Page 40 of In the Dust

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Colton’s shiny black stallion gallops over the hill, stopping so close beside me I can feel his arm press against mine. “The storm’s here.” He looks stupidly handsome, with trickles of water beading down his forehead.

I cast my gaze to the pasture, thinking if I stare into his eyes for too long, he will burn my retinas and not just my heart. “I don’t need your help.” I thank the raindrops for hiding my tears.

He takes his thumb and swipes it under my eyes. “Just talk to me.” His voice is barely audible over the howling winds.

“What’s there to talk about?” I grab Pixie’s reins and pull left, turning around and away from him. “You’re still the same Colton I left behind.”

The thunder roars as he trots my way. “Yes, Dix. The Colton you left behind. You run, Peaches, that's what you do.”

His hands are on my reins, keeping me from bolting. My pulse picks up. “We both know why I left.”

A crack of thunder spooks the horses, and Pixie takes off. I let her run full force as she makes her way to the safety of her stable. “Good girl.” I brush her coarse hair as I step off.

I close her stable door, but she continues pacing back and forth. Animals know when bad weather is coming, and I hate that she’s anxious.

I decide to stay with her for a bit. All the tasks are done, and the only thing left to do now is get Colton to leave.

I pick up a few things in the stables, talking shit about Colton to Pixie; she’s the best listener in the world. Dad Facetimes me every week, and he always makes it a point to walk out here to show me my girl. I wish so badly I could have seen her in person, but a horse in the city would be impossible, and ridiculous.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me!” Colton growls, wet black hair falling in his face. “I was looking all over for you.” His broad chest heaves.

“Why start looking now?” The words burn my tongue like venom, saying exactly what I need to, and he knows it. You never tried to find me. I ignore him, trying to give Pixie some of her favorite snack, apples. But she huffs, turning her face. He’s irritated her too. “Go home, Colt.” I bark.

“No.” He’s so arrogant, so full of himself. We’re having to elevate our voices as the clouds cry thick tears on the tin roof. He ties up his stallion, stomping over to me. “I’m not going anywhere.” He kicks his boot into the dirt.

“You’re impossible!” I throw my arms over the weathered wood of Pixie’s stable; she’s incredibly uncomfortable.

Colton slides in beside me. “Dixie.”

I stop him. “Colt, what’s wrong with Pix?”

He tilts his head to stare at her, and for a moment all of my anger is washed away and replaced by terror. Is she okay?

He walks into the stable, carefully and calmly, and touches her mane. “Hey, Peach,” He smiles, and I don’t correct him. “You feeling okay, girl?” he asks, rubbing her side. He looks to me, a smile on his face. “You’re going to be a grandma.”

I gasp, “How?”

“Well …” He walks out of the stables, looking down at me and shoving his hands in his pockets. “When two horses love each other very much—”

I slap his chest. “You know what I mean!”

He smiles. “I guess my stallion has been busy. What’s the big deal?”

“The big deal,” I sneer, “is that she hasn't had any kind of veterinarian treatment for her pregnancy.”

“But she’s okay.”

“You irresponsible,”—I step towards him, shoving my finger in his face—“stubborn,”—I lash my hand out at the air—“jerk.”

“Look, Dix.” Colton nudges his head towards the stables, and everything around me stops as Pixie lays down and a small white sack pokes out. She’s about to give birth.

She lays on her side, and I want so desperately to go pet her mane and tell her she’s doing perfect, but this is her time. She stands up, walking around for a moment and a little leg kicks out. “Oh my gosh!”

Pix carefully lays in the hay on her side, a little uncomfortable as she moves around. As she pushes, her long legs move around. Her eyes are centered on me. She rolls onto her back, and I chuckle quietly. Two legs are sticking out now.

She keeps getting up and down, it worries me. “What if she crushes the baby?” I whisper.

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