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“Why, I’m pretty sure it was yours,” Maggie said.
But time went fast, the parades continued, and soon the barn was lit up again, so festive, and zydeco music rang out over the street.
“We need to get back before dark,” Justin explained to the master of ceremonies, Alfonso Casson. “I hope we won’t let anyone down by leaving so early.”
“You go ahead,” Alfonso said. “This ain’t New Orleans.”
They’d changed out of the costumes at Aunt Elizabeth’s house and, in jeans and sweatshirts, got back on Spooky and headed for Bayou Cottage. Maggie wrapped her arms around Justin as they rode, the shadows growing longer back in the woods, but Spooky knew the trail well and walked at a good pace.
“The past month was so much fun, Justin. Thank you.”
Resting her head on his back, she felt his voice vibrating.
“It was a lot of fun. I’m glad Lent starts tomorrow, though, because my belt is on the last hole. I’ll go to church before clinic starts and get marked with ashes so my clients don’t judge me.”
“Are you okay that I’m not going?”
“Of course, Maggie. What you do is between you and God.”
“Oh, jeez, don’t put it that way,” Maggie cried, giggling. “Now I’m feeling convicted.”
“Really, there’s no reason to. It’s the way I was raised. Everyone here was raised the same. It’s the ebb and flow of the season. So I ate and drank like a pig, and now for forty days I’ll give that up in preparation for Easter. But there’s one thing I’m not giving up.”
“And what is that?” she said, tightening her grip around his waist.
“You,” he said.
Her hands inched down a little further below his waist, and she could feel him chuckling.
“You’d better watch it, Maggie. I spotted a soft bed of moss over there. We might have to take a break.”
“Just wait until we get back to Bayou Cottage, please. I think you still have Mardi Gras on your mind.”
“We have until midnight to partake of all the earthly delights,” he said, laughing. “I’m not fasting from anything until after that.”
They teased each other, and before long, the gate to Maggie’s cottage blocked the way. He grabbed hold of her arm and helped her jump off Spooky.
“You’re gettin’ so good at that,” he called out, watching her unlock the gate and swing it open so he could get by. “Lock it up. I don’t want any visitors tonight.”
“I hope the horses come back again,” she said, walking alongside Spooky. “Every night I feel like I’m holding my breath until I see them.”
“They’ll be back. They’ve been in the woods; they’re already that close.”
“I’ll never have another party,” she said. “It’s taken a full month for them to feel safe again.”
In the month since Epiphany, Justin and his brother and father had built a nice run-in shed with a large corral for Spooky, that would be enough shelter for her until they could get a barn built.
“I’ll let Brulee out,” Maggie said while Justin led Spooky back to her shed.
Maggie and Brulee kept Justin company while he took the saddle off Spooky and hosed her down. Maggie filled her bucket and offered her water and hay. After spending a long day with Justin, Spooky was as happy as she could be. With fresh straw in the shed for later, they turned her out into the corral, where she’d have a peaceful evening.
“I love her being here,” Maggie said, taking Justin’s hand while they walked back to the cottage.
“Do you want one more glass of wine before midnight?” Maggie asked.
“One more bottle, you mean. Yes, I’m ready to get up on the porch and sit there all night. Are you as tired as I am?”
“It was a fun but hectic day,” she answered, going into the house.
