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“Who’d call this early?” She looked at it. “A text from Katrina.”
She read it out loud. “‘Will you help me today? Movers on their way. If you can get here by ten, I’d be forever grateful.”
“I have time for a horseback ride, and then I’ll go.”
He pushed away from the table and placed his dish in the sink.
“I’ll get out of your hair.” His arm draped across her shoulder; he was biting his tongue not to try to tell her what to do.
Brulee and Maggie followed him out to the truck. “Will you let Spooky into the paddock when you’re out there this morning?”
“Sure.” She stood on her toes and kissed him. “Stay in touch.”
“Thank you so much, Maggie, for an amazing night and an amazing morning. I’m the luckiest guy I know.”
She kissed him again, watching him climb into the truck and go through his routine. He drove off, and she waved goodbye as his truck went through the gate.
She walked back to the shed to saddle up Dale. Spooky watched, anticipation all over her face. She patted her flank. “You old girl. Your daddy will take you out tonight, I promise.”
She pulled a blanket down off the shelf; this was a treasure that Doc Chastain’s mother had woven on a loom seventy years ago. The moths hadn’t gotten it yet, and keeping it in the barn felt disrespectful to Maggie. She’d bring it inside later. Tightening the cinches, Maggie bridled him and led him out of the paddock. Spooky watched this time and Maggie didn’t have to chase her all over creation; it had happened in the past when she wanted to be ridden, too.
After she locked the gate—just closing it wasn’t enough when Spooky wanted to go out—she climbed up on Dale and led him around the back of the cottage to the trail.
Later, she’d tell Justin it was the most beautiful solitary ride she’d ever had. Being up on the back of a horse, she noticed signs of spring all over the woods. It had happened overnight. The maples already had seed pods, and the red pods were helicoptering down as they walked past the trees. Another sign, the water table was rising, and the marshy areas had increased since the last time she’d walked in back.
After they were out for half an hour, she saw Raven and the spotted band in the distance, so she slid off Dale before Raven came to her, not sure how the encounter would proceed.
It was fine, however. The spotted horses stayed away, but Raven approached Dale and Maggie and Brulee, unafraid, coming right up to her and repeating the same routine.
“You’re a smart girl, Raven. You knew something I didn’t know.”
Raven nudged Maggie, and she tripped to the side, laughing as the horse nuzzled her, ignoring Dale. Maggie reached into her pockets and produced two alfalfa cubes, one for each horse. Only two though, they were like candy. Raven got a little insistent for more treats, but Maggie just laughed and patted the side of her neck.
The horse turned to walk away, and Maggie got back up on Dale.
“Brulee, you’d better not be eating poop.”
She looked up at Maggie guiltily. “Let’s head back to the cottage.”
Arriving back at eight thirty sharp, she sent Justin a text:Safe and sound. Saw Raven and it was fine. Going to town in about an hour.
After removing his tack, she hosed Dale down, gave the horses fresh water and hay, and went back inside to shower and get ready to go to Katrina’s.
She sent Katrina a text at nine thirty.Getting ready to leave. I’ll see you around ten.
Katrina texted back,I’ll pick you up. It’s too far to walk to my place.
But Maggie texted her back.I’ll get Gus to run me up. Stay put. PS – Brulee is coming.
Before she left, she got the binoculars out and saw activity at the rescue. She’d stop in later. The routine they had settled into was working nicely: Annie, Kelly, and Kelly’s mother, Beverly, there during the day, and at night, Maggie doing the last pee pee visit.
Looking around one last time, she locked the cottage and walked to the dock with Brulee. After the wonderful horseback ride, a boat ride added up to a perfect day. They got into the skiff, and she held the same rudder that her grandfather had held when he motored around the cove. It was the only item of the original boat saved after the boat accident she’d been in.
The wind caught her hair, a cold mist spraying Maggie and Brulee. For a second, she considered canceling Katrina and staying out on the water. Choking on her own fears, it would be so easy to run away, alienating everyone, her friends, even Justin, and hiding on the water. Tears mixed with the mist from the water. But she couldn’t do that.
Tissues from cleaning up telltale makeup trails on her cheeks hid the evidence of her current mood. Bruises on her ego would be difficult to heal. Brulee stayed close, sensing there was something brewing that Maggie wouldn’t share with anyone else.
Gus heard her leave and waited for her at the end of the public dock, waving with a smile, and it immediately helped her feel better. She was part of this community already. Two childhood friends had followed her and were now building their lives close by.
