the ones that the tooth fairy hadn’t run off with. “Ready, Darcy?” I asked.
Most of the time, Darcy was locked up in her own world, but when she climbed up on Archie’s back, the rest of the world opened up to her. I spent three afternoons a week helping my friend, Trish, run a riding program for special needs kids. Trish had taught me to ride horses when I was barely tall enough to reach the stirrups. Darcy and I had bonded only with the magical help of Archie, the Shetland pony.
I started to jog, and Archie picked up a slow trot. Darcy was belted onto the saddle but she had great balance. She clutched the reins and kept a broad smile plastered on her face. Occasionally, she’d let loose with a giggle or happy sigh.
I smiled back at her. “You’re smiling so wide, Darcy. You look just like a grinning Jack-o-Lantern.”
She made a point of widening her smile even more, letting me know she liked the comparison. According to her mom, eight-year-old Darcy could put together a five hundred piece jigsaw puzzle in an hour. And that was just one of her amazing talents.
I slowed the pony to a walk and led him around the pen two more times. Darcy’s mom was looking at her watch, which meant it was time to end the ride. After this, Darcy would be whisked away to her violin lesson. She had trouble communicating and forming relationships with people, but when tucked back into her own quiet world, Darcy could do just about anything and do it better than most adults.
Darcy was very insistent about climbing off the pony by herself. I held Archie steady, and she swung her little leg over and slid down to the ground. We walked Archie back to the barn. Darcy lifted her arms, which meant I could give her a hug. Some days she wasn’t in the mood, but this afternoon she’d been in a particularly friendly mood. We hugged and she let me hold her for longer than usual. Then, without another word, she followed her continually rushing mom to their car.
Trish came out of the empty horse stall she’d converted into an office. “You mentioned you had a date tonight. Is it Nate?”
Her reminder brought back the slight case of nerves I’d been feeling off and on all day. “It’s not Nate. His name is Cole.”
Trish grabbed a brush for Archie’s tail. “Tell me. Give this old married woman a little something to fantasize about. Is he handsome?”
“He’s definitely easy on the eyes. Probably a little rowdy and tattooed for my dad’s liking, but that’s all right. It’ll probably never get to the parent introduction stage. Oh, and this part will probably cause you to go all groupie crazy, since I know you love Black Thunder.”
Trish looked around Archie’s butt at me. “What do you mean? Are you going to one of their concerts?” She put her hands on her hips. “How did I not hear about them having a concert? I thought they were semi-retired.”
“Whoa there, relax lady, I was just going to mention that Cole, the guy I’m going out with, is Nicky King’s son.”
Trish’s mouth dropped open. “Get. Out. Of. Here.”
“That’s why I’m not counting on this as being anything more than a flashing flirt. He’s really charming and hot and funny. But I highly doubt he ever dates any girl longer than his attention span will allow.” I lifted Archie’s foot and cleaned his hoof. “Anyhow, it’s just one date.” I lowered the pony’s foot to the ground. “So, don’t bother asking for backstage passes. Didn’t you tell me you and your friends once got caught trying to break into the band’s dressing rooms?”
“Ah yes, those were the days.” Trish dragged the brush through the pony’s tail. “The security guard carted us out on his golf cart. I was on the backseat, and when he came to a stop, I jumped off and ran out to the stadium to watch the show.”
“You hardcore rowdy. If I ever go to jail, I sure hope you’re my cellmate.”
I finished up with Archie and Trish returned to the office. She
Most of the time, Darcy was locked up in her own world, but when she climbed up on Archie’s back, the rest of the world opened up to her. I spent three afternoons a week helping my friend, Trish, run a riding program for special needs kids. Trish had taught me to ride horses when I was barely tall enough to reach the stirrups. Darcy and I had bonded only with the magical help of Archie, the Shetland pony.
I started to jog, and Archie picked up a slow trot. Darcy was belted onto the saddle but she had great balance. She clutched the reins and kept a broad smile plastered on her face. Occasionally, she’d let loose with a giggle or happy sigh.
I smiled back at her. “You’re smiling so wide, Darcy. You look just like a grinning Jack-o-Lantern.”
She made a point of widening her smile even more, letting me know she liked the comparison. According to her mom, eight-year-old Darcy could put together a five hundred piece jigsaw puzzle in an hour. And that was just one of her amazing talents.
I slowed the pony to a walk and led him around the pen two more times. Darcy’s mom was looking at her watch, which meant it was time to end the ride. After this, Darcy would be whisked away to her violin lesson. She had trouble communicating and forming relationships with people, but when tucked back into her own quiet world, Darcy could do just about anything and do it better than most adults.
Darcy was very insistent about climbing off the pony by herself. I held Archie steady, and she swung her little leg over and slid down to the ground. We walked Archie back to the barn. Darcy lifted her arms, which meant I could give her a hug. Some days she wasn’t in the mood, but this afternoon she’d been in a particularly friendly mood. We hugged and she let me hold her for longer than usual. Then, without another word, she followed her continually rushing mom to their car.
Trish came out of the empty horse stall she’d converted into an office. “You mentioned you had a date tonight. Is it Nate?”
Her reminder brought back the slight case of nerves I’d been feeling off and on all day. “It’s not Nate. His name is Cole.”
Trish grabbed a brush for Archie’s tail. “Tell me. Give this old married woman a little something to fantasize about. Is he handsome?”
“He’s definitely easy on the eyes. Probably a little rowdy and tattooed for my dad’s liking, but that’s all right. It’ll probably never get to the parent introduction stage. Oh, and this part will probably cause you to go all groupie crazy, since I know you love Black Thunder.”
Trish looked around Archie’s butt at me. “What do you mean? Are you going to one of their concerts?” She put her hands on her hips. “How did I not hear about them having a concert? I thought they were semi-retired.”
“Whoa there, relax lady, I was just going to mention that Cole, the guy I’m going out with, is Nicky King’s son.”
Trish’s mouth dropped open. “Get. Out. Of. Here.”
“That’s why I’m not counting on this as being anything more than a flashing flirt. He’s really charming and hot and funny. But I highly doubt he ever dates any girl longer than his attention span will allow.” I lifted Archie’s foot and cleaned his hoof. “Anyhow, it’s just one date.” I lowered the pony’s foot to the ground. “So, don’t bother asking for backstage passes. Didn’t you tell me you and your friends once got caught trying to break into the band’s dressing rooms?”
“Ah yes, those were the days.” Trish dragged the brush through the pony’s tail. “The security guard carted us out on his golf cart. I was on the backseat, and when he came to a stop, I jumped off and ran out to the stadium to watch the show.”
“You hardcore rowdy. If I ever go to jail, I sure hope you’re my cellmate.”
I finished up with Archie and Trish returned to the office. She
Similar Books
