*Maddox*
April 25, 2017
“Serendipity is due to drop her foal any day now, right?” Adam asks, walking around his dark bay horse, Boaz, brushing the length of his neck. I watch as swirls of dust and dirt jump off the horse and disappear into the warm air.
I bend forward and grab Dexter’s front right leg, tugging slightly until he shifts his weight and offers me his hoof. I shuffle closer, setting the leg on my knee and use the hoof-pick to dig out dirt, rocks, and manure.
“Yes, sir,” I answer, dropping the leg and moving to the next.
“What are you planning on doing with it?”
After cleaning out the last hoof, I stand and look over at the man who practically saved my life many years ago. “I was thinking of selling it. Perhaps you could help me find a good home.”
Adam nods his head and leads Boaz into his stall, locking it, and moving down to grab Missy’s horse, Eowyn. Eowyn is a beautiful palomino mare with a gentleness similar to Serendipity. Missy named her horse after a character from her favorite movie series, The Lord of the Rings.
I take Dexter, Kristy’s horse, back into his stall and grab Jeremy’s, Raven. I quickly brush the shiny black coat, softly rolling my eyes. This horse has a pristine coat, and even after spending a day out with Eowyn, he comes back with hardly a speck of dust. It’s almost as if the horse is scared of the dirt.
“Has Adelaide showed any interest in riding again since the small mishap?” Adam asks. I frown, picking the dirt out of Raven’s hooves.
“No. I fear she has no desire to do so again.”
Adelaide has been with the Cranes for a little over a week now. She’s still skittish and hesitant about speaking in front of people, but I can tell she’s already growing comfortable here. She enjoys tending the garden and brushing Serendipity. It brings me joy that my horse can offer her solace, even if it seems I can’t.
Sunday, we spent most of the day in the bed of my truck. Kristy and I answered all her questions to the best of our ability.
She asked about God and who He is. She asked if He still loved her, even though she’s so different…and she used the word “strange.” I detest that word. I would never use it to describe Adelaide, and I will ensure that she nor anyone else never will either.
Adelaide continued to ask what school was, because she has overheard Kristy and Jeremy talking about it. Sunday was the last day of their spring break and Monday they had to return. Kristy tried her best to explain, but Adelaide seemed confused. I always fear we’re overloading her with information.
But she never stopped asking questions. She’s hungry for answers.
“Do I need to go to school?” Adelaide had asked. Kristy and I looked at each other with uncertainty.
“I’m sure you’ll be given a placement test. You will then be given an education based on your answers. I’m sure Missy will insist on homeschooling you,” I answered.
There is no way Missy was going to throw Adelaide into school, to be ridiculed and bullied by hormonal teenagers who don’t understand. And if for some reason Missy considers the option, I will persuade her that homeschooling is best for Adelaide.
Adelaide asked to learn about the different breeds of horses. When we returned home, we pulled out all the horses from the barn and lined them up, color coded. We went down the line, naming and explaining each horse.
It’s amazing, the complete awe and thirst to learn behind her eyes. Adelaide never skipped a beat. She processed everything we gave her and most of the information was retained. She was able to repeat the breeds back to us, only getting a few wrong.
I know she has more questions…how can she not? I see her walking outside and looking at the world around her. She doesn’t miss any detail. She listens to the birds in the sky, feels the wind through her hair, inhales the fresh air mixed with natural ranch odors. Adelaide is beautiful, and an inspiration.
I have taken the beauty around me for granted, I’m not denying it. It just took an isolated girl finally set free to show me the truth.
“Get her out here again. Set her up on Eowyn and, this time, be in control of the horse,” Adam says, putting Missy’s horse back into the stall. I chuckle, shaking my head.
I silently hope that Adelaide will agree to ride with me again. I really do.
Adelaide sips her strawberry smoothie beside me, her eyes transfixed on the screen in front of us. I glance over at Kristy to see her smiling at her cousin. The movie playing on the screen is a classic: Gone With the Wind.
Adelaide is on the edge of her seat, watching as Rhett over-dramatically sweeps Scarlett into a kiss. Adelaide gasps, jumping back slightly to raise her hand to her mouth, softly touching her lips.
Kristy pauses the movie and we carefully watch Adelaide. “What was that?” she asks, pointing to the screen. She looks over at me, our eyes meeting.
