Page 22 of Home Is Where You Are

I’d gotten my answer just as I started to whistle for the second time.

Her head peered out of the stall, and she pushed against the door, letting me know how excited she was to see me.

Before I could get started on anything, I had to give my beautiful girl some love.

I walked down the long aisle of stalls, each horse peeking their heads out ready to eat until I’d gotten to the last one on the left. Sparkle’s stall.

“Hi there, beautiful. Did you miss me?” I said as I ran my fingers through her mane.

She pushed her head in my hand for me to continue, giving me my answer.

“I missed you too, Sparkle.” I laughed as she continued to seek my attention.

I ran my fingers across the star-shaped white spot in the center of her eyes. Hence the reason for the name. I thought of the sparkling stars of the night sky the second I saw her, and I just knew her name would resemble them. At the mere age of nine, I’d met my best friend. There was nothing better in my eyes than just a girl and her horse spending time together. Later in life, I learned that there was more a girl needed. She’d need a flannel shirt and her horse. Oh, and her other best friend. He couldn’t be forgotten.

“Alright, girl. I’ve gotta get started before I get in trouble. I’ll be back later to love on you some more,” I told her. Before I walked away, I kissed the spot where her star shape was.

Grumbling under my breath, I picked up the shovel and started my day.

A couple hours later, my shoulders and back were feeling the effects of the strenuous work I’d performed.

I stopped for a moment and rubbed a kink out of my neck.

“You shouldn’t be slackin’ on the job. That’ll get you in trouble with your old man,” I heard from behind me, causing me to let out a shriek and fall backward. Right into the pile of straw and manure that was in the wheel barrel behind me.

“I’m sorry, Ainsleigh. I didn’t mean to make you fall. I thought you heard me approachin’,” Gentry said as he laughed with his hand held out to help me out of the pile of manure I currently resided on.

I scared easily, something my brothers and Gentry had always loved taking advantage of in the past.

I wasn’t one of those girls who cared how dirty I got. The muddier the better in my opinion. I loved going out on four-wheelers and playing in the mud with the rest of them. Being in a pile of poop, though. That I had a problem with. It also led me to think of a way to get back at him.

Putting my hands behind me, I grabbed a pile of straw-covered manure and threw it at him.

He deserved it.

Of course, he dodged it.

But it made me feel better by throwing it.

“I may need a cushion permanently attached to my rear end before all is said and done at this rate,” I shouted as I reached for his hand.

He helped me stand with a hint of laughter still coming off him.

I’d get him back. Eventually.

“I need a shower. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

“Are you sure you need that right now? You’re not quite done yet. There’s still the stable on the other side of the property that needs to be done.”

They all thought this was funny. Me, not so much.

“Fine. I’ll get back to it. After I wash my hands.”

I stalked away from him in the direction of the sink. I wasn’t backing down from a challenge. All the stalls needed to be cleaned. I’d do it and do it well. I knew they were doing this for payback at me for leaving. Challenge accepted.

By nine in the morning, I was completely exhausted. But all the stalls were freshly cleaned and had new hay put in them. Riding the four-wheeler to my parents’ house, I enjoyed the wind in my hair as it allowed me to cool off. It would take days for me to feel clean with the amount of sweat that my body produced.

Rounding the corner of the barn, I slowed down and stopped. I called out on the radio and asked where I was needed next.