“You’ll have to be very calm and quiet.”
Instantly he went still. “I know.” He glanced up at Monty. “Can you keep Smokey for me? Horses gots teeth and I?—”
“We don’t want him chewed. I’ll keep him out here.”
“Thank you.”
“Glad to. Ready?”
Zinnia put her hand on Tex’s shoulder, just in case. “Ready.”
“Keep your movements slow and steady.” He rolled back the stall door.
“Got it.” She knew his instructions were for Tex, who could easily forget himself once he was inside the stall with the foal.
Her mare’s ears pricked forward as they walked in. “Hey, girl. Can we come see your baby?”
She nickered softly.
“She said yes, Mommy.”
“She did.” Behind them, Monty slowly closed the door. She perched on the right-hand bucket. “Sit down as slowly as you can. We don’t want to startle either of them.”
He eased onto his bucket. “Can we call to Monty?”
“Let’s not. Let’s just sit here quietly.”
“Okay.”
“Hold onto your knees. That way you won’t be tempted to reach out and touch him if he comes over.”
“I hope he comes over.”
“I hope so, too, but we have to be patient.”
“Here comes Speckles, Mommy.”
“Figured she would.”
“Can I touch her?”
“Of course, but if she walks away, put your hands back on your knees.”
He nodded.
Speckles wandered closer, and after glancing back to where her baby stood, she lowered her head and accepted their nose rubs and chin scratches.
Tex’s voice rippled with excitement. “He’s watching us.”
“He is.” That wobbling little creature fascinated her. She’d seen foals before but never one that was only hours old. “What do you suppose he’s thinking?”
“He’s thinking why are we sitting on buckets.”
“Could be.”
The foal sneezed, Tex automatically said bless you and Speckles left them to check on her baby.
“Does he gots a cold?”
