Page 93 of Iron Unicorn

That it did.

* * *

By the timewe made it to the royal ranch, Eddie’s temper cooled. He helped unload the horses, and after we had everybody nestled into their stalls, he huffed and said, “It’s been a few years since someone was dumb enough to sore horses on our turf.”

I bet. I clapped him on the shoulder and said, “You and your dad can visit them in New York. While the damage has been done, they’ll get the treatments they need. With luck, we can reverse everything. They’ll make excellent parade horses, which means they’ll enjoy light training most of the time and live as spoiled palace pets. That’s what parade horses are in New York—or will be when I’m done with them. They’re pretty pets that work a few times a year.”

“Dad’ll like that part. Still, I’m surprised you spotted them first. I go in looking for soring evidence.”

“Honestly, I thought your empathy had picked up on the mare and her colt. The auction workers were getting pretty worked up over losing the pair.”

“That’s also possible. Still, I’m glad we went now. We won’t be able to ride, though, not with a baby.”

I nodded my agreement. “I’ll drive the trailer to Dallas and impose at one of the royal ranches to keep the horses. Then I’ll just get the authorizations to drive them back to New York myself. The Akhal-Tekes need to go anyway, so it makes sense. If we get one of the twenty-five horse trailers for the trip, we’re golden.”

“Dad’s got a good twenty horse trailer that’ll hold everybody, and he’s got the foal slings in it. I’m sure he won’t mind loaning it to you.”

I did a head count, determined a twenty horse trailer would do the job, and took the time to breathe until I relaxed. “Yeah. If you can ask your dad if he doesn’t mind us borrowing the trailer, that’d be great. That’ll just leave me with the problem of transporting to New York.”

“It’s easy. We have export agreements with all the kingdoms on the way, so you won’t be required to quarantine. I’d quarantine in New York just to be safe rather than sorry, but I’ll get Dad to assign some of the aides to getting the paperwork done when he’s back from Maine.”

“How’d the mini horse plan go, anyway?”

“Smashingly well. There are videos and photos, and I can show them to you tonight. I’m in the doghouse for life, but that’s nothing new. I just tell them I’ll see myself to the stable and attempt to behave.” Eddie bumped my elbow, grabbed a curry comb, and whispered, “Take the princess off somewhere for some rest and relaxation. I’ll handle the grooming for everybody except your demoness.”

My new mare would cause me problems, but I couldn’t bring myself to become upset over it. “I’ll see to her grooming and feed and make sure she’s nursing the colt properly.”

“She was last time I checked in on her, but somebody will be around all night to keep an eye on her. Please. Go. Take Olivia with you. I’ll make sure we get good tacos for dinner tonight since we skipped out on lunch.”

“We really should have gone for tacos before checking out the horses.” The subject of our discussion came down the stable aisle, and she refrained from bouncing. “Text me if we’re needed.”

“Will do. Just listen for the dinner bell and come to the big building that’s not a barn.”

I could probably handle that. I waited for Eddie to head off and Olivia to reach me before saying, “When they kill me off during talent evaluations, remember me fondly.”

Olivia raised a brow. “The whole point of talent evaluations is to keep you alive. Don’t be a baby, Terry. It’s just a talent evaluation. You’re an empath who loves horses. It comes as no surprise to anyone who knows you that you would lose your mind when opportunity allowed. Had Eddie gotten to the horses first, he would have done the same, but he would have been a lot noisier about it. He’s upset because he remembers his daddy’s Baby and misses that horse like everybody else does. Don’t worry about it. He’s got a few new horses that he’ll be able to train and keep, and I think he’s planning on training the one weanling to be a present for Deidre. I’d say he spent way too much on the little one, but that’s none of my business.”

“It’s not too much when Deidre is involved,” I muttered, shaking my head over the rather obvious empathy symptom.

Bit by bit, I peeled away my blinders and identified how I’d done similar while in a rather clueless state.

“Understatement. But don’t worry too much about Eddie. Seeing you with that black just reminded him of Baby, and he wasn’t prepared for all those pesky emotions.” Giggling, Olivia bounced over to the stall with my new mare and her colt. The mare flattened her ears and blew air, but unlike everyone else that’d gotten close to her baby, she tolerated the princess’s presence. “And aren’t you just the most precious and spunky little princess? And look at your little prince, napping off his latest milk bender. You two are going to have to keep your daddy on his toes, okay? He needs the joy of a broodmare and her baby around that stuffy New York palace.”

The mare huffed and puffed, and when Olivia showed no evidence of fear, she came over, relaxed her ears, and eyed the princess.

“Bribery might work,” I stated while working on the basic chores to make certain my new herd was settled in for the next few hours. The Standardbreds drank in affection, which offered some hope that while sored, the owners had attempted to limit the trauma. I didn’t look forward to having to do the abuse checks.

I loathed the idea of even acting like I might hit a horse with an opened hand or closed fist, but I’d found the work to be as unpleasant as it was necessary.

A frightened horse could hurt themselves and others, and understanding a horse’s motivation could prevent heartache and injury. With time, if the horses had been abused with fist or crop, the psychological damage could be reversed.

Olivia bounced off to fetch a piece of carrot and a sugar cube, and she used the bribes to get to pet my mare’s nose. “You don’t mind not riding all the way to Dallas?”

“I’d stress over it,” I confessed, checking on my new grullo yearling after giving some affection to the Standardbreds. “With all these horses to work with, I’ll get in my PT hours riding, and I’ll ask one of the Texan trainers to help me with establishing a schedule for the beasts. I’m not sure how I’ll fit it into my work schedule, but I’ll figure that out once back in New York. I’ll probably take advantage of my absence to give myself two hours to work in the stable and get the horses ready for the monarchs—and eventually turn those hours into training and scenario hours. My queen has improved enough she doesn’t need me on the wall every waking hour now.”

“This has been basically one huge scenario to convince everyone that youcanleave her unattended. She’s functioning, and outside of a few little episodes, she’s been handling her duties with grace. And you were the cause of the episodes. Next time, remember food goes into your belly and not into your lungs.”

Laughing, I shook my head, abandoned my work, and lured Olivia out of the stable. “I’ll try. Eddie wants us to bail so he can tend to the horses without us hovering. I’ll come back and take care of the mare and colt after dinner. They’ll be fine for now, especially with so many people keeping an eye on them.”

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