It all started the day Chesca sat on a bale of hay in the
barn sniffing and
lamenting the death of Pig Senior. Malley, their champion of
stallions and leader of horses for miles around
took a few steps toward her and stood so
near she could touch him, and she did. She put her hand
out and touched his silky nose, something she had never
done before. The light fell on the threads of gold that ran
through his chestnut coat. She remembered how her
heart beat like a drum and the warmth of his breath and
the glimpse of a spark in his eye, and she did not feel
afraid by his size or his mighty energy. She felt a soft
breeze embrace her even though it was December. She
thought she heard the word calm. She continued staring
deep into his eyes, knowing something had changed,
shifted, something magical was happening.
Then it happened. Polly, her black and white dog, laid
her head on Chesca’s knee and whimpered, “I’ll miss Pig
Senior, too.”
Chesca said calmly, as if it was a very normal thing to
hear your dog talking to you,
“I know you will, Polly,” and they put their heads
together and cried some more.
That was the very first time Chesca heard any animal
talk.
They might neigh, or grunt or bark or bleat, but she
understood every word.