Chapter 72

After the stalls were bedded, they started taking the horses out of the trailer. Soon, others who rode with Merry started to arrive. There were three girls with their parents and a young woman on her own. Introductions and explanations as to Rio’s presence were repeated several times.

All the horses they took from the rig were blanketed in black sheets with gold trim and matching hoods. The Merry Hills Quarter Horses logo was embroidered on the sides of the sheets. Their tails were in protective bags and their legs were wrapped. Rio looked over his shoulder at Zeus. The horse stood naked and unbagged in his stall, peering out through the Dutch door, oblivious to his lack of what appeared to be the standard dress for elite Quarter Horses.

The last horse off the trailer was Mark’s. It was a little mare, which, from the small amount of uncovered flesh, Rio determined to be a sorrel.

Zeus’ ears shot forward and he let out a loud nicker. The mare answered.