one, she never had one.”
“That’s too bad,” Mike said. “They bring a lot of joy to our lives.” He gave Scooter the stink eye. “Most of the time.”
“They sure do, and I’ve taken some of that for granted,” she said. “Thanks for being such a great dad.”
“You make the job easy.”
“I love you, Dad.” Scooter jumped from her arms and ran into the stables with his feet kicking at an angle behind him until he stopped in front of Big Ben’s stall, raised his nose, and barked. Ben hung his huge head over the door and blew a puff of air in a snort.
Scooter yipped and pushed his paws into the air as if he were telling the horse a story. Half the size of the Percheron’s head, Scooter didn’t seem to notice the size difference.
“Can you believe that dog?” Mike marched into the barn and grabbed the puppy before he scurried away.
Big Ben raised his head with a bounce, his mane tossing.
“You’ve got to stay with your family,” Mike scolded him, then put him in the stall where Rein was feeding the other puppies. “You’re a dog. Figure it out.”
“I think he thinks he’s related to Big Ben.” Misty gave the horse a pat on his soft muzzle.
Big Ben nickered.
A hello came from the barn doorway. “Anyone here?”
The silhouette of the woman walking through the shadowy barn with the sun behind her looked like an angel for a moment.
“Hey.” Mike stepped into the alley, trying to make out who was here.
“Dad, it’s Vanessa.” Misty ran past him to greet her. “Hi. Are you missing Scooter already?”
“As silly as it sounds. Yes, kind of.” She lifted the brightly colored socks in front of her. “He loved playing with these so much last night. I thought maybe I’d leave them with you.”
