Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
WINNIE EDEN'S CAR HAD been fixed for weeks, but she couldn't find it in herself to leave. So she extended her trip. Maybe it was the horses or the absolute seclusion from the world, or maybe it was a certain 6'1 ranch handler who pulled his car to the side of the road and helped her.
She had a hard time sleeping sometimes, with all the thoughts running through her head, so she wandered around the farm, popping her head into the barn. Most of the horses were asleep but a few were still awake and just laying in their stalls.
She walked through the stalls until she reached the second to last one. The horse came up to the door of the stall. The horse stared at Winnie and Winnie stared right at back. It was almost like they were trying to figure each other out.
"What's your name?" Winnie asked, trying to find a nameplate or anything that would tell her the name of the horse. When she found nothing, she turned back to the horse. She held out her hand, letting the horse sniff and investigate her before it made a noise and moved its head.
She took that as a good sign and took a step forward, "I'm Winnie." She smiled, reaching out and petting the horse's mane. Winnie pulled away and the horse neighed before shoving its head towards her hand again, "Oh, sorry." She began petting the horse again, laughing to herself.
"She's a little clingy." Winnie jumped when she heard the man speak. She whipped around, a sense of fear coursing through her body.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Dutton. I know it's late, but I just..." Winnie began rambling and talking faster as she began rattling off apologies.
"Winnie, it's okay." He laughed, cutting her off, "Clearly we had the same idea tonight." He gestured to the horses.
"Yeah." Winnie chuckled, before glancing back at the horse and then back to John, "Does she have a name?"
"Not yet. We tossed a few ideas around but none of them really worked." He shrugged, "Why? You have an idea?"
Winnie pursed her lips, staring at the horse. She wracked her brain for the perfect name, and when the name finally came to her, it felt obvious and right, "Stevie."
"Stevie." John repeated, a smile playing on his face as he nodded, "Have you ever ridden a horse, Winnie?"
"Maybe when I was 5 at a birthday party." Winnie answered, furrowing her brows in confusion, "Why?"
"Tomorrow, you and Stevie are gonna go for a ride."
Winnie's eyes widened and she frantically shook her head, "I don't know if that's a good idea."
"You'll be fine." He reassured, patting her on the back, "I'll have someone get you in the morning."
"Mr. Dutton..." Winnie's voice wavered, but John was having none of it.
