Galloping Hearts

Chapter 4: Secrets and Surprises

The days after Emily's encounter with the wild horse passed in a blur of routine farm work and restless thoughts. Each morning, she found herself waking earlier than usual, her eyes scanning the horizon as if hoping to catch another glimpse of the chestnut horse. But there was no sign of it. The fields stretched on endlessly, quiet and still under the early morning sun, leaving Emily to wonder if it had all been some kind of dream.

As much as she longed to see the horse again, life on the farm didn't stop for daydreams. The crops needed tending, the animals needed feeding, and the harvest season was inching closer, meaning the workload would only get heavier. Her father had already started preparing for the next market day, and her brothers, Thomas and Jacob, were more rambunctious than ever, racing each other between chores.

But something was different. There was an undercurrent of excitement in the air that Emily couldn't quite place.

It wasn't that anyone had told her directly, but she had a feeling that something was being planned. Her parents exchanged secretive glances more often than usual, and her brothers were whispering when they thought she wasn't paying attention. She'd caught them giggling to themselves once or twice, only to stop suddenly when she entered the room.

But whenever she asked, her mother would brush it off with a smile. "You'll see, Emily. Just be patient."

Patient. It wasn't a word that came easily to her, especially now with so much on her mind. But she trusted her parents, even if they were hiding something.

What Emily didn't know was that the entire family was preparing for a special day-her 16th birthday, which was just a few days away. And they had something very special in store for her.

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Behind the Scenes

One afternoon, as Emily was out helping her father check the fences around the far pasture, her mother stood in the kitchen, rolling out dough for bread with a concentrated expression. Beside her, Thomas and Jacob sat at the table, trying-and failing-to stay quiet. They were buzzing with excitement, and it didn't help that they'd been sworn to secrecy about Emily's surprise.

"Are we really going to get her all the riding stuff, Ma?" Thomas asked, his voice barely containing his enthusiasm.

His mother nodded, smiling as she patted the dough and set it aside to rise. "Yes, we are. She's been talking about riding for as long as I can remember. I think it's about time we make that dream come true."

"But we already have Storm," Jacob said, frowning. "Why hasn't she learned to ride him yet?"

Storm was the family's one and only horse, a large, calm gelding who had been a part of their farm for years. He was more of a workhorse than a riding horse, but the family had always planned for Emily to learn how to ride him when the time was right. He had the patience and gentle nature that made him perfect for a beginner.

Her mother chuckled. "We've been waiting for her to turn sixteen, remember? That's the age your father and I agreed on. And with her birthday coming up this weekend, we figured it was time to give her the tools she needs to learn."

Thomas and Jacob's eyes lit up with excitement at the thought of the surprise. Emily had been dreaming about riding Storm for years, ever since she was little. And though she had helped care for the horse, she had never been allowed to ride him on her own. That was about to change.

"I can't wait to see her face," Thomas said, barely able to contain his excitement.

"Neither can I," their mother replied, smiling to herself as she wiped her hands on a towel. "Now, hush. If she hears you two, the surprise will be ruined."