Seasons of Love (Witches of Warren County)

by Summer Donnelly

  Gray slipped her hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Holly looked up, startled. Initially, Gray thought she’d fight this small sign of comfort. Holly frowned at him but then smiled shyly. She squeezed his hand back and for a brief moment, they were alone in time. Suspended between pens of companion horses and goats, their common purpose transfixed and entwined them.

  “I do, too,” Gray said soothingly. “Let’s do what we can today, okay?”

  “Hey there, Mr. Orion,” Holly greeted when they finally found the right pen. She stood near the horse, well within his eyesight and let him see and scent her. “You’re a handsome guy, aren’t you? Looks like you need a few weeks of good feed, though, don’t you, baby?”

  “He’s so thin,” Gray said. “It hurts just to look at his poor ribs.” He swallowed and reached out a hand, but pulled it back. “I don’t want to hurt him.”

  Holly looked surreptitiously around and handed Orion an apple. “That’s a good boy,” she crooned, stroking his once elegant neck. She turned to her step-father. “What can we do for him? Can you save him?”

  Todd nodded. “We’ll have the vet come out and take a look as soon as the sale is final. If he’s too far gone, we may have to put him down. You know that Holly.”

  Holly’s golden eyes filled with tears before she nodded. “Well, if it comes to that, we’ll give him treats and love on him and send him over the rainbow bridge knowing he was loved. Not send him away, scared and alone.”

  Todd laid a hand across Orion’s withers and nodded. “Agreed. These kinds of auctions, there are no guarantees. As you can see, the problem is bigger than any one man could possibly fix. But we will do our best.”

  Todd turned to Gray. “What do you see?” Todd asked

  “I can’t see past his ribs,” Gray admitted. “His hip bones. His mane is a mess and he looks like he needs a good brushing.”

  “And you didn’t see Heart when we first got him,” Holly said. “He’s put on almost seventy-five pounds since I first rescued him. Gray whistled, a low and airy sound of surprise.

  “If Orion is sound on the insides, we’ll get him fed well and a cozy spot under a tree to play his afternoons away, won’t we baby?” Holly said, pressing her forehead against Orion’s head.

  Todd pointed to the area above Orion’s hooves. “See how he’s got his feet too close together and he’s balancing on his hind legs?”

  “Like a tripod. Is that to relieve the weight on his front legs?” Gray guessed, his eyes growing wide with realization. He looked with a more critical eye. “He has scarring all over his. Feet. Hooves. Whatever that part is.”

  Todd knelt on the ground and pointed. “This area is called the coronet band. You can make out the scarring around it, can’t you?”

  Gray nodded. “What are the long-term effects of soring? What will happen to him?”

  “Depends on how long and how bad he’s been used. How much permanent damage has been done,” Todd said. “Worse case, as I said to Holly. We put him down so he’s not scared and alone. He may be a nice companion horse, enjoying his retirement. Best case, he may prove to be a nice saddle horse.”

  “Okay,” Gray said. “What’s next?”

  “If we can buy him…”

  “If,” Holly said, her eyes flashing with passion. “No, Todd. Look at him. He’s obviously been in a bad home. He needs you. You have to get him.”

  Todd nodded, his eyes closing for a moment. “I’ll do my best, Holly. But you know how it is with these kill-buyers. They offer an amount and try and fatten the horses up. They don’t care about the welfare of the horse.”

  “I Googled Tennessee Walking Horses,” Gray said. “They will pressure shoe the horse. They literally cut a horse's hoof almost to the quick then tightly nail on a shoe. Or sometimes they stand a horse for hours with the sensitive part of his soles on a block. So, when the horse puts weight on the hoof, it causes excruciating pressure. That’s just not right, Mr. Farraday. What’s the word you used, Holls?”

  “Barbaric.”

  “Exactly.”

  “No foot, no horse,” Todd said with a nod. He looked Orion in the eyes. “How ‘bout it, big guy? You want to come home with me?”

  When the horse seemed to assent to the deal, Todd directed the two of them to stay near the pens. “There are some pretty little saddle ponies over there,” he said with a jut of his chin. “You kids wait here. I need to see a man about a horse.”

