Gigi spent the next few days in a practical daydream. She got to see horses every day, even if she didn’t get to see the majestic horse from the forest again. She even got to ride a horse every once in a while. She was only allowed to ride the old dirigible one which was too old to buck anyone off, and she was always under the watchful eye of Ryder, one of the other stable hands. But still, Gigi was riding and she couldn’t be more thrilled. She loved the afternoons she got to spend, riding around the Dartmoors’ lake. It made the evenings of cleaning out the stables worth every moment.

The stable was well run, and Gigi enjoyed working there. Sam ran the stable with military efficiency, and therefore everything was very regimental. Horses were taken out or fed at an exact time, and the entire stable could be cleaned from top to bottom in less than an hour.

Gigi also got to see Colton every once in a while, though she didn’t see him as often as she would have liked. Colton was in and out a lot and never seemed to stay long when he was there. Gigi had tried starting a few conversations with him, but they never lasted more than a few minutes before Colton would make up some excuse as to why he had to leave suddenly, like having to go check his barometer even though Gigi knew for a fact that Colton cared nothing about the weather (they had been in the same meteorology class Gigi’s freshman year). Gigi wondered if she had said something to offend Colton, or if he just didn’t feel the same way about Gigi as she did about him.

After a particularly long day at the stable, Gigi arrived home just in time for dinner. It was leftover night, which meant there were only three and a half courses. Tonight they were eating leftovers from the Angora’s three and a half month wedding anniversary luncheon. It was supposed to be their three month anniversary, but they had had to delay it for two weeks because Mr. Angora’s mother had been out of town.

“Where is Papa?” Gigi asked as her mother brought out the first course. It was usually Papa who made the food, even if it was just reheating leftovers like they were having tonight.

“Oh, he was out golfing all evening with Mr. Dartmoor,” Mama said. “He should be home any minute.”

Just as Mama put down the bowls of radish and fennel salad with pomegranate-honey dressing, Papa walked in the door. He was wearing his green argyle sweater vest and newsie hat, which he always wore when he went golfing. He called it his lucky golfing outfit, and he had yet to lose a game while wearing it. It seemed he had won again today based on the large smile he wore on his face.

Papa tossed his golf bag down on the floor and sat down at the table beside Gigi and Brayden.

“How was the game?” Mama asked.

“Excellent,” Papa said. “Mr. Dartmoor may be a giant when it comes to the world of business, but I think I just committed giganticide with that game.”

“So, you beat him then?” Mama asked.

“Completely and utterly,” Papa said. “He mentioned you, Gigi. He said you were doing a fine job at the stables so far.”

“He did?” Gigi said through her mouthful of radish and fennel salad with pomegranate-honey dressing. She hadn’t realized Mr. Dartmoor had been paying any attention to her.

“Giovanna, don’t talk with your mouth full,” Mama scolded.

“He spoke very highly of you,” Papa said. “He said his stable manager Sam has been very impressed with your willingness to work. Mr. Dartmoor said he may even make the job permanent if it turned out he needed help during the school year as well, so long as it didn’t interfere with your schoolwork.”

“Really?” Gigi said. A whole year of working with horses, and not just the summer. Gigi couldn’t think of anything better.

“Yes. He said it all depends on what his son decides to do next school year. Mr. Dartmoor has been trying to get him an internship at Withers Medical Center to study under Dr. Norman Cob. Sam has been studying there this year doing the nursing internship, and Mr. Dartmoor hopes his son will do the same, except he would be going with the prospect of becoming a doctor. Of course, if he did that, he wouldn't have time to help out at the stables anymore.”

“His son?” Gigi asked.

“Yes, surely you’ve met him,” Mama said.

“Bolton!” Brayden said.

“You mean, Colton, honey,” Mama corrected him.

“Horse!” Brayden said.

“Yes, honey, he’s the one who helps out with the horses,” Mama said.

“Colton is Mr. Dartmoor’s son?” Gigi asked, half gagging on her peach spritzer.

“Yes, didn’t you know that?” Papa said. “But apparently Mr. Dartmoor has not been too happy with Colton, lately. He says he’s been spending a lot of time with this girl he likes and has been neglecting his studies this summer.”

Gigi fully gagged on her peach spritzer. A girl he likes? Was that why Colton had not been spending much time at the stables? Was it because he had a girlfriend? Gigi felt a lump forming in her throat that was not related to the spritzer.

Coming out of her spiraling thoughts, Gigi looked up to find her entire family staring at her. “What?” she asked.

“I asked if you enjoyed working with Mr. Dartmoor’s son?” Papa asked.

Gigi felt her cheeks go red. “I…” she started, not knowing what to say. “I have to go.”

Frustrated, Gigi burst out of the house. She went immediately to the woods where she knew she wouldn’t be bothered. Tears streamed down her cheek as she flomped down on a fallen log. Her life was the worst.

Wallowing in the dreadful thought that Colton might not like her at all, Gigi wished she had someone to talk to about all this. She had tried texting Kiara, but Kiara had not replied. She thought about texting her other friends, but then she remembered that she didn’t have any.

With no one to talk to, Gigi started to wander the woods. It was getting dark, but Gigi didn’t care. She just watched her feet as she tramped through the leaf-strewn ground, going further and further away from the house.

Just as it was getting too dark to see anything at all, Gigi looked up. The woods were moonlit with a blue-grey light. She had been walking for a while now but had been meandering so much that she hadn’t gone that far on her family’s 163 1/8 acres. Actually, she was back in the same place she had been a few nights ago. And there, standing where it had been a few nights ago as well, was the majestic, grey-speckled stallion. Gigi’s heart leapt at the sight of it.

Trying not to spook it, Gigi moved slowly towards the horse. The horse took a few steps back and stamped at the ground, but it didn't run away, not this time. Gigi held out her hand as she had seen Sam do at the stable to pet a horse’s nose. The horse looked at Gigi’s hand as if considering it; then it moved its head forward, nestling its muzzle into her palm.

Gigi wished this moment would last forever…