Shanthi glanced up from the
shade of the tack room to the sound of clattering hooves. A sharp clang told her that a
bucket had been kicked over, and a high-pitched whinny signaled the culprit.
“Shadow!”,
she sighed, rising from the pile of tack she’d been cleaning. She grabbed a tiny halter and
lead rope from the wall before stepping into the aisle.
She was confronted with a giant
ball of fuzz, currently absorbed with searching the overturned bucket for treats.
"Shadow,
honey, it’s time to stop playing now," she crooned to the filly, slowly creeping closer.
Suddenly Shadow flung her head up and squealed in indignation. She wheeled with lightning
speed and cantered outside to the nearest fence line. When Shanthi reached the end of the
aisle and squinted out into the bright sunshine, she was unsurprised to see the month-old
filly poking her head through the rails to nuzzle the gelding in the field.
"Ace, you
should know better than to let this little rascal loose", Shanthi scolded the gelding with a
smile. Ace of Spades had been one of the farm’s first winners, and was now used as a
babysitter…generally for the yearlings and two-year-olds, but currently for the young
orphaned filly, thanks to an unplanned introduction. 5 O’Clock Shadow had fallen instantly
in love, and Ace of Spades graciously tolerated her affections…and antics.
Shanthi was
quick to take advantage of the filly’s inattentiveness, slipping the lead rope around her
neck. She quickly followed with the halter, before the surprised filly could balk.
"Time
for you to go back in the field with Uncle Ace, Shadow. Dinnertime isn’t for another hour
or so." Shadow squealed as the halter was removed, and immediately challenged Ace to a race.
Shanthi grinned as the filly outran the gelding, despite shorter strides and significantly
less coordination.
Looks promising, she thought to herself as
she headed back into the barn. Looks very promising…
Liked the story a lot.