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“A horse doesn’t like to have anyone touching their feet, because that is the defense mechanism that God gave them—to run away. So, if someone’s holding onto their feet, they’re vulnerable to an enemy or predator. So that’s why, when they’re young, you start working with them so that they know that allowing you to pick up their feet doesn’t hurt them, and they’ll be fine. That way, if you ever want to put shoes on them, or when the farrier comes just to trim their hooves, they don’t get all upset about it.”
“She let me pick them up!” Annabelle said as she picked up Denise’s front foot.
“That’s excellent. You’re being very gentle. And that’s what we want. We want to make sure that we don’t hurt her and that she feels safe around us. That teaches her that it’s okay and people are safe and won’t hurt her.”
James smiled at the girls’ serious looks as they listened to Mabel teach them about the foal.
He wondered how much of what she said they would learn and remember, but he figured it didn’t matter, even if they retained a little bit, the experience was the big thing. People had a tendency to remember what they did a lot more than they remembered what they heard, although when what they heard matched what they did, the retention rate almost assuredly went up.
They were on their way back into the house when a car pulled down the driveway.
“We have visitors,” Mabel said as she looked at the car maneuvering slowly toward them.
“Let me take the bucket and bottle in, and I’ll wash them out, while you guys greet them,” James said, holding his hand out for the bucket.
She handed it to him, and their eyes met for a moment. Maybe she was remembering their embrace before lunch. He certainly was. He wouldn’t mind repeating that and found himself looking forward to it. A little nervous at the idea that she might not want to.
He shook the thought aside as he walked in the house. He supposed they might have company all day, people wishing them well on their wedding and wanting to meet their new charges.
He might not have another private moment with his wife until after they put the kids to bed tonight.
He looked forward to it.
Chapter 20
Mabel walked to thecar that had just pulled into the drive, smiling because she recognized the matchmakers from in town.
They didn’t officially call themselves that, since they met at the community center to do crafts and quilting. But most people in town referred to them that way, and for good reason. They had as much of a reputation for matchmaking as Billy the Highland steer did.
Miss Helen, Miss April, and Miss June got out of their car and came over and gave her a hug, congratulating her on her wedding.
“Would you ladies like to sit on the porch?” she asked after she introduced Annabelle, Bernice, and Caren.
“Sure. Although, was that a horse in your front yard?” Miss April said as she walked with them to the porch.
“It is. Someone dropped her off this morning. She’s very close to being a newborn, but we’ve got her eating, and I think her prognosis is guarded. As long as she makes it through the next week or so without any trouble and starts getting up on her own, I think she’s going to make it.” She hoped that was true. She supposed she wouldn’t be quite so optimistic if it were someone else’s animal. She would have to be honest and say that the odds were probably not quite fifty-fifty.
