The Pegasus Project: A Musimagium Story (The Pegasus Enchantment Book 1)

by Mary Kit Caelsto

  Not for the first time I entertained the idea that I might be her bonded. Except, there was no way I could really ride her and fly too far. Certainly not the ways that Etta had made it talk. Still, in this moment, I could dream.

  Chapter Six

  The next morning before everyone showed up, I took my coffee out to the back porch. The filly lay sleeping next to the patio, the unicorns standing watch nearby. I said nothing, merely sat down to sip my coffee and enjoy the view. Having them here closer to me reminded me of why I was here and perhaps a larger purpose. I sensed the mare watching, the prickling of something in the back of my mind as if she longed to say something, yet couldn’t.

  I tried to imagine what a pegasus academy would look like and utterly failed. Surely the locals would notice flying horses, not to mention the influx of people to the small town of maybe three thousand. That there was a motel, though not a chain one, was a miracle as far as I was concerned. The isolation was one of the reasons why I’d chosen this place, not to mention the stark beauty of the landscape.

  The filly awakened and stood, shaking herself as if to shed the last vestiges of sleep. She blinked sleepy-eyed and walked to the trough and took a good, long drink. Treats? She looked hopefully at me.

  I grinned. “Not right now, sweetheart.” I held out my hand. “But if you’ll let me I’ll pet you.”

  Pet? She glanced at the unicorns for reassurance. The mare shook her head, almost as if she were saying “go on” and the filly turned, her hooves ringing against the concrete as she walked over to me. The sound reminded me that I’d wanted to talk to Etta about those rubber floor mat things to cover the patio with. Something to make it softer for them to walk.

  Trying to describe the concept of petting to an animal that had never been around human contact seemed a bit difficult to me, but I tried by telling her that I’d touch her coat, stroking it, and she’d like it. I’d seen the two pegasus nibbling on the sides of each other’s necks and shoulders, sometimes over the back, so I thought that was where I’d start.

  The filly had other ideas. She stopped in front of me sitting in the chair and lowered her head so it nearly rested in my lap. She trembled. Her desire to flinch away so strong I sensed it without even trying. Before I could wonder what might have happened, flashes of emotions—fear, pain, terror—hit my mind. And I hadn’t even touched her yet.

  “You’re safe,” I whispered. “You’re safe.” I repeated the words like a mantra, until she exhaled and gave a long sigh.

  Safe. Yes.

  My heart soared at hearing those two words in my mind. “Yes. Safe.” I repeated. Then, I reached for her. I moved slowly, carefully so that she could see my hand and I telegraphed what I’d was doing. I reached not for her face, though I longed to rub her forehead and maybe tousle her forelock and scratch behind her ears. Instead, I leaned forward enough to scratch the side of her neck, just beneath her mane.

  She jerked away from my light touch, then returned with a sense of remorse that filled my mind. You. Safe. A sigh accompanied the words as she leaned into my touch, turning her head so I could scratch just the right spot. My arm trembled as I reached the end of my strength, and I moved to itch behind her ears. Her lips went slack, eyelids half-closed and she cocked a hind foot in a resting pose. I believed I’d found the sweet spot.

  The unicorns came onto the patio, drank and munched on their hay, watching me and the filly. Out of curiosity or amusement, I couldn’t quite tell. I caught glimpses of both emotions in my mind. The filly raised her hand, nuzzled me, then turned and walked over to the water.

  I didn’t wait very long because the mare came over and turned so that I could rub the side of her neck. Hesitantly, I reached for her. She remained still, relaxing and leaning into my touch as I patted the side of her neck, scratching up along her mane. The peace and contentment emanating from her, lulled me into a trance-like state. The filly had gone to some shade and lay down to rest, though she watched us carefully. The rumble of a truck coming up my driveway alerted both of us, and the unicorn stepped away. The filly rose to her feet and soon, they trotted away from the patio and beyond. I stepped back inside, going out the front door to meet Paul and his workers in the front yard.

