Second Chances Read Online Free PDF Page B

the horse’s back. “I’ll make a point to be
here when your farrier comes. Surely, we can figure out some way to keep her
calm and cooperative.”
    He
nodded briefly. Luckily they had a few weeks before having to cross that
particular bridge because right now he wasn’t about to stress the filly out by
forcing a shoe change on the first couple of days at her new home, with people
she didn’t know. Hell, the task would be difficult enough after weeks of
settling her in.
    Finished
with the filly, April grabbed up the brush and started working on Mischief. The
little gelding lowered his head, sighed, and turned into a puddle of mush under
her care.
    Dusty
shook his head. Mischief’s rescuers were right. He was a ham, a dramatic one at
that. With a brief grin, he grabbed up a couple of lead ropes, headed out of
the stable, and made his way to the field to start bringing in horses for
dinner time.
    After a
long while, April finished doting on her new pets. She trailed her fingers over
each muzzle once more before slipping from the oversized stall.
    Her
gaze found his. “Thank you again for taking them in.”
    “No
problem.” He used the curry comb over Autumn’s back. She’d been rolling in the
field, somehow ending up with a bunch of dried mud in her coat. More than
likely, she’d found a wet spot near the water tank and decided on a cool roll
in the resulting damp dirt. He couldn’t blame her, considering the blazing
temperatures outside. He would consider the same if a shower or creek wasn’t
readily available.
    The bay
mare was his best broodmare and thus far produced fine foals with Rule as a
sire. His pride and joy, he pampered her and her offspring as a parent cared
for their child. The matching foal with a star on her forehead nipped at his
jeans. He tugged lightly on her short forelock, unwilling to dissuade the little
filly from her playful interaction. Her mother sighed contentedly and shifted
her weight to cock one foot in a pose of blatant horse-like relaxation.
    Totally
in his element, he nearly forgot he had a visitor until April walked across his
line of vision only to plop down on a bale of straw as if she had all night to
do nothing more than kick back and watch him work. Come to think of it, she
probably did.
    “How
will you get Miracle to trust you?” The quiet voice carried easily to him
across the expansive room.
    “Same
as the trainers at the humane society. Rewards, praise, patience, and food.” He
tucked the handle of the curry comb in his back pocket and picked up a softer
brush he’d left waiting on top of the thick stall door. With practiced ease, he
stroked the bristles over the mare’s hide, ridding the dark hairs of the last
of the mud, leaving her coat shiny and clean.
    “Have
you worked with special needs animals before?” She tucked a leg under her and
watched him with banked interest.
    He
couldn’t decide what about him she tried to figure out, but her intense look
left no doubt he’d snared her curiosity. Dusty considered her question as he
walked around the big boned mare and started on her other side. “I’ve handled
my fair share of difficult horses, had success with them all. But, I’ll be
honest, I’ve never worked with one as traumatized as your filly.”
    She
sighed loudly and lowered her chin. “Lois spoke highly of you and your
abilities. Even one of the trainers readily agreed you could do wonders.”
    The
hope laced in her voice melted over him like tiny snowflakes in the summer sun.
April already loved that horse and put all her eggs in his basket. The unspoken
compliment propped up his ego a smidgen more. “Her previous trainer started her
out right. With more time, she’ll come around.”
    “And be
calm around everyone?”
    He
shook his head, then realized her focus, and turned to the horse in question.
“Highly doubtful. Most likely, she’ll pick out a few people she trusts and work
for them. Strangers will always be on her bad list.” Finished