Chapter 2: The Horse That Waited
The rancher took one slow step backward, his weathered face drained of color.
No one spoke.
No one even dared to breathe too loudly.
The black stallion remained perfectly still before the little girl, its powerful head lowered as though greeting someone it had loved for years.
The girl finally lifted her hand.
Instead of grabbing the reins...
She gently rested her palm against the horse's forehead.
The enormous animal closed its eyes.
A quiet, contented breath escaped its nostrils.
It was the gentlest sound anyone in the corral had ever heard.
The ranch hands exchanged nervous glances.
"This can't be real," someone whispered.
The rancher swallowed hard.
"What... what's your name, sweetheart?"
The little girl smiled faintly.
"Emma."
"And your parents?"
She hesitated.
"My mama."
The rancher frowned.
"And your father?"
Emma lowered her eyes.
"I never met him."
A heavy silence settled over the corral.
Then Emma reached into the pocket of her faded dress.
She carefully unfolded a small, worn photograph.
The edges had nearly disappeared from years of being carried.
She handed it to the rancher.
The moment he saw it...
His knees nearly gave out.
It showed a younger version of himself.
Standing beside this very stallion.
Next to him stood a smiling young woman with one hand resting gently against her pregnant belly.
Written across the bottom, in faded ink, were five simple words.
"Wait for us, Midnight."
The rancher felt tears sting his eyes.
Only one person had ever called the stallion by that name.
Only one.
May you like
Emily.
The woman who had disappeared eight years ago.