  “I thought I’d take Artie and Fitz with me to work on the main shed while the girls helped you take inventory of what you’d need for your plans,” he said.

  “If you don’t mind, I’d like to take them into town for me. I think I need those stall mats or something on my concrete patio. It doesn’t seem that the slab is good for them. I noticed that they don’t like to rest on it, and I think it’d be better if they could rest in the shade.”

  “Oh that’s a great idea,” Etta said. “I’d also like to suggest a few other things to help you, especially with the manure. We can talk on the way into town.”

  “Thanks. Let me grab my purse and fill a travel mug. You guys need coffee? There’s still most of a pot.”

  Murmurs of assent went around and everyone entered the house. I gathered my cane for support since I might be on my feet a while at the feed store placing an order, the slip that had all the lumber I ordered so we could swing by and place another order if necessary and my purse. I filled a travel mugs that had a piano and roses on it, a gift from a fan, and handed Grace and Etta two more. We emptied the pot, and I put on another one, setting down a few more travel mugs that I wouldn’t mind being taken out to the work site. I let Paul know that if something happened to them, I wouldn’t feel badly at all. Then, the three of us went out to my truck and headed into town.

  ~* * *~

  We returned with my pocket book lighter both from the purchase at the feed store, where enough rubber mats to cover my patio and a pallet of wood pelleted bedding would be delivered later in the day, and the lumber yard, where they would supply us with what we needed to finish building the shed and storage building. I parked my truck next to the patio, then since the driving wore me out, Etta ordered me to go inside and rest while they cleared off the patio and set up the mats. Though I felt bad, I couldn’t refuse and was thankful to find coffee left over and sat down at the computer to check my email.

  I updated Olivia and included Rose in my emails about what we were doing and the plans. I also mentioned the possibility of some sort of academy going in next door. An email from Melody caught my attention. The subject line of “faculty invitation” seemed interesting in light of recent conversations. I opened it to find an invitation to become the new director of the Pegasus Academy. I swallowed hard.

  I stared at the computer, not quite sure I was seeing things right. I glanced at my nearly empty coffee cup. Yep, I’d had enough caffeine to comprehend words. I read again.

  In light of your experience with the pegasus on your property, as well as your proximity to the campus, we would like to invite you to accept the position of Director of the new Pegasus Academy. Your duties would include…

  I exhaled and looked at the two young women laying mats across my patio. Me, running a place where people like them could come, possibly bond to pegasus, and what? That part hadn’t been specified. The mare’s words haunted me. She’d said I was destined for something bugger. Was that what she meant? Did she have an inkling that this would happen? I suspected due to their magical nature that time moved differently for them than it did for me, and until this moment, I’d never wondered if they could see into the future.

  Getting away from the computer seemed to be the best thing, so I opened the door and stepped out onto the mat, appreciating the softness beneath my feet. The slight give made walking different, but not difficult, and I moved my chair over to sit down. “I hope you don’t mind,” I said as I sat and rested my coffee cup on my knee. “I felt too much like an exile.” I chuckled a bit.

  “Sorry. It’s just these mats are heavy and with us here, you didn’t need to overwork. That’s what we’re here for.” Etta paused. “But you’re welcome to sit here. We can talk that way.”

  “Sure. An
d thank you. Just let me know if you do need help. But it’s good to rest,” I replied. We spoke about manure management, how the bucket that fit in a wheeled cart could be used to ferry it away from deck to a place of my choosing and we even discussed where that might be. The more we talked, the more it became obvious to me, at least, that I needed someone to help. “Would you be willing to stay and help?” I finally asked.

  Grace gave her a “told you” look and a big grin.

  “I’d love to,” she replied. “I even have a small truck back in Albuquerque, so you wouldn’t have to worry about me not being independent. She grinned as if I’d handed her a winning lottery ticket.

