Epilogue
One year later
Duke lowered his head and sniffed the tiny foal. He pondered the new scent. It was brand new and yet Duke felt as if he had known it already in his heart. He nickered softly at Willow, who continued licking their foal’s wet coat patiently.
“What a beauty,” Cassie said, her arm folded over her taut belly, the other around Master Reid’s waist as they stood, side by side. “I can’t wait to meet our own little one. Do you think they will be friends?”
“I cannot imagine why they would not be.”
Cassie reached into the basket at her feet and drew out a carrot, which she broke in half, offering each adult horse a share.
Duke and Willow crunched loudly as they ate, the carrots disappearing in a matter of moments.
Next, a handful of blue-pink flowers appeared.
Duke’s large nostrils almost inhaled them as he investigated.
“Do you think we might call her ‘Lilac’?” asked Cassie. “The foal, I mean. Duke loves them so much. And he is already taken with his daughter, I see.”
“It’s perfect,” answered Master Reid, drawing Cassie closer. “You’re perfect,” he murmured.
The flowers disappeared from Cassie’s fingers as Duke’s soft lips folded neatly around them. Her free hand lifted to Master Reid’s face. “I’m perfectly happy,” she said.
Duke looked down at his own domestic scene.
Willow and Lilac. Yes, he approved of the name.
He joined his mate in the long, licking motions to clean their newborn.
He stopped briefly, tilted his head, and ran his large tongue across Willow’s neck.
Perfectly happy. He did not understand the human expression.
But he understood how he felt. And if that was what the words described, then he was, indeed, perfectly happy.
The End