“She’s a horse.”
“Exactly.”
Before I can argue with that deeply scientific reasoning, she hurries back toward the barn, her ponytail bouncing with every step.
My sweet, fierce girl.
Yesterday, she stood in a detention room with her chin up and fury in her eyes because a little girl needed protecting. Today, she’s fussing over horse brushes and worrying about my circulation like she’s been running this sanctuary for years.
Sometimes, I worry I’ve made her grow up too fast.
Then she stops beside the goat pen and starts lecturing one of the workers about not letting Mr. Nibbles eat the donation flyers, and I decide maybe she was born ninety years old with pigtails.
“Mia?” Rory calls from near the front pasture. “Parking volunteers are set. The first vendors are ready, and the bakery lady wants to know if she can put the horse cookies on the main table or if they need to stay at her booth.”
“Main table,” I call back. “People donate better when sugar is nearby.”
“Solid strategy.”
“I went to college.”
“For animal science.”
“And yet here I am, using advanced cookie placement.”
Rory laughs and heads toward the vendor tents.
I glance down at my clipboard again.
Welcome table. Ready.
Donation jars. Ready.
QR code signs. Ready.
First aid kit. Ready.
Emergency vet contact. Ready.
Water stations. Ready.
Goat yoga area. Ready.
Bobcat Billie’s enclosure secured. Double-checked. Triple-checked. Plan to check multiple times again.
I squint toward Mr. Nibbles, who is chewing thoughtfully on something I sincerely hope is hay.
“Don’t embarrass me today,” I call to him.
He lifts his head, stares directly at me, and lets out one loud, judgmental bleat.
Wonderful.
The fundraiser is going to be run by a goat with criminal tendencies and a ten-year-old hydration officer.
Professionalism at its finest.
A warm breeze pushes across the property, carrying the scent of hay, dust, coffee, sunscreen, and cinnamon from the bakery booth. White tents line the gravel drive, their edges fluttering gently. Colorful signs point guests toward the auction table, the craft station, the grooming area, and the sanctuary tour starting point.