  “The job might come with more than you bargained for,” I cautioned, thinking of the email. There wasn’t any confidential or do not disclose markings on it. “I’ve been offered the job of the Director of the Pegasus Academy. I’m going to need an assistant.”

  “Will you teach me how to play piano?”

  Her question caught me off guard and I fumbled for the table that usually sat next to my chair before deciding to put the cup down on the mat. “Teach you?” I stared at my hands with their swollen and red knuckles. “To play piano?”

  She nodded. “My magic isn’t all that strong. I’m a passable voice mage, but I never really passed the aptitude tests for any of the instruments. The only one that I haven’t really tried is piano and that’s because the Auxiliary in Albuquerque already has several mages who play the piano and my family couldn’t afford to send me to Melody.” She said the last without remorse, as if that was just how it had to be. Except, I heard her sorrow, the feeling that she might have done something else, something different, if she’d been able to get the education.

  I had beginners books stashed away from my own early days. Of course there were new volumes now, and I’d probably want to check with Melody and see what their curriculum was. “If you’ll bear with me. Yes. Let’s just say I realize I have some things of my own to deal with when it comes to playing piano. I’m sure I can do the basics.” At my next doctor appointment, I’d talk to her about some things I could possibly do to help keep more dexterity in my fingers. I’d shoved the topic aside, certain my career and my playing days were over. Now, I wasn’t so sure.

  Etta beamed. “Thank you. Paul said this morning he thought the sale was going through. Or it would in a few days.”

  A glimpse of white almost out of view caught my attention, and the unicorn mare stood on the hill watching us. If I’d been closer, I would have sworn there was a twinkle in her eye. Then she turned and trotted back to the others.

  Chapter Seven

  An evening ride out to the job site in Paul’s truck showed me the work they’d done to reinforce the shed. To my untrained eye it looked marvelous. Built like a tank. I hoped the pegasus would return to it now that it was sturdier, and I’d made sure to broadcast that thought in the hopes that they heard. We returned to the house where Fitz and Artie took the truck into town to get pizzas for all of us. I took my medicine, then sat down to speak with Paul. Since it was still light, Etta and Grace went into the back yard to finish moving lumber into position for tomorrow’s big building projects.

  “I received an email today,” I started, not quite sure how to segue into the entire conversation that I’d been offered the job to lead an entire academy. “I take it the purchase of the land next door is going well?”

  “It is. We have made an offer and hope to hear back soon. I am guessing we’ll close within the next two weeks and then get started on construction. I understand that you’ve been made an offer as well. Actually, I suggested you for that position. I think you’d do very well. If you haven’t yet asked, Etta would make a lovely assistant to cover things here as well as perhaps work in the stables and then you can find a more administrative minded assistant for the paperwork. It wouldn’t be as bad as you might think.” He smiled warmly.

  “Thank you. Yes, I did get that offer. I’ll look everything over again, but I already was inclined to accept it. Can you tell me what you’re imagining? Other than a central point for the pegasus to fly to when they’re ready. Have we even done a count of the population or have any idea what would it would entail?” So many questions needed answering, not that any of them affected me. They did give me something to focus on other than my pain.

  We talked until dark when Etta and Grace came in, then shortly thereafter the guys arrived with the pizza. We ate and made plans for the next day, then everyone left me alone. I heard rustling as I was getting ready for bed and saw the unicorns and the filly settling in on the new mats. Approval radiated from them. I smiled as I crawled into my own bed, feeling good that we’d accomplished something like this for the equines and determined to make it happen when they started building the academy. I jotted down a note to speak with Paul tomorrow about making sure I was in touch with the project planners before they even began building.

  ~* * *~

  Horror filled my mind. I sat upright in bed, my heart hammering a thousand miles a minute. Heartburn raced from my stomach to my chest and I leaned forward as I struggled to catch my breath. A heart attack? Surely I had all the symptoms, but—no. I realized that the emotions came from outside of me, from the filly and I swept aside the covers, found my slippers and grabbed my cane to wobble out to the living room.

