Page 108 of Crystal Iris
“Probably a little; horses are great at hiding pain, though.”
We continue checking each horse. Fortunately, it looks like only Lumberjack needs help.
I tell Broc that Hoyt and I are checking on a land issue and I have to go take a shower. I’m enjoying working with him; he’s calm, always joking around. And I love being around the animals. Time flies when I’m with the horses.
“How did your second day go?” Hoyt asks on the drive to Nyak.
“I checked for bad breath and discharge.”
He chuckles. “Not what you expected?”
“Surprisingly, I enjoyed it. There’s something about being around the horses; sometimes I feel like they can genuinely see through me.”
“Yeah, I get it.”
“What are we doing when we get there?”
“I’m meeting with a tribal chairman. He’s going to show us where the pipeline is supposed to go through.”
“I read about the reservation area too. It’s near there, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, the reservation is significantly smaller than the original lands occupied by the tribes in the 1850s, and yet, they can’t seem to find a way to add the pipeline far from the area. It’s hard to believe.”
We drive through beautiful roads; I’m singing along with theradio while snacking on trail mix when he says, “I gotta tell you something.”
I look at him. “What?”
“I told you I would do better… be better… at telling you things.”
“Okay.” I adjust myself in the seat.
“You know the night we met on the balcony? The night I felt your hand.”
“Yes, what about it?”
“I felt you… in distress.”
“What?”
“I didn’t know… it was you, only I felt a need to go there… out to the balcony, at that time. It was the same thing I felt with my sister when she got hurt. It’s like you were screaming, from the inside. I swear I almost heard the words, ‘get me out of here.’”
I think about that night, wanting to be outside, away from the people. I was almost begging for someone to take me away.
“I think I was hoping… someone would.”
“Every time I feel anything like that… I can’t help but think I’m losing my mind, like Luke.”
“Thanks for telling me.”
“I also need to tell you that… you have seeds in your teeth,” he says, pulling down the sun visor mirror.
“Well, that’s embarrassing,” I say, taking a sip from my water bottle.
He smiles. “Don’t be. Here.” He reaches for the trail mix bag and eats a mouthful.
I laugh, but it does make me feel better.
We are visiting a third family when Hoyt asks a woman carrying a young child, “Where do you work?” She’s dressed like she does outdoor labor.