My heart nearly races in my chest. I have never taught someone the definition of a kiss. I have never had to explain it. It’s common that everyone knows, yet Adelaide hasn’t got a clue as to why Rhett is nearly devouring Scarlet’s face.
“A kiss,” I tell her.
“Kiss…” Adelaide says softly, testing the word. Her light blue eyes hold wonder. “What does it do?”
I clear my throat and look at Kristy in desperation.
The way I want to teach Adelaide about a kiss is selfish and I’m sure I’ll scare the poor girl off. I have wanted to kiss Adelaide since the first day in the barn. And here she is, providing me with a perfect, sneaky opportunity.
But I couldn’t do that to her. Adelaide deserves to form her own feelings and opinions. After she learns the meaning of a kiss, it will be her decision if she ever wants to bestow one upon me. I will not steal that away from her.
“When a man and a woman have feelings for each other, like my ma and pa, they kiss. It is a sign of affection.”
“Oh…what does it feel like? It looks uncomfortable.”
I roll my eyes. That’s only because Scarlet doesn’t know how to be anything less than melodramatic.
“It’s nice, Adelaide. When you kiss someone, it’s a special experience shared only with the two of you…and I promise, you’ll like it.” Kristy smiles.
Kristy is a saint. She’s so patient with Adelaide. She doesn’t grow frustrated or roll her eyes if she deems a question ridiculous. Instead, she smiles and provides answers to any question she can.
“So you only kiss someone if you like them…how do you know if you like someone?” I slyly motion for Kristy to continue.
I’m not sure if I would provide the best answers for these questions.
“You will know if you find yourself thinking of him when you’re apart. How the room seems just a bit brighter when he walks in. Or when you get a bubbly feeling in your stomach when he’s near. When you genuinely care about him, and want to be around him.”
Adelaide hangs her head slightly, and I can’t help but wonder if she has any of those feelings toward me, because I have every single one for her. Adelaide is constantly on my mind, no matter what task is at hand.
“Is that how you feel about Kristy?” Adelaide surprises me by turning her attention to me. My mouth falls open in shock and I just stare at her for a suffocating minute.
“K-Kristy? N-no…Kristy is practically my sister.”
“So? You can’t have those feelings for your sister?” Adelaide’s eyebrows come together in confusion and I sigh.
My heart breaks with every question, because every question resembles a secret her mother kept from her.
“Of course I have feelings for Kristy. I love her. But the feelings that they have—” I point to the screen “—are different. Siblings do not kiss, Adelaide. Husbands and wives kiss. Boyfriends and girlfriends kiss. People who want to spend the rest of their lives together as a couple, kiss. Are we making any sense, darlin’?” I ask, arching an eyebrow in question.
Adelaide slowly shakes her head. “I’m sorry for all the questions. I imagine this is difficult for you guys.”
Difficult for us? We’re teachers, trying to educate a willing student. This is hardly difficult for us. If anything, this must be strenuous on her.
“Adelaide, never apologize. We’re happy to help. Things will get easier. We’ll watch movies, and you’ll read countless novels. And in time, you’ll learn all there is…and we’ll help you along the way,” Kristy promises.
Adelaide perks up, her eyes bright with happiness and hope. “I can read?” she asks. I smile softly and stand.
“Follow me,” I say. Adelaide practically leaps to her feet and hurriedly follows me. I lead her down the hall to Adam’s office, where I push open the door. Adelaide peeks in and freezes, her eyes wide and mouth hanging open.
She looks at the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves behind Adam’s desk. They are completely filled with books, with no space available for a new addition.
I lead Adelaide around the desk and grab a book: Jack London’s “Call of the Wild.” I hand it to Adelaide and she gently grasps it in her delicate hands.
“Every book in here is at your disposal. Grab a seat, get comfortable, and read, darlin’. Read to your heart’s content. I want you to travel the world through literature…visit Venice and Barcelona. Learn the different cultures. I want you to realize that this world is yours now. You’re free, Adelaide. And the places you will read about are real. And one day, you will visit them.”
Adelaide lifts her head, her blue eyes swimming in tears. I tilt my head to the side, looking at every facet of her. She’s so beautiful. “Thank you, Maddox. You have no idea what this means to me. So, thank you.”
I reach out and softly brush a tendril of hair behind her ear, wishing to let my hand linger. But I know contact is still frightening for her, so I withdraw my hand and smile. “You’re welcome.”