  Pain. The sharp sting of something hitting my rump and flanks. The urge to flee had me spinning around, determined to go back to bed and hide under the covers. I longed to press my body against my mother’s, feel her warm, solid presence next to me. Tears choked my throat and streamed down my face because in that instant I knew. This was the trauma that had befallen the filly.

  “Oh.” The sobs broke free, wrenching from me as I stumbled to the sliding glass doors. The unicorns stood watch, the mare concerned, the stallion vigilant.

  Faces, shapes, teenagers on ATVs blurred in and out of my mind. One raised a rifle. The noise. The horrible bang bang noise, and I went cold imagining what our hammering and sawing would sound like to her today.

  I stopped and centered myself. Breathing deeply, I kept one word in my mind. Safe. You’re safe here. I opened the sliding glass door and the mare turned. She nodded her head, thankful I was there. In the glow of the moonlight, the filly shook. Tiny sounds, whimpers of pain emerged as she pressed her muzzle into her forelegs that twitched. Her shoulder muscles rippled, her hindquarters quivering.

  I levered myself down onto my knees, aware of the vulnerable position I was in should the filly awaken and decide to bolt. I’d be run over in a heartbeat. “You’re safe. It’s okay,” I whispered and prepared for anything, I reached out and stroked her neck.

  Safe? The pain in that word ripped my soul. Not safe. Pain. The quivering started up again.

  “Safe,” I whispered and continued to soothe her. “I’m here. I won’t let anyone hurt you.” Anger at those boys, whoever they were, pooled in my gut. I tamped it down. Now wasn’t the time to give into such temptation. I could, however, tell Paul what had happened so we could talk about protections, not just for the Academy land, but also for mine.

  It seemed my actions were having an effect because the filly settled down. I sensed the pain receding from her memories as she moved into a deeper phase of sleep. The unicorns no longer looked tense and on edge. Not wanting to leave her, I sat against her side, resting my head against her. The contact reassured her and a few minutes later I heard a soft snore indicating she’d moved away from the dream.

  I, however, couldn’t sleep. I stared into the darkness thinking about those boys, wondering who they were, and why they’d do something so asinine to the filly. There had to be a way to protect the land, a shield or barrier of some sort. My magic never ran in those directions and I knew I’d probably need to research it. Tomorrow. I’d deal with it tomorrow because my eyelids grew heavy and I drifted off to sleep.

  ~* * *~

  I awakened surrounded by something warm against my back, though a chilly breeze
caressed my cheek. Too cold, and for a moment I wondered if I’d left a window open. I burrowed deeper into the warmth and a snort into my hair, tickling me, brought me to full awareness. I sat on the patio, the world glistening with dew. The filly lay at my back, the unicorns resting off to one side of the patio, as if they wanted to give us space.

  I yawned and stretched. My cane lay next to me, and I grabbed it, wincing at the pain in my sore and stiff muscles. Two attempts to stand, and I wobbled on my feet like a newborn foal.

  The filly blinked her eyes at me. Thank you. Her voice sounded stronger, as if our night sleeping together had deepened whatever bond we were creating together.

  “You’re welcome. When you are ready, I’d like to know more about what happened. We will stop them from ever doing that again. I’m so sorry I didn’t know.” My throat closed, choked with tears, when I thought about how my disability quite possibly kept me from fully understanding what was going on at my own property.

  The filly didn’t reply; simply waited until I was out of the way, then stood and shook herself. She walked to the water trough and took a long drink, then turned to the hay bale and began to eat.

  Approval radiated from the unicorns. I smiled at them before opening the patio door to go inside. Thirty minutes later, after a shower and a change of clothes that left me pretty exhausted, I sat at the table sipping a cup of coffee. A legal pad sat next to me. Call me old fashioned, I did my best thinking with paper and pencil, no matter how much my knuckles protested. And this morning they screamed.