Gargantuan (37 page)

“Violet wants you to have him,” he says.

After a few seconds, I realize my jaw is hanging open. Then, I feel tears coming. I look from Ed to the horse.

“You do want a horse, don’t you? You’ve always talked about wanting a horse. When Violet asked me about it, I figured it was a great idea.” Ed is looking at me intently. All I can do is nod stupidly.

“He’s on stall rest for a few more weeks, then you’ll have to hand walk him a few times a day. After that, you’re gonna want to let him grow up some. Eventually he’ll make a great pleasure horse though.”

Ed is patting Jack on the neck. “We’ll find a way for you to board him somewhere cheaply, I promise,” he says.

I walk over to Jack and start stroking his face. His eyes droop shut and he puts the edge of his muzzle on my shoulder. I can’t quite believe this is happening.

When I can bear to tear myself away from Jack Valentine, Ed introduces me to his three claimers. One thing I can say about all three horses is that they seem intensely attached to their caretaker. Even the recalcitrant chestnut who wouldn’t give me the time of day is demonstrative with Ed. The man certainly has a way with beasts. And with children too, apparently. After about an hour—most of which I’ve spent vigorously grooming Jack—Violet Kravitz comes by with young Grace Johnson. I had heard that Attila had left a will asking that Violet look after Grace—which gave me a shock since I hadn’t realized that he truly knew his days were numbered. There have been legal complications over the child, but, thankfully, neither Attila’s father nor Ava’s parents really wanted much to do with Grace and it appears Violet and Henry will be able to adopt her. I’ve only seen the girl once, at Attila’s and Ava’s funerals, where she was
standing with what must have been Ava’s parents. She looked very pale and solemn, but she wasn’t crying. I didn’t get a good look at her then and now I’m startled to see a lot of Attila in her. I probably stare a little too intensely because she seems frightened of me and won’t talk to me. She takes a shine to Ed though. She babbles at him nonstop as he introduces her to each of his horses, speaking of each one as if it were Man O’ War himself.

Violet and I go into the empty room that will eventually be Ed’s tack room. She wants nothing to do with my gratitude though.

“By accepting the horse you save me the trouble of spending weeks finding him an appropriate home,” she says, waving a hand at me.

“Violet, he’s a beautiful mover and he has a great temperament. I’m sure you could have sold him.”

“To whom though? I can’t let some stranger take my horse. Most people can’t be trusted with a gentle horse like that, dear girl.”

“I’m honored. And I’ll take good care of him.”

“Oh I have no doubt of that. What I do doubt is your condition.”

“My condition?”

“How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine. I mean not fine at all, but fine. You know what I mean, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Violet sighs, “I’m afraid I do. I have no idea what to do with the child,” she says in a low voice, peering outside of the tack room, as if expecting Grace to be standing there listening.

“But you seem great with her,” I say, surprised.

“It’s an act, Ruby, in fact I’m terrified. I’m not sure what Attila was thinking. Henry always claimed to dislike children and I certainly had never planned on having any. But what can I do? I cared about Attila and the child is an orphan.”

“She seems like a nice little girl,” I say.

“She’s a very nice little girl. It’s heartbreaking. She’s the saddest, sweetest child you could ever meet. And I feel inept.”

“That alone means you’re fit to take care of her.”

“What does?”

“That you feel inept. Only people who are trying very hard at something feel inept at it.”

“I’m not certain that I agree with you but it’s a nice thing to say Ruby.”

Violet reaches over and squeezes my hand.

We come out of the tack room and go stand in front of Jack Valentine’s stall. The horse pricks his ears forward and looks at us.

“He’s a keeper, all right,” I say to Violet.

“Oh yes,” she agrees, “and so is that man down there.” She motions at Ed who is just emerging from a stall, Grace at his side.

“You hold on to him,” Violet tells me.

I’m not sure if she’s talking about the man or the horse, but I’ll try to do right by both.