It's a Love Story

she smiled. "How is it warmer in here?" she asked, going to Splatter.

He smiled. "We have a heater in here so the horses don't freeze," he told her. The horses were all standing, waiting patiently for their breakfast.

Lilli nodded, smiling and went to Splatter, rubbing her nose and kissing between her eyes. "Hey girl." she said softly.

The horse nickered softly and nudged her gently. Mike chuckled and restocked all their hay and gave them fresh water and oats. "You ready to brush her while she eats," he smiled at her, grabbing a brush.

She nodded. "I think so." She said, taking the brush then starting with Splatters mane.

He smiled and got another brush to brush the other horses.

Lilli sighed. "Does your family hug a lot. I don't know if my shoulder an take lots of hugs."

"Only the grandparents. But we'll tell them you hurt your shoulder," he assured her.

"no... Don't... Cause then I'll have lots pf people fretting over me and I hate that..." she said softly.

"Alright, I won't," he said softly and finished brushing Cloud, moving onto Old Star.

She sighed and rested her head against Splatters side. Her shoulder and back was really hurting but didn't want to say anything.

Splatter nickered, looking back at her.

"Everything okay over there," Mike asked, brushing Old Star's mane.

"yeah..." Lilli said softly, starting to brush Splatter again.

He glanced over towards Splatter's stall, though he couldn't see anything but the horse's head. "You sure?" Her answer hadn't sounded very convincing. He was worried about her shoulder.

"Yeah." she said, trying to sound more convincing and doing an okay job. "Of course."

"Alright," he said, not totally believing it, but he didn't want to upset her by bothering her so much.

Lilli sighed again, finishing brushing her horse. She made her way to Mike and moved her way between him and the horse he was brushing and hugged him.

He blinked and hugged her back, careful of her shoulder. "What's wrong," he asked her softly, kissing her forehead.

"My shoulder hurts." She said softly, wrapping her arms around his waist.

He held her close gently. "Those pain pills should take effect any minute now," he said gently.

She nodded softly. "I hope so..."

He kissed her forehead, still holding her.

She sighed, leaning against him. "Thank you." she said softly.

"Anything for you, honey," he whispered, letting her relax so the pain would go away.

She closed her eyes. "Do I meet your cousins today?" she asked.