Page 14 of Time To Learn

4

Laura

Feedingthe horses with Ailith beside me takes a long time, but only because she insists on chatting with each of our residents before we move on to the next. As I watch her whispering to Lady, her Welsh pony, I don’t have the heart to tell her to hurry up, even though I know we’re running a bit behind. I cross my arms as I lean on the door, letting my girl have her moment.

As Ailith leans in to murmur in Lady’s ear, warmth settles in my heart when I watch the ears on the pony twitch and she bends her head, nuzzling my daughter’s tummy with her muzzle. It appears as if the pony really can understand my her murmurings, and I wonder—for the millionth time—if the old sayings and superstitions could be right.

That there are, in fact, people who are able to speak with animals.

It’s a whimsical idea—one more fit for the stories and folklore my country thrives on—but a small part of me, the one that still dares to daydream, likes to think that there’s some truth toit.

“Ailith,” I call out to her, keeping my voice low. “We have to get a move on. You can come back to Lady later, yeah?”

The sound of banging interrupts our quiet, and I wince when I hear the loud whinnying from Thunder’s stall at the other end of the stable.

“He doesn’t sound happy today, Mummy,” Ailith says on a small sigh. A frown mars her forehead as she comes closer tome.

I shut Lady’s stall behind her and shake my head. “No, he doesn’t.”

We both turn and start pushing the feeding trolley closer.

“Remember to keep your distance when I feed him, Ailith,” I remind her as we take care of the next horse. “He can’t be trusted—notyet.”

She nods. “I know. I won’t forget. But…” She scrunches her nose as she leans her head back to look at me. “Do you think he’d like it if I sing tohim?”

“Hmm.” It’s not a bad idea. “It can’t hurt, I suppose.”

Side by side, we feed the rest of the horses until we stop in front of Thunder’s stall. His ears fall flat when he spots us, and his nostrils flare. I frown when he stomps his front leg, warning meoff.

“I wonder if he’s a lost cause,” I murmur, feeling my good mood evaporate.

“Don’t say that.” Ailith takes my hand, squeezing it once. I raise my eyes in question. “Nobody’s a lost cause. Some horses take longer than others—that’s what you always say. We just have to be patient and give him the time he needs toheal.”

The time he needs toheal.

Such a wise child—how did I get so lucky?

My lips tremble when I bend to kiss her cheek.

“Okay, stand back,” I urge her as I pick up a bucket. Keeping my movements slow, deliberate, I attempt to show the jittering horse that I’m not a threat to him. He snorts, tossing his head in warning, so I stop as I’m about to open the door. His long forelock almost covers his eyes, but the mistrust in them is still noticeable.

I glance at Ailith and give her a smallnod.

“Start singing, please.”

She nods and begins to sing an old, Gaelic lullaby.

Satisfied with her choice, I turn my head back to Thunder. He’s backed up in the corner farthest away from me, so I croon athim.

“Come on, big boy. It’s time for breakfast. You must be hungry.”

His ears twitch as I open the door slowly. Keeping my eyes on him the whole time, I bring the bucket of food to my front so he can see it. His ears spring forward, and his eyes lose a little of their angry, mistrusting glint for a second. He stretches his long neck, sniffing theair.

I can still hear Ailith’s soft voice singing, but I keep my attention on Thunder completely. It’s the first time he’s shown any curiosity towards me instead of anger, and my belly flips from the small victory thisis.

“That’s it,” I whisper, taking a step to the side. I move closer to the feeding trough to my left. “You can trust me, I promise.”

He snorts, tossing his head at me again, so I plant my feet firmly in the hay, waiting for him to settle a bit. The last thing I need right now is a horse’s hoof to hit me because I didn’t give him the time he obviously needs.