Ethan shook his head. “Not sure he’s comfortable with horses running up on him,” he said. “The blind spots are a problem. He loses focus.”
Aidan nodded. “Good point. I think we need to get him comfortable with running the track with other horses until he realizes he won’t get hurt.”
“May take a while,” Harper said. “But it’s a solid plan.”
“Then let’s do it. We schedule intermittent practice races and rotate the other horses.”
Ophelia and Chloe shared a concerned look. “I’ll send Kyle to ride in the other sessions. He needs a break from his writing, anyway. Some fresh air will do him good.”
“I’m free to race every day this week,” Chloe said. “I have to leave next week, though. Back to the city to be with my dad.”
Aidan smiled at the girl. “Thanks, Chloe. You’ve been a great help.” He’d been impressed with her work ethic and ability to sense what the horses needed. She’d also been able to whip Owen into shape. The kid now ran around the farm, doing extra duties in the hunt to dazzle her.
“Let’s take a break and get them cooled down,” he said. “Harper, let’s talk.”
They strolled over to the barns.
He couldn’t help but stare at her. With the sun glinting in her short, shiny hair and the faded denim cupping her magnificent ass, she was a sight to behold. Her small breasts pushed against the cotton of her powder-blue T-shirt, and those jeans emphasized her long, lean legs. The same legs he’d dreamed had been wrapped tight around his hips as he thrust into her hot, wet heat. The hunger had only grown since Saratoga, when she’d challenged him with her sharp words and brilliant mind and stubborn heart. He ached to touch her, stroke her hair, murmur her name. He looked forward to the end of the day, when they returned home, ate dinner, and settled in for a cozy night together. He loved how she settled close on the sofa while the dogs and Captain Hoof clustered around them. In a short time, they’d begun to form a unit. Kind of like a family.
Temporary, of course.
He buried the slight sting the reminder gave him and concentrated on the present. “I’m worried,” he said bluntly. “We have a grade-three stakes race coming up, and I can’t seem to reach him. We’ll have some big competition from owners looking to prove their two-year-olds, and we need to score some points.”
She tucked a stray tendril of hair behind her ear. “I know. I keep trying to think of a way we can make him feel more secure. Kind of like Captain Hoof and his chicken costume.”
He couldn’t help but grin. “At this point, I’d try anything. Chicken costumes. Voodoo. Hell, I’d dance in a tutu if I thought it’d help.”
“You do have nice legs.”
He laughed. “Least I’m good for something. Ah, looks like we got company.”
Captain Hoof peeked his head around the barn, obviously searching for them. He spent most of his days at the farm and then went back to Harper’s house at night. He was usually with Phoenix, but when the horse was racing or being bathed, the Captain liked to wander and play with Wheezy and Bolt and the other horses. He still had some minor bumps from navigating his surroundings, but it was amazing how the other animals seemed to sense his disability and helped guide him. Especially Phoenix. The horse nudged him out of the way of danger, and consistently checked on him to make sure he was safe.
Aidan had never seen such an extraordinary change in a horse before. Phoenix still disliked other visitors, but Captain Hoof was his buddy. Somehow, they’d built a bond of trust that allowed them both to feel safe.
He leaned down and stroked the goat’s face, which peeked out from his chicken costume, and he nestled in for a hug. He was still silent, but Aidan was hopeful one day he’d speak. It just needed to be in his own time.
“Let’s grab something to eat first, and do rounds,” he said to Harper, rubbing the goat’s ears. “Phoenix should be done by then, buddy, so you can nestle in for a long nap. Maybe without the costume for a few hours.”
They both walked out of the barn with the goat trotting behind, then stopped.
Hei Hei stood in the path before them, beady eyes trained on the goat, massive head feathers swaying in the breeze. A hushed silence fell over the farm as Captain Hoof met the Polish chicken for the very first time.
“Don’t you even think of it,” Aidan said firmly, his finger jabbing in the air at the chicken. “If you scare him, I’ll take it up with Mia.”
The goat suddenly swerved around them, prancing right toward Hei Hei.
And then it happened.
With a massive squawk, the chicken dragged his clawed feet against the ground, and charged.
Captain Hoof stayed put, his head cocked in curiosity, completely calm under the direct attack.
Aidan made a move to block the chicken, but it was too late.
In midadvance, Hei Hei suddenly screeched to a stop a few inches from the goat, pure confusion radiating from his figure. He shrieked again in warning. Captain Hoof remained still.
Slowly, the chicken closed the distance, studying the creature before him, and began pecking experimentally at the goat’s costume. Captain Hoof allowed the exploration until the chicken rubbed his feathers against the goat, as if trying to figure out what type of animal he was dealing with. The goat responded with eagerness, nudging his nose at the chicken, trying to butt with his tiny horns, until they were locked in a strange fowl-goat half embrace.
“I don’t believe this,” Aidan muttered, taking in the scene before him. “What is going on?”
Harper spoke in pure wonderment. “I think Hei Hei is shocked he’s not afraid. Most animals retreat or charge back. And I’m sure he’s never seen a goat in a chicken costume before, so he may think it’s a new breed of animal, just like Phoenix.”
The animals kept trading affectionate gestures until Hei Hei finally pulled back. Captain Hoof pranced around him with an innocent happiness that put the chicken in shock. Without another word, the chicken shook out his feathers in irritation, pivoted on one clawed foot, and stalked away.
Captain Hoof followed him, prancing happily.
“Umm, Captain, maybe you should stay with us,” Aidan called out.
But it was too late. The goat was intent on following his brand-new friend. Chloe came running up, her mouth dropped in astonishment.
“Did you see that?” she squealed. “That is the cutest thing ever! I gotta put this on YouTube and IG. It’ll go viral.” She fished out her iPhone and followed them. “Don’t worry, Harper, I’ll keep an eye on the Captain.”
“Thanks, Chloe.”
Aidan shook his head. The most unlikely of friendships seemed to bloom around the Bishop farm. Maybe there was voodoo in the air. The good kind. The kind that brought teen crushes and strange animal bonds and the magic of possibility.
The cynic in him sneered at the unicorn thought. The only reason Captain Hoof had no fear of Hei Hei was his blindness. Probably couldn’t see the chicken charge, so he remained calm. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Sometimes—
The realization slammed through him and knocked him breathless.
Phoenix.
He’d been looking at this scenario all wrong. If the horse couldn’t see . . . he couldn’t be afraid. Or distracted. He could focus on only what was right in front of him.