Bonus Chapter!

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The rattle of pelleted grain falling into buckets echoed through Connor Taylor’s aching head. He hadn’t slept. Dreadful images of what the day would bring had haunted him every time he closed his eyes. 

            A month ago, he never thought he’d lose both of them. 

            But Edison was too dangerous without Caroline around. He wouldn’t eat, and he became violent anytime someone came near his stall. He was going to hurt someone, or himself, so his parents had made the impossible decision to have him euthanized. 

            Connor had known it was a possibility from the moment Edison had stepped off the trailer. His emotional scars ran much deeper than any of his physical ones. 

            He just hadn’t known it would hurt this much. 

            Connor sighed as he dipped the scoop back into the grain bin to fill the last bucket. He placed it into the wagon, finishing the prep work for evening chores. Turning the light off in the feed room, Connor stepped out of the door and into the aisle of the broodmare barn. Someone rushing past the entrance to the barn blurred his vision. 

            Who could be here this early? he asked himself as he lengthened his stride to catch up.          He reached the end of the aisle and peered around the corner, watching as someone in a grey hoodie hesitated at the edge of the stallion barn before ducking in. 

            Connor’s gaze flipped to the parking lot as he struggled to look for cars in the dim morning light. His heart stopped as a small, blue Nissan came into focus. 

            Caroline. 

            Without wasting another second, Connor jogged after her. He slowed his steps as he entered the stallion barn. There she was, stopped two stalls down from Edison’s. Closing the distance between them, Connor reached out and touched her shoulder. 

            Caroline gasped and whirled around, her hood coming off of her head and revealing the wavy blonde ponytail Connor had grown so familiar with. 

            “What are you doing here?” he whispered as he pressed his lips together to keep from smiling. 

            Caroline swallowed hard before answering. “Connor…I want to believe again. I want to find the purpose God has for me. If it really is Edison, I can’t let it happen. I can’t let him die without trying. I’m so tired of being trapped.” 

            One tear escaped from her eye and onto her cheek. Connor wiped it away with his thumb. “I’m glad you came,” he whispered. 

            Reaching for his other hand, Caroline searched his eyes. “I’m sorry. For disappearing, for not telling you about me and my accident. I still want to. But I need to see Edison first.” 

            Squeezing her hand, Connor smiled. “You can tell me anything you want to. I’ll even give you some French fries or something, but you’re right. We should see him first.”             They walked to the stall door. Connor heard Caroline gasp as she looked at Edison. He had lost weight, and his muscles were tense and rigid again. 

             Connor squeezed Caroline’s shoulder. “I know. It’s bad.” 

            Edison squealed and kicked the wall, the door vibrating from his power. Connor watched Caroline’s face. She swallowed and closed her eyes, taking his hand as she did. She stayed that way for a few moments. 

            “Can I go in?” Caroline asked when she opened her eyes. 

            “Yeah, just please be careful.” 

            “I will be. And you’ll be here, right?” Caroline gave Connor a small smile. 

            “I’m not going anywhere.” 

            Connor’s eyes were glued to Caroline as she unlatched the stall door. She cracked it open, just wide enough for her to sneak in. Edison arched his neck, flattening his ears against his head. Connor stepped closer to the door, his fingers twitching as he fought the urge to follow Caroline in. 

            Caroline took small steps toward Edison. When she got close enough to touch him, she reached out, rubbing his shoulder with her knuckles. In awe, Connor noticed her hand was steady. 

 Edison’s muscles twitched, tightening as he arched his neck again. His eyes rolled back at her, the whites of his eyes showing. Connor grasped the top of the door, but Caroline’s didn’t back away.

            Watching her lips move, Connor couldn’t hear what Caroline was saying. But it was working. Edison flicked his ears as he listened to her. His eyes softened in recognition. Caroline petted his shoulder. Sighing, Edison’s entire body relaxed. He turned his head and nuzzled Caroline’s hair with his nose. 

            Reaching up, Caroline ran her fingers through his forelock. She turned, making eye contact with Connor through her tears. 

            Blinking away the moisture that had formed in his own eyes, Connor took slow steps into the stall, stopping behind Caroline. Edison stretched his neck out, taking in his scent, before turning his attention back to Caroline. Connor lifted his hand, placing it over Caroline’s, lacing her fingers with hers, intertwining them with Edison’s flaxen forelock. 

            Caroline smiled, looking over her shoulder and up at Connor. “I think he’s going to be okay.” 

            Connor smiled back at her, looking at Edison, then back to her. “I think we all are.”    Edison turned his head and blew into Caroline’s ear. She closed her eyes as more tears fell. “Do you really think I can save him?” she whispered to Connor. 

            Connor felt pain in his chest as his heart broke for her hurt and self-doubt. “I do Caroline. I really do.” Connor squeezed her fingers. “We just have to convince my parents.” 

            Lowering her hand from Edison’s forelock, Caroline sniffed and wiped her tears from her cheeks. “When is the vet coming?” 

           “First thing this morning.” Connor checked his watch. “We probably don’t have much

time.” 

            Nodding her head, Caroline’s glace shifted between Connor and Edison. “Is there a round pen we could take him to?” 

               “Um…yeah,” Connor said, blinking to hide his surprise. “Are you sure you want to take him out there?” 

            “I have to. I have to convince your parents not to give up on him.” More tears broke free from as she spoke. 

            “I think we can just talk to them. I’m sure they’ll give you another chance.” Connor stared into her eyes, trying to read her thoughts. 

            Staring back at him, Caroline shook her head as she turned towards Edison, leaning her forehead against his. “I’ve already left him once. I need to show them I won’t do that again.”

            Looking back at Connor, confidence shone through her eyes and spread to Connor. He turned and reached over the stall door, grabbing Edison’s halter. “Okay,” he spoke as he handed it to Caroline. “Let’s go.”