Cody's Num Nums, page 4
I picked up the messages on my cell phone as I drove Marlie to school. The first was from Heather, telling me that the people who had sold us Sister had been given a verbal first right of refusal, should we ever sell her, and they very, very much wanted her back. This verbal agreement pre-dated Heather, and there were no notes on the bill of sale. The second message was from a woman named Laura, who had first trained Sister, about how she was the only horse her husband had ever loved, and they had long wished they had never sold her. Somehow, the horse, out of all the possibilities, that my daughter had settled on and fell in love with, came with some major complications. Whether my buying the horses from the family business really constituted a “sale” of the horse or not was debatable, but I heard her out.
I gave Hannah the option: if she decided to keep Sister, I would argue the point with this family who also loved her horse very much. They had run into some financial difficulties and had to sell her to us several years ago, although always regretting it. Over the years, they had stopped in to visit Sister, (whom they called Pepper) many times at the ranch, just to say hello and pet her. Laura had started her, trained her, and given her as a gift to her husband. So, I asked Hannah to also consider the other horses who were left, if there was one she might enjoy as much.
In the mean time, Marlie and I had gone for a ride, just the two of us. Rodney no longer had a shoe missing, so I did not need to take Cody. But, somehow, I wished I had. Sort of like dating; when you are out with one guy thinking of another the whole time, maybe it really is not right. I missed Cody, and thought of changing my mind to keep him, instead. He’d not been sold, because, as I said, he is a little quirky and definitely not a horse just anyone can ride. But, something about him touches my soul.
So, among a handful of other horses, Hannah considered Rodney. Like her, he is chill on the trail. He likes to go, but is also happy hanging back. He is solid and trustworthy, just like Hannah. She decided she would be happy with him, and Laura and her family were overjoyed. They picked up Sister immediately when they heard the news.
Hannah did decide, however, that the name Rodney has got to go. I agree. Every time I say the name, the voice in my head echoes “Dangerfield.” She’s named him Flaming Rebel, after a firework the youth counselors set off this summer on the 4th of July. He’s a beautiful red sorrel, so the name suits him. The two of them do need to spend some bonding time in ground work this fall. Although she likes Rebel, he has not filled the empty place left by Sister. I plan to take Hannah out to longe him this next week, while Marlie canters and canters with Honey around the arena. Although on that particular day he won’t have a job, I will have to take Cody some treats. He loves his num nums!
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His humor is All Wet
Chocolate Grenades
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