“Aye, he likes ye, because I like ye, I spoke tae him about it while ye were sleepin’. He just has an expression of dismay because ye daena trust him. He has assured me he is a verra good horse, he just wants yer respect. Ye dinna even say hello now that ye are up, ye forgot tae ask if he was well.”
“He needs me to be polite — that is why he looks at me like that?”
“Aye, sort of, tis also just the way his face looks. Tis a horse face. He daena mean anything by it, but he told me if ye are polite he will be accommodatin’.”
“Fine.” She looked at the horse. “My apologies, Mr. Finny, I should have been more polite. How are you today? I am sorry about the jump, it feels terrible. I’m sure you agree.”
Finny raised his head and whinnied. She smiled. “Does he understand me?”
“Aye, every word ye say. Horses ken, they just canna answer because their mouth inna the right shape. That is what Beaty told me about my horse, Cookie. Cookie would answer me if he could, so would Finny. I hae learned tae listen tae what a horsemeanstae say.”
“Mr. Finny, I take back everything, I didn’t realize I was hurting your feelings. My apologies. I think we are about to ride you now.”
Finny nuzzled his muzzle against her shoulder.
She frowned. “Yes, it was ouchy, but it is feeling much better now, Sir Finny, thank you for asking.” He stomped his feet and turned so his side was tae us.
I said, “Ye ready tae climb on, Ash?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
I pushed her up with my shoulder and held her thigh while she lay there for a moment getting her balance, holding on with her one strong arm, then twisting around and sliding her leg across and finally coming down in the saddle.
“Ye good?”
She nodded, she looked frightened, but said, “Very good, this is fine, not worried at all.”
I grasped the reins, fit my boot to the stirrup, and pushed myself up, swingin’ intae the saddle behind her. I raised her hips a bit, pushing her forward, so I could fit. She settled down between my legs.
She asked, “Is this good?”
I joked, “Ye mean the way ye are positioned? Or the feel of m’wife between m’thighs?”
“Both.”
“Aye, both are good.”
I turned Finny tae the path and we left for higher ground and a view.
CHAPTER 39 - MAGNUS
THE FIELD IN KING’S PARK - JUNE 20, 1291
Twas the middle of the night and we were headed back tae the field tae send Fraoch, Hayley, and Sean tae Balloch. The rumble of our horses and the shifts and movements of the other riders surrounded me, lulled me almost tae sleep.
Sean pulled his horse beside mine, “Wake up, King.”
I jerked m’self awake. “I am not sleepin’, I never sleep on a horse.”
“Och, when ye were a bairn ye slept all the time on horses. I used tae hae tae pinch ye tae keep ye from slumpin’ off tae the ground — we would ride taegether and I would be blamed if ye fell.”
I chuckled. “Of course ye would be blamed — twould be yer fault, I was younger.”
He said, “Maybe I pinched ye because I wanted tae. I canna remember, twas a long time ago, travelin’ from Balloch tae Kilchurn — dost ye remember, Young Magnus, the name of the horse?”
“Aye, twas Fiadh.” The image of him flashed in m’mind, a verra fine horse. “Ye say he was the regular size of a horse, yet I remember him a giant, large enough tae carry the largestmost heroic men across the harsh highlands of Alba. But yet he carried us, wee lads, and seemed proud tae do it. Och, he was fine. I am glad I was livin’ in London when he passed, it might hae broken m’heart.”
“Ye were always soft toward the horses and Fiadh was one of the best.” Sean was quiet then said, “I am sorry I am leavin’ ye, Young Magnus, I ken tis a difficult time...” His voice trailed off. He pulled the horse off the path and slowed tae allow me tae pass.