  Holly stuck by Orion’s side, guarding him and watching over him. She glared at the passers-by who seemed to mock the once-magnificent beast. “You think it’s funny, seeing him like this?” she challenged two men who seemed more interested in taking him for slaughter than saving him.

  The one with the greasy mustache was checking out his specs and his partner in a snap-cap took a few pictures.

  “Look, we have a business to run,” the man with a greasy mustache said. “We fatten these old bags of bones up a bit, send them to Mexico, and everyone makes money.”

  “Don’t bother to explain business to these simple kids, Frank,” Snap-cap Man said.

  “I don’t care what you tell yourself to let you sleep at night,” Holly challenged, chin lifted defiantly. “Horses are beautiful animals and deserve much better than being scared and alone thousands of miles from anyone who once loved them!”

  “Wake up, little girl,” Greasy Frank said, snarling at her. “It’s the way of the world.”

  Gray placed his hand on Holly’s shoulder, letting Greasy Frank and Snap-cap know Holly was not alone.

  “That may be the way your world works,” Todd said as he approached from behind them. “Not mine. C’mon kids, let’s take Orion and Eggshell home.”

  “Eggshell?” Holly asked, smiling for the first time all afternoon. “Who is Eggshell?”

  “The little mare I had to agree to buy in order for the owner to release Orion to me,” Todd said.

  Two hours later, they were on their way back to Harper’s Mill with two more rescue horses in the trailer.

  <<<>>>

  The following Monday, Holly had a bounce in her step and a smile on her face. She went directly to Mr. Race, the earth science teacher’s classroom. Mr. Race was also a member of the Old Families, although the Race and Light families rarely interacted.

  “Hey, Mr. Race,” she greeted when she saw him in the hallway. “I wanted to let you know we got another rescue horse. Well. We have three total, but my step-dad wants to take care of the one on his own. I was wondering if anyone in the 4-H program wants to come out and gain some hands-on experience?”

  Caleb Race looked up from the display he was working on. “I’m more plants than animals, but that sounds like a great opportunity. I’ll bring it up at our meeting this month,” he said. “Will I see you there?”

  Holly nodded. “Sure thing, Mr. Race. See you later.”

  “Fräulein Holly, hold up, bitte.”

  Holly turned around and saw Frau Dennis, her German teacher. “Hey, Mrs. Dennis, how are you?”

  “Much better after talking to Gray James,” Mrs. Dennis said her eyes bright with excitement behind her thick black glasses. Holly looked at her, confused. The woman was practically vibrating with emotion.

  “Really? Did our hard work finally pay off? He’s been doing well on his trial quizzes.”

  Mrs. Dennis frowned momentarily before breaking out into a smile. “I didn’t realize you had such a wonderful sense of humor, Holly. I’m talking about the study abroad scholarship the language department put together. I was so excited when Gray said you were interested in applying.”

  Words froze in Holly’s throat and for a moment, she wondered if she was going to faint from lack of oxygen. How dare he say something? She had told Gray that in confidence!

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mrs. Dennis. I didn’t apply for the program and the deadline was last week, wasn’t it?” She knew very well the deadline was tomorrow. She didn’t want to admit to anyone, i
ncluding herself, how much she wanted that scholarship. For good or bad, she was a Light. Opportunities like this didn’t happen for people like her.

  Mrs. Dennis’s smile wavered momentarily. “Holly, you’d be a perfect candidate. Your grades are solid, your grasp of German is excellent, and Señor Jimenez says your Spanish is passable. You have a true gift for languages. I expect you to be fully fluent in Russian after a week in the country,” she teased.

  “I appreciate you thinking of me. I really do,” Holly said. “But Gray had no right to talk to you about this. I have two rescue horses I’m trying to rehab and now just isn’t the right time.”

  Mrs. Dennis frowned at Holly. “Come with me, Holly. Please?”

  “I need to get to class,” Holly said. “I don’t want to be late.” But even as she spoke, the bell went off.

  “Too late,” Mrs. Dennis said. “But I’ll write you a pass if you come with me.”

