Focus, Sy.
“So, what I usually do before I interact with the horses is take a few deep breaths and center myself.”
I walk Ronan through all the steps, and he repeats a lot of what I say.
“You’re a really good student,” I say, leading him to Cherry Twist.
He sends me a kind smile. “Thanks. You’re a good teacher.”
Oakley’s hand goes to his mouth. He looks a little teary-eyed, but I think it’s a good thing.
Ronan kneels next to Cherry, and I guide him through taking her hoof in hand, then bending her leg back in a gentle stretch. He does this with his eyes closed, his mouth pressed in a line of concentration.
After a few moments, he looks up, surprised. “Why does this work so well? Like, I just felt my whole body relax.”
“It’s like you said. You have the right energy.”
“How though? How am I doing it?”
I look to Ant and Erik and raise my brows. Should I really explain this to him? Ant smiles and gestures for me to continue.
“It works because you are a predator, and she is a prey animal.”
“I’m a predator? She’s the one with the big teeth!” Ronan smiles as he says this, so I know he’s okay.
“True, but her teeth are only good for grains.” I think through what to say next. “And even though you aren’therpredator, your eyes face forward and you have sharp teeth. So Cherry understands what you are. At the same time, though, she can sense you won’t harm her, and she’s able to relax.”
Ronan nods. “That’s the energy, right?”
“Exactly.”
Ronan releases Cherry’s hoof and stands. Cherry shifts nextto me and puts her head over my shoulder. I smile and hug her back.
“Is this who you go to now that Blueberry has passed?”
I shake my head. “This is one of their newer horses. I hadn’t met her before today. Now, I just go with whoever is available.”
Ronan takes this in, nodding to himself. “That guy, Blake… Cupcake had his number right away. I’m assuming Cherry wouldn’t have liked him either.”
“No, she wouldn’t have,” I say, running my hand down Cherry’s mane. “In fact, if you hadn’t had the lack of tattoos to go by, any horse would have outed him in two seconds.”
“So if a creature as gentle as a horse trusts you, I suppose that means I can trust you too.”
I rub my chest. “That’s one way to look at it.”
I look to the others, who all seem to be wiping their eyes. Oakley comes over and hugs his dad, then me.
“I did good?” I whisper.
He tightens his arms around me. “You did great.”
Our phones buzz simultaneously.
“Who’s that?” Oakley murmurs against my neck.
“It’s Mav, not Wimberley,” I answer, hoarse from screaming.
Oakley used the thickest metal sound on me last night.While rimming me.
