“Ah. So, you are feeling guilty, you handsome boy,” Selena said, giving him another rub on his head and back. Dutch sat, then lifted his paw and rested it on her knee.
“I’ve never seen him react to anyone like that,” commented Gerald. “It appears he seems to be asking for forgiveness. He’s typically more reserved and waits until he gets to know people before he shows affection.”
“You didn’t mean to cause me pain Dutch,” Selena said soothingly. “So, there’s nothing to forgive.”
Dutch thumped his tail and gave a soft woof.
“I see your gift is not limited to horses,” Connery chuckled.
“I don’t think it’s a gift. I think he responds to a friendly voice.” She smiled and accepted Gerald’s hand as he helped her stand. “May I see Azure? My original purpose for coming here was to spend some time with him.”
“Of course.” Gerald escorted her to the stall at the end of the aisle, nearest the other entrance. “He’s a fine steed.”
“How beautiful, he is.” Selena approached the large gray stallion who stood with a calm nobility. “Hello, Azure,” she said softly, reaching up to pat his nose.” Azure blew air and moved his head as though he were nodding to her, welcoming her back. “May I go into the stall? I don’t think he will hurt me.” Something drove her to get closer to the horse and standing over the gate seemed too far.
The gray horse whinnied and nodded again.
Gerald smiled. “It looks like I’m outnumbered. I’ll stay outside the stall, in case you need me.
“Thank you,” she said, closing the stall’s gate behind her.
A pain in her chest told her she had missed this horse something fierce. “You look wonderful.” She petted his nose and then, reaching up, wrapped her arms around his neck, placing her head against his. “Thank you for getting me here safely. I’m feeling much better.”
The horse nuzzled her neck with his nose.
“I believe Azure just kissed you. Should I be jealous?” Gerald teased.
Beaming, she turned and faced her fiancé. “It feels familiar, so I think he always does that with me. Thank youfor taking such good care of my sweet Azure. I have missed spending time with him.”
“How do you know…that you have missed him?” Gerald asked. “Are you remembering?”
She thought for a moment. “I can’t remember details, but feelings yes…I think I can remember feeling close to Azure. Safe. Protected…”
Dutch crouched down and slid beneath the gate of the stall. Selena smiled and noticed Azure seemed to accept him. Sufficiently clearing the gate, the dog rose and stood next to Selena and nudged her skirts. She leaned down and kissed the large, white dog on the head.
Connery joined them. “I think I’ve seen it all, now. The dog appears to have sought forgiveness from the horse, as well,” he laughed.
“It appears so,” Gerald said chuckling.
“That might explain why he’s been sleeping close to your horse’s stall these last few nights,” Connery said. “Joshua told me the dog had moved his nightly post to the front of this stall.”
“Is there any animal you cannot tame?” Gerald teased.
“They have become friends,” Selena said. As she stood there, her horse began to nuzzle her neck and paw at the ground. She leaned in and wrapped her arm around his mane. As Azure calmed, she looked into his eyes and whispered. “What is it, boy?” The horse whimpered and shook his head and looked in the direction of the stall they had come from.
“He seems to want to know about the other horse,” she said, staying focused on her horse. “Azure seems concerned about him.”
“Most unusual,” Connery commented.
Selena kissed Azure’s nose. “The horse missed his mother,” she whispered. As she answered him, her head beganto throb—a merciless pain that rose from behind her skull to her forehead.
“Are you all right, Selena?” Gerald asked, moving into the stall, and stepping beside her. “Selena, please answer me…”
She could hear voices in her head. “Darlings.” She recognized her father’s voice.“He is a good and honorable young man. His father, Arthur, and I were cousins and friends when we were young. Percival will take good care of you.”
The voices grew loud and angry… strangers in her home…saying horrible things to her…. “Your mother is dead… she succumbed to her fever,” one stranger said. He was ugly with greasy black hair and foul whisky-tinged breath. His voice was cold and harsh.
“No! It’s not true. Please, take me to her now.”
