Page 108 of River
Fleur studied Maximum for a long second. “If you’ve been curious for months and you wanted a demonstration, I have to ask you if you’ve seen any of the documentaries of my work online?”
“No, I haven’t. I prefer to get my own impression, and I’d love to see it live.”
“Ah, like I’m performing a trick, you mean.” I couldn’t tell if Fleur was amused or annoyed, but I wanted to kick Maximum for putting her on the spot like that.
“My brother is normally charming and pleasant,” I said and hooked my arm under his.
“I’m sure he is.” Tilting her head to one side, Fleur asked him. “What was your name again?”
“Maximum.”
“Hmm…”
It was strange how they stood watching each other and paid very little attention to the rest of us.
Saffron said, “River says you have horses.”
Fleur broke her eye contact with Maximum and looked down at Saffron with a smile. “That’s right. We have four horses living on this farm. Three of them are up there on the north pasture.” She pointed. “And then there’s Clara, who is shy and not very good at making friends. She walks alone on the west pasture that you passed when you drove here. Did you notice her?”
“That’s your horse?” Saffron asked.
“She lets me care for her, yes. Would you like to meet Clara?”
“Yes, I love horses.”
“Then you can give her an apple today.”
We all followed Fleur to Clara up the road.
“Do you think she’ll come close when we’re this many?” I asked Fleur when Clara kept to the far end of her fold.
“Give her a minute.” Fleur closed her eyes and stood with an angelic expression of peace on her face.
“This horse was abused, and she’s scared of people,” I explained to the others.
“Is it better if we leave?” Liv asked.
“No,” Noah assured her. “Clara has come a long way. She even went into the stable a few times although she still prefers it out here. Fleur will explain to her that we’re all friends here.”
Like the first time I came to meet Clara, the horse walked toward us at a slow pace. Saffron climbed up on the fence and held out the apple without fear.
We watched as Clara came close enough to take the apple from Saffron.
“Can you make her do something to show how you work?” Maximum asked.
Fleur looked up at him and answered in an unhurried manner. “Like what?”
“I don’t know, maybe ask her to run in a circle or kick her back legs out or something.”
“I can communicate with you through words, and if you’re in the mood, you can tell me about yourself, but would you like it if I started ordering you to run around?”
A flirtatious smile grew on Maximum’s lips. “That depends on what kind of orders we’re talking about...”
“Clara is a proud soul who’s been mistreated. My role isn’t to force her to my will, but to help her trust people again. If there’s something you’d like to ask her, I’m happy to translate between you.”
“I have a question,” Saffron said with eagerness.
“Yes?”
