"Good run." Cassidy compliments, scraping the last of the excess water from Cheeto's body with a sweat scraper. "You really have been working hard with him, haven't you?"
"Very, he is a challenge most days. My sister has been working with his round pen mate. She named him Domino." I give a small smile, hoping she doesnt see the shattered world in my eyes.
"That's absolutely adorable!" She smiles back, and as if she had known we were talking about her, my miniature me comes walking through the barn, head down.
"I'll be right back." I tell them, jogging to my sister. Even from this distance I can tell shes upset.
She walks to the back of the barn toward the tack room and shuts the door. I stop just outside and wait. Someone else is in there and I can catch some of what they are saying.
"...wasnt supposed to be that way, kid. I swear. Your sister is...." Its Connor.
"... just a... say sorry.... I miss her being..... she smiled more when....."
I'm only catching bits and pieces, but it's because Melody is being so quiet.
"I know... maybe you'll both.... I have such..... head up.... come give me a hug." Connor is so gentle with her. So caring.
I start to walk away and turn as the door opens, Melody looking up at me with red, puffy eyes. Connor comes out after her and gives me a small smile and a nod.
"Hey, kiddo, you okay?" I bend to one knee to hug her tight.
"Yeah. Go talk to Connor." She pulls back, takes a deep breath, wipes her eyes and walks away.
He is still in the doorway of the tack room and steps aside for me to come in. I walk past and sit down on an old tack trunk while he closes the door.
"So.. what's up..?" I sheepishly ask.
"I wanted to apologize. For everything. Melody saw something change in you when we were hanging out. She said you had life behind your smile... that you at least had some light. She told me she doesn't know if she will ever see that again for herself and now she's scared you won't have that either.. so I'm sorry."
Absorbing that information rattled something deep in me that I wasnt sure I'd ever feel again. It rattled a feeling of comfort and safety. Something I haven't felt since my parents were murdered. Without a word, I'm in Connor's arms giving him a hug.
"Thank you.." I say, my voice foreign.
A small nod and a kiss on the top of my head is his response as he pulls back.
"You gonna be okay? After Red leaves?"
"Shes going to help that poor girl who lost her best friend. She has other people to help too, and Renegade and I will have more time together." I answer, feeling sure and steady about it for the first time.
"You're something else, Shasta." He smiles, "Let's go eat dinner."
We get to Cassidy and she already has Cheeto and Red in their stalls and bedded down for the night.
"Hey, ready for dinner?" I ask my new friend.
"I'm starving. Let's go!" She joins us and our little group of three makes our way to the house with smiles on our faces, the smell of barbecue in our noses as we reach the house.
Melody catches my eye through the window, a smile covers her face when she sees my small smile and I'm reminded of just how lucky I am to have her.
YOU ARE READING
Faith and Freedom
Teen Fiction"You can't honestly think that this smelly creature is the answer to my problems. Your insain. I am NOT going to Tennessee and you can't force me to! I'm FINE!" ******************************** Their parents were killed. Their lives were about to c...