  Holly nodded and followed meekly behind her. When they got to Mrs. Dennis’s classroom they each took seats on top of student’s desks. “Talk to me, Holly. Because right now, this scholarship is yours to throw away. Out of all our applicants, you are by far the most qualified. I also think travel will be amazing for you. This is for three weeks in July and includes plane tickets and staying with a host family. You’ll have a week in Moscow, a week in Munich, and a week in Madrid. This is a chance in a lifetime. Can you give me any reason you can’t go?”

  “Heart and Eggshell are my responsibility,” Holly said. It was true. She did want to be there for her horses but that wasn’t the only reason. Tension settled in her shoulders and in the endless pit her stomach had turned into. Her future was here at the Mill. No Light just picked up and left. Who did she think she was? Did she think she was better than the rest of her family? The refrain echoed in her brain – who do you think you are?

  “The horses?”

  “Yes. But they’re more than just horses. These are malnourished rescues. I can’t just trust their care to anyone. And part of the deal I struck with my step-dad was that I take care of them and not make it the farm’s responsibility. I talked to Mr. Race about having the 4-H club help me with Eggshell. Heart and I are beginning to bond. I can’t abandon them. They’ve been hurt too much as it is.”

  “And that’s the only reason?”

  “Of course,” Holly said, swallowing nervously. “What else could it be?”

  Mrs. Dennis pulled a pad of hallway passes out of her blazer’s pocket and began filling it out. “If you decide that you don’t want to be afraid anymore, the deadline is tomorrow.” She handed the hall pass and a large manila envelope to Holly. “I’d love to see your name be pulled.”

  Holly nodded and accepted both the envelope and the hall pass.

  Just wait until she saw Gray at the farm after school, Holly fumed. She had a few choice words to say to him.

  By the time school let out, Holly’s ire was at a full tilt boogie of a boil. She was cursing Gray, his parents, his cousins, their ancestors, and even the family goat. He’d had no right to talk to Mrs. Dennis about her personal life.

  Cooling down didn’t seem to be much of an option as she changed into her barn clothes and walked down to check on the horses. As she entered the rescue barn, Heart immediately picked up on her distress. She went to his stall and leaned in to give him a hug. Sometimes, a girl just needs her horse.

  Holly slid the halter on and lead him out to the pasture. He nickered a bit when he saw the other horses grazing. Holly paused a moment, letting him take in the scene. Heart was still too thin to try him in a saddle, but he was beginning to calm down. He’d turn into an excellent companion horse if the other horses accepted him.

  She released him into the pen and watched a moment, making sure everything was okay. The quiet moment in the May heat helped to soothe and calm her in a way nothing else could. “I’m going to see if Eggshell wants to come out and play with you boys,” she said. “So be nice.”

  She looked up to see Gray leading the dappled grey mare. “Hey,” she said, her anger stirring up within her again.

  Eggshell snorted, her head held high as she watched Holly. Holly sighed, knowing the horses were picking up on her emotions. She took a deep breath and approached the skinny little mare with an apple. “Sorry, sweetie,” Holly crooned as she held the treat up for the horse.

  Gray led Eggshell into the pasture and joined Holly as she sat in the shade of an oak tree. He handed her a wildflower he’d picked from the meadow. “It made me think of you,” he said. “All bright and cheerful.”

  “I’m not feeling very cheerful or happy with you right now,” Holly said.

  “Why? I got a B on my last quiz and I’ve been here to help you with the horses every day. What could I have done to make you mad at me?”

  Holly stated at him, flabbergasted. “Seriously? You don’t think telling Mrs. Dennis I wanted her stupid scholarship was a big deal?”

  “You do want it. You told me you wanted it. And it wasn’t like that. I mean, we were just talking and she asked me if I was applying. I said no, but that I thought you were.” Gray frowned. “You did say you wanted it, right?”

  “That’s not the point,” Holly said as her voice rose in frustration. “I told you that in confidence. You had no right to tell anyone else.”

  “I’m sorry, Holls. I didn’t realize it was a secret. And why? You’d be great at it. Hell, if I could speak three languages, I might consider it, too.”

