had returned. After its spectacular departure earlier, Seamus hadn’t expected it back any time soon.
The black beauty used to visit every few weeks or so, in Zachariah’s time, and now it arrived twice in one day? Seamus walked out to greet the creature. This was the visitor he was most comfortable with. He supposed he should be cautious though, given its sudden aggression in Pete’s presence.
“Hello there, Black.” Seamus observed it for signs of it suddenly rearing back, but it seemed its usual calm self.
It whickered in greeting, its coat carrying a light sheen in the heat of the afternoon sun. It trotted closer to nuzzle Seamus, and he relaxed. Then it turned, as if it wanted Seamus to mount it a second time in one day.
“Hey, I already had a ride. I think that’s more than enough.” He patted it, but when he stepped away, the horse moved once more into position.
“Horse, I need to come up with a name for you beyond Black Beauty. Who was a poor cab horse in the city, by the way, nothing like your fate, wild one. Thing is, I shouldn’t ride you now. I have chores to do, errands to run, if I want to make a go of this farm.” But Seamus wondered if he needed to try to tame it, if it needed a home. Zachariah had always been against such a plan, had sworn Seamus to silence about the horse’s very existence… With that Seamus felt a pang of guilt for having let Pete see the horse, though that visit had not been expected or welcomed.
Black whickered encouragingly and shifted when Seamus shifted, all of which Seamus found rather endearing. The horse wanted his attention. Horses were social creatures. In the wild they ran together. Though maybe not stallions. Didn’t they fight each other off quite aggressively or something like that?
He leaned his forehead against Black’s shoulder. “What the hell. Let me try to tame you. Though I’m not sure who’s training who here. Anyway a short ride, okay? Or I’m going to end up being the most irresponsible farmer ever, always procrastinating, and I’ll have to sell this place for sure. Then who will you visit?”
Black blew out, still waiting.
Feeling like an old pro this time, Seamus hefted himself up onto that strong back and settled. As soon as he got himself into position, the horse moved forward and broke into a canter.
“Whoa.” Seamus grabbed the mane, readjusted himself so he wasn’t leaning backwards and held on as the horse picked up speed and ran, really ran. Galloped. It was a smooth ride, Seamus had to grant it that.
He enjoyed the first while, despite the surprising speed. But as he lost track of where he was, he began to worry. It reminded him of that night, when he’d first ridden Black. But this was day. Different situation. No thugs on the road either, just Pete and Ri at the farm, and chores awaiting him.
“All right,” he shouted into the wind, trying to communicate. The horse picked up more speed.
He tugged on the mane, and it went faster yet again. Goddammit. He leaned low and looked at the ground blurring by him as he toyed with the idea of falling off. He was hard-pressed to follow through with that idea. After all, the horse didn’t seem crazed, just purposeful, and Seamus didn’t relish broken bones. He’d already landed flat on his back today upon Pete’s arrival, and that was enough falling as far as he was concerned.
So he stayed on for the wild ride and set aside the idea of taming Black. Mostly he tried to figure out how the hell he was going to get back home if Black didn’t take him there.
Chapter Five
When the horse finally slowed down—at a great distance from the farm— Seamus slid off and stumbled, only to land on his ass. That made him madder. Better angry, though, than freaking out at memories of another crazy ride.
Seamus scrubbed his face. That was then, this is now. It was still daylight, even if evening was approaching. And this was never going to happen again. Because never again would he ride this horse. It
The black beauty used to visit every few weeks or so, in Zachariah’s time, and now it arrived twice in one day? Seamus walked out to greet the creature. This was the visitor he was most comfortable with. He supposed he should be cautious though, given its sudden aggression in Pete’s presence.
“Hello there, Black.” Seamus observed it for signs of it suddenly rearing back, but it seemed its usual calm self.
It whickered in greeting, its coat carrying a light sheen in the heat of the afternoon sun. It trotted closer to nuzzle Seamus, and he relaxed. Then it turned, as if it wanted Seamus to mount it a second time in one day.
“Hey, I already had a ride. I think that’s more than enough.” He patted it, but when he stepped away, the horse moved once more into position.
“Horse, I need to come up with a name for you beyond Black Beauty. Who was a poor cab horse in the city, by the way, nothing like your fate, wild one. Thing is, I shouldn’t ride you now. I have chores to do, errands to run, if I want to make a go of this farm.” But Seamus wondered if he needed to try to tame it, if it needed a home. Zachariah had always been against such a plan, had sworn Seamus to silence about the horse’s very existence… With that Seamus felt a pang of guilt for having let Pete see the horse, though that visit had not been expected or welcomed.
Black whickered encouragingly and shifted when Seamus shifted, all of which Seamus found rather endearing. The horse wanted his attention. Horses were social creatures. In the wild they ran together. Though maybe not stallions. Didn’t they fight each other off quite aggressively or something like that?
He leaned his forehead against Black’s shoulder. “What the hell. Let me try to tame you. Though I’m not sure who’s training who here. Anyway a short ride, okay? Or I’m going to end up being the most irresponsible farmer ever, always procrastinating, and I’ll have to sell this place for sure. Then who will you visit?”
Black blew out, still waiting.
Feeling like an old pro this time, Seamus hefted himself up onto that strong back and settled. As soon as he got himself into position, the horse moved forward and broke into a canter.
“Whoa.” Seamus grabbed the mane, readjusted himself so he wasn’t leaning backwards and held on as the horse picked up speed and ran, really ran. Galloped. It was a smooth ride, Seamus had to grant it that.
He enjoyed the first while, despite the surprising speed. But as he lost track of where he was, he began to worry. It reminded him of that night, when he’d first ridden Black. But this was day. Different situation. No thugs on the road either, just Pete and Ri at the farm, and chores awaiting him.
“All right,” he shouted into the wind, trying to communicate. The horse picked up more speed.
He tugged on the mane, and it went faster yet again. Goddammit. He leaned low and looked at the ground blurring by him as he toyed with the idea of falling off. He was hard-pressed to follow through with that idea. After all, the horse didn’t seem crazed, just purposeful, and Seamus didn’t relish broken bones. He’d already landed flat on his back today upon Pete’s arrival, and that was enough falling as far as he was concerned.
So he stayed on for the wild ride and set aside the idea of taming Black. Mostly he tried to figure out how the hell he was going to get back home if Black didn’t take him there.
Chapter Five
When the horse finally slowed down—at a great distance from the farm— Seamus slid off and stumbled, only to land on his ass. That made him madder. Better angry, though, than freaking out at memories of another crazy ride.
Seamus scrubbed his face. That was then, this is now. It was still daylight, even if evening was approaching. And this was never going to happen again. Because never again would he ride this horse. It
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