Page 7 of Frosty in Flannel
That made my jaw tighten. I didn’t want to be someone she noticed. I didn’t’ want to be anything but the wall between her and Wildfire. Protecting them both.
I looked at her for a long moment, weighing the risk. But there was something in her eyes—something honest and steady—that made me want to trust her.
Even though trust didn’t come easy for me.
“Alright,” I said. “But we do this slow. And if he shows any sign of stress, we stop.”
“Agreed.”
I opened the gate and let her into the pen. Wildfire’s ears swiveled toward her immediately, his body going tense.
“Easy,” I murmured to him. “She’s not a threat.”
Libby moved carefully, keeping her body language loose and non-threatening. She didn’t try to approach him, just stood a few feet inside the gate and let him see her.
“Hey, beautiful boy,” she said quietly. “I know you don’t know me yet. That’s okay. We’ve got time.”
Her voice was low and soothing, the kind of tone that settled into your bones. Wildfire’s ears flicked forward, tracking the sound.
“That’s it,” she continued. She moved slowly, angling her body so she wasn’t facing him head-on. Submissive posture. Smart.
I stayed back, watching, ready to step in if needed. But Wildfire didn’t bolt. Didn’t pin his ears. Just watched her with cautious curiosity.
After a minute, he took a tentative step toward her.
Then another.
Something in my chest eased.
“You’re doing good,” I said quietly. “Don’t reach for him yet.”
“I won’t.”
Wildfire stretched his neck out, nostrils flaring as he caught her scent. Libby stayed perfectly still, barely breathing.
And then the horse did something I hadn’t expected.
He butted his head against her shoulder—hard enough to make her stumble back a step.
I moved forward on instinct, but Libby laughed.
Actually laughed.
“Easy there, big guy,” she said, rubbing the spot where he’d made contact. “That’s one way to get my attention.”
I stopped mid-step. “You’re not hurt?”
“Nah. He wasn’t being aggressive. That was a test.” She looked at Wildfire with something like affection. “You wanted to see if I’d flinch, didn’t you? Well, I don’t scare that easy.”
The horse snorted and butted her again, gentler this time.
She reached up slowly to scratch behind his ear, and he let her.
Son of a bitch.
It had taken me weeks before he’d allowed me to touch him.
“He likes you,” I said, voice rough.
