FRIDAY
On the morning after Mr. Brodie and the sheriff had come to Danny’s place, Meg Harris headed out to see Amigo with a soft halter tucked into her back pocket, out of sight. Amigo would notice. He saw everything. She knew she wouldn’t get it on him, but she wanted him to see it so he wouldn’t be scared of it later.
He was waiting for her at the gate. First time he’d ever done that. “Well, look at you. Missing me?”
Then she got it. “Ah, you want to see Molly again.”
Meg approached slowly. “I’ll bring her out, but not right now.”
Amigo eyed her, his head high and alert.
“You’re looking very handsome,” she said.
The nicks and scars were gone now. His coat was no longer dull, and his ribs had filled out. As soon as Amigo trusted her enough to get close, and stay close, she could brush the tangles out of his mane and tail.
When she opened the gate to enter the pen, he whinnied and took off, tail high.
For weeks now, Meg had been giving him feed in a large tin pan she placed on the ground in the pen, just enough to fill him up. She’d fill the pan and walk away, and Amigo would trot over and nose it up.
When he got hungry again, Meg would be there to give him just a little more. She hoped that this would help him see that a human wasn’t something to move away from, but toward.
Now, Amigo was circling the pen.
Meg walked in and closed the gate.
Amigo snorted and tossed his head, bulging eye watching her. It took some courage to ignore him, but ignoring him was what raised his curiosity. Even harder was turning her back on him. But she had to trust that he would do her no harm.
Slowly he ventured closer to see what she was up to.
Each time Meg moved away, Amigo followed.
She hummed as she walked, ignoring him. She could hear him behind her, coming close, then circling away and returning.
When, in a while, he came up behind her and nudged her with his muzzle, Meg froze and covered her mouth with her hand…then smiled.