  “I don’t speak three languages,” Holly said. “People think just because you know a few phrases, that makes you a linguist. And I’m not. I am just plain Holly Moore from Harper’s Mill, New Jersey.” Holly shook her head, the force of her ire causing her dark brown braids to whip against her cheeks.

  “Are you insane?” Gray asked, his eyes wide with shock. “You aren’t plain Holly Moore. You’re taking on the care of not one but two high need horses. You have gotten my butt into shape to pull a decent grade out of German, and you keep your own grades up, too. My God, did you see yourself at that horse auction? You blew me away, Holls. You stood there and took on those two men. Yelled at them. Scolded them. You were magnificent. Like a,” he stumbled. “One of those Viking chicks.”

  “A Valkyrie?” she asked with a half-smile. No one had ever compared her to a goddess. A Greek love goddess would have been nice, but a horse-riding slayer of those in battle wasn’t such a bad thing. In fact, it made her feel warm and cozy inside.

  “Exactly. A daughter of the House of Farraday, riding in on her horse, and slaying the enemies.”

  Holly’s brief grin faded. “Except I’m not of the House of Farraday,” she said. “I’m the House of Moore. Or the House of Light.”

  “Stop,” Gray said, his own eyes growing stormy. “You put the Lights down as though they were less than or something. I don’t know all of you, but Danny and I have been friends since my folks moved here when I was eight. Yeah, he’s a little rough around the edges, but you’ll never meet a more loyal guy. Your own mom is a Light and she seems like the sweetest person in the world.”

  Holly’s eyes filled with tears at Gray’s impassioned speech. He was right. Everything he said was right.

  “You are anything you want to be, Holly Moore. World traveler and saver of horses. A Light who helps find the lost or sews beautiful quilts. Be you, Holly. Find your own shoes and fill them.”

  <<<>>>

  Even hours later, Gray’s words echoed in her mind.

  The grandfather clock in the living room rang twice. When Holly and her mother had first moved into the house it had kept her up all night, but after a few months, she’d learned to accept the rings. But as her mind spun, she marked off her thoughts to the ticking of the clock.

  What shoes did she wear? Which shoes did she want to wear?

  Was she a Moore? A family she didn’t even really know except through her father. He was kind and live out loud fun. It wasn’t a proper fit, but she still wanted to retain parts of
him.

  Was she a Light? Holly put her mom’s family down sometimes, but they were good people. They didn’t hurt anyone even if she wanted a future different from theirs. Maybe she could incorporate some of that in her personality, too.

  And even though she wasn’t a Farraday by birth, Holly liked learning about the horses and living on the farm. Todd made her mom happy and that was the best gift of all.

  Holly liked reading. Liked being smart and clever. She liked the way she picked up languages with ease. Liked the easy way she had with horses.

  Her scuffed riding boots sat in the corner, reminding her of who she was. She was an amalgam of everything that had come before her while her future lay like an endless ocean of magnificent opportunity. So, why was she limiting her choices?

  The future, and what shoes she wore, was totally up to her.

  She flipped the covers back and went to her desk. She looked at the daisy sitting in a cup of water, already losing its leaves. “He loves me, he loves me not,” she whispered, wondering what Gray’s intentions were.

  Quietly, because her mother always seemed to know when she was up past her bedtime, Holly slipped open the manila envelope and grabbed a pen.

  When Holly was finished, she tucked everything back into the envelope and sealed it. She closed her eyes, alleviating the burn of exhaustion. But she wasn’t quite finished. If Gray was going to propel her into the future, she was going to return the favor.

  Holly lifted the edge of her laptop and keyed in her passcode. She smiled when she found what she was looking for and hit print.

  And prayed her mother’s hearing was muffled as the grandfather clock chimed three o’clock.

  Too excited to sleep, Holly was up early in order to get her chores wrapped up before the sun rose over the mountains.

  She made it back to the house in time to help her mom get breakfast on the table.

  “You’re up bright and early this morning, sweetie,” Kelly said. “And a definite bounce in your step. How are Heart and Eggshell doing?”

  “They’re doing amazing, Mom. I had them out in the pasture yesterday. I love watching them play and graze like any other horse.”