Mystery at Brightfields

Chapter 12a.

Zoe opened her eyes and Pin was kneeling in front of her. He looked down as she lifted her head off of Marcus's shoulder. Pin chose to ignore it. 

"Wh what are you doing here? You don't get in until tomorrow" asked Zoe. 

"It is tomorrow. I took an early flight because of your text." Pin replied. Eyeing a still asleep Marcus. 

" Lets go outside and talk." said Zoe. Irritation rising in her voice. Pin followed her as she got up and left the stall quietly. Trying not to wake up Laycee or Marcus. 

She walked to the other corner of the stable yard and into the tack room. Mostly to buy herself some time. Pin had found her in a weird spot. At least Marcus was there for her when Pin wasn't.

"What are you doing here Pin?" She asked. 

"I came home, I was going to see you in the morning but I wanted to see the mystery horse that you were talking about and I'm still a few hours behind from the US. So I came here and saw the light on in the stall. Turns out you and Marcus were in there." Pin said quietly. 

"Well if you want to meet Layla, you're too late. She's over in that pasture until morning. The dead horse under that tarp." she shot back. Pointing towards Layla. 

"Oh, Zoe. I'm sorry. I didn't know!" replied Pin. " I honestly had no idea. I was confused when I saw the foal alone in her stall, wellllll not exactly alone, but I kind of figured it out." 

"I needed you. I needed you weeks ago and you don't even seem to care. I see you've been writing your dad, but I barely get a text as a reply to something I sent days ago. I call. you never answer, and if you do, you hurry me off the phone. I needed you here, Layla needed you here. You could of helped with this, you should of been here weeks ago!" retorted Zoe, trying to not let the emotion get to her voice. "Marcus has been a good friend. He is the one here helping me with the foal, helping me get through this. I wanted for it so badly to be you. But you ignored me."

"Zoe..I.." he started. 

"Please just go home. I'm exhausted. I've spent half of my night sleeping against a cold stall wall in a pile of straw. I'm all out of emotion for the day." Zoe sighed. 

Pin looked like he was going to add something else, but instead he nodded and slid off his jacket. 

"Take this. Its suppose to drop a few more degrees tonight."

She took it from his outstretched hand. Their fingers brushed. 

"See you tomorrow Zoe. We can talk more then. We need to talk more." Pin turned and left the tack room. Leaving a tired and confused Zoe. She looked at her phone and realized there was only 15 more minutes until the next feeding so she made up the bottle early. 

Night feeding 3 accomplished. 

It was getting colder. Stupid Pin was right. So Zoe slid on his jacket before going back to sit down next to a napping Marcus. 

It smelled like him. But different.