Read Online Once a Father by Kathleen Eagle - Free Book Online Page B

She felt it intensely. “Wanting.”
    â€œHe needs a family. We’re going to fill that role.”
    â€œYou mean a herd.” She packed down the feelings and turned to Logan with the cerebral stuff. Facts. “Like a dog needs a pack. We become the alpha, the—”
    â€œFamily,” he insisted. “First we convince him we’re not gonna eat him, and we don’t do that by thinking like dogs.”
    â€œI realize a herd is different from a pack—horses are prey and dogs are predators—but there’s still a pecking order.”
    â€œTotally different worlds. You know what the beauty of being human is? We can be anything we want to be if we put our minds to it.”
    â€œDoctor, tailor, soldier, sailor?” She smiled.
    â€œTwo-legged, four-legged, winged or finned. You can put yourself in any kind of skin, imagine yourself there.” He glanced from her eyes to his hat, as though her head might be doing something in there besides taking cover. “If you put your mind to it.”
    â€œI can do that.” Imagining herself somewhere else was her cover.
    â€œIt shows. And that’s why we’re in this together.”
    He sent her back into the round pen to repeat many of the actions and much of the inaction she’d applied previously. She could feel the mustang coming to her in some strange way. Logan was right about the point of contact. It was gut level, and it was unsettling. But it was real, and it was different from any communication she’d experienced. She wanted to call it something so she could put it in its place. File it in a box so she could use it effectively. Safely. She loved her dogs for accepting her unconditionally, but this gut-level connection with the horse was a little intimidating. She really wanted him to like her. Trust her. He was honest and pure, and his acceptance suddenly felt all-important.
    Which was probably crazy, but it was as good a test as any for a directionally impaired person sitting at a crossroads without a map.
    She knew the way back to her mother’s house, but she would have a little campfire time first. Without asking, Mary gathered wood and filled the fire pit. Without discussion, Logan brought out the blankets, lit the kindling, and tossed a handful of sage into the mix. Bit by bit the small, curling leaves became pungent white smoke. The soft summer wind had settled, and a distant butte had sucked the sun into its pocket, but there was plenty of light and no shortageof background music from the tiny musicians in the grass.
    Mary took her time with her food. She wanted to eat enough to show her appreciation but not so much that the show backfired on her. The fried food required delicate handling. Little bites, lots of chews. If he noticed, he didn’t show it. She closed the Styrofoam lid on half eaten chicken and fry bread, avoiding his eyes as she thanked him and said it was good.
    He chuckled.
    â€œNo, really. I’ll do the dishes and take the trash out.”
    â€œYou’re a good camper.”
    â€œAnd a happy one,” she said cheerfully as she stuffed the paper bag.
    â€œToo bad we didn’t bring a dog along.”
    â€œI don’t feed mine scraps. They eat better than I do.”
    â€œWe’ll do beef next time, I promise.”
    â€œOh, no, this was fine. You know what it’s like when you go home to Mother. She’s not happy unless you’re eating.” She sat cross-legged, hands braced on her knees. “You know how it is when you’re out in the field. Your stomach shrinks.”
    â€œYou like your job?”
    â€œI do. Very much.”
    He poked at the flaming firewood with a stick.“I was in the Air Cav. Funny, huh? An Indian in the cavalry?”
    â€œNot these days. Did you like your job?”
    â€œSome days. I was a kid. I loved those big choppers.” His eyes brightened. “Rappelling! Didn’t get to rap jump often