The Palomino careered around the field. He bashed his head on the gate post. For a while, he was dazed.
Jenny got out of the jeep. ‘You don’t have to come if you’re frightened,’ she said to Tod, her ten-year-old nephew.
Jenny was looking after Tod for the day, as her sister had an important meeting at work and Tod had another tummy ache, keeping him off school.
Tod pulled his hood up; it fell over his eyes. He got down from his seat in the front. He usually sat in the back of his mother's SUV.
Jenny went to the paddock gate wondering how the little pale horse would react. He’d not settled after another fruitless visit to the vet.
Tod wandered over and stood by the fence. Jenny looked at him. He was a worry too. He’d had a lot of tummy aches recently.
Dinah, her sister, didn’t seem bothered, as long as Jenny or her mother could look after Tod, while she was off doing her important job.
Jenny didn’t want to be harsh on her sister. She’d had it tough, since Tod’s dad Joe, left them for a ‘slapper’ in his office. ‘Slapper,’ was Dinah’s word; she was hurting.
‘Just stand back from the fence a bit,’ Jenny said to Tod.’ He’s been jittery since we got him from the breeder.’
Tod ignored Jenny. He climbed and leaned over the fence.
The colt had backed himself into a corner and was stamping a front hoof.
Tod pushed his hood off and studied the horse.
Jenny went through the gate with a harness in her hand.
Tod watched.
The Palomino whinnied.
‘Come closer,’ said Tod under his breath.
‘Sorry?’ said his auntie.
Tod stared at her.
The horse snorted.
‘It's okay boy,’ said Jenny. ‘I’ve got you.’
‘No harness,’ said Tod.
‘What?’
‘He’s scared.’
‘I can see that,’ said Jenny. She began to move towards the horse.
‘No!’
Jenny stopped abruptly, there was something in Tod’s voice.
‘Please,’ he said. ‘Come here next to me.’
A disgruntled Jenny went to him, a quizzical expression on her face.
Tod looked at the young horse and smiled.
The colt stopped his snorting and stamping.
Tod nodded and smiled again.
The horse shook his head, his white mane splaying like a fan. He was a beauty.
‘His name’s Goldie,’ said Jenny.
‘Goldie,’ whispered Tod.
The horse looked up and walked towards them.
Jenny stared at Tod who was beaming. He had his eyes firmly fixed on the small pale horse.
She turned back to Goldie, and she would swear to anyone he was smiling but she knew they wouldn’t believe her.
‘He’s hurting,’ said Tod. ‘There’s a knot in his stomach, that won’t go away. The vet won’t find it – he’s sad.’
Jenny stared at her nephew.
The Palomino nodded, shook his pale mane, and nuzzled into Tod’s shoulder.
About the author
Lynn is a regular writer for Cafelit. Her first flash fiction collection, The City of Stories,' is published by Chapeltown Books. See 5-star reviews - #amazonthecityofstorieslynnclement Lynn has stories in The Best of Cafelit 11, 12, 13 and 14.
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