This Winter Night
The barn was pleasantly warm, though the winter wind whistled outside. Safety lights provided a soft glow by which Barry Dorhmand moved slowly down the aisle of eight stalls—four to each side—the occupants quiet, sleepy. He stopped long enough at each enclosure to check on the horses, pleased to see them comfortable and warm. They’d been stuck inside the last two days thanks to the winter storm that seemed like it would never end. There was already a foot of snow on the ground and Barry feared how much more would fall before the bitter weather pattern finally moved on.
At the far end of the aisle, he fiddled with a latch, slid back the door, and slipped inside, stirring up the scent of pine. The horse—a chunky pony with a thick enough winter coat to make her look like a
