Loving Spirit

people would have shown the bullet to.’
    Ellie didn’t say anything and Stuart worked on in silence, whistling through his teeth as he thinned Milly’s mane.
    Ellie wondered what he would say if he knew about Spirit talking to her. ‘Stuart,’ she said hesitantly. ‘Have you ever heard about people talking to horses, properly talking?’
    Stuart frowned. ‘You mean like when someone’s a horse whisperer?’
    Ellie shook her head. She knew horse whisperers were people who worked with problem horses by building up a relationship with the horse and trying to figure out what was going on in the horse’s head. She’d never heard of them actually talking to a horse the way she had with Spirit. ‘No, I mean have you ever heard of anyone who can really talk to a horse, ask it questions and stuff?’
    She waited for Stuart to laugh, but he looked thoughtful.
    ‘There was a lady I met when I was at the racing yard. She reckoned she could talk to horses. She was a friend of the trainer’s.’
    Ellie was astonished. ‘What?’
    ‘Yeah. Nice lady. Quite normal-looking, you know. Like someone’s mum. She used to come down to the yard and then stand there, listening to the horses who weren’t behaving right. She’d ask them questions in her head and afterwards she’d tell you what was wrong with them.’ Stuart shook his own head. ‘I don’t know. It was probably just a fluke, but a lot of the time she did seem to work out what was the matter with them. She used to say that everyone could talk to horses if they tried but that some people were better at it than others; it was a case of …’ He frowned for a moment, trying to remember. ‘Tuninginto the horses’ energy or something. She’d been doing it all her life.’ He grinned at Ellie. ‘Why the interest? You thinking of getting someone like that for Spirit? That’d finish the boss off, that would. He doesn’t hold with any of that stuff, you know.’
    Ellie smiled quickly. ‘It’s OK. I’m not thinking about it.’ She looked down quickly at Milly’s hoof. Her thoughts were buzzing. Perhaps people could talk to horses then. If the lady that Stuart had met was to be believed lots of people could, although it seemed some people could do it more easily than others. Maybe I’m one of those people , thought Ellie. She wondered if she could talk to horses other than Spirit.
    Stuart chuckled and nodded at Milly who was looking very fed up. ‘Glad I can’t hear her talk. Right now, she would be saying, “Get off my bloody mane!” and a whole load more besides.’ He patted the pony. ‘All done now, though, girl.’
    Ellie put Milly away and then went to groom Picasso. There was no one else in the ponies’ barn. It was the perfect opportunity to try and talk to him. Ellie tied him up and, remembering what she had done with Spirit, tried to stand still and make her mind go blank. Talk to me , she thought eagerly to the pony. I’m listening .
    Nothing happened. Picasso watched her with his usual aloofness. She tried stroking him, talking to him in her head.
    She waited some more, but the change in the atmosphere never came. She never felt that strange sensation of their minds merging and becoming one.
    Disappointment surged through her. Maybe it didn’t work with other horses. But she comforted herself with the thought that at least she could talk to Spirit, and maybe one day she would learn how to talk to others too. Perhaps I just have to get better at it , she thought hopefully.
    Picking up the body brush and curry comb, she began to groom.
    That evening she went to Spirit’s stable. He was pulling at his haynet and his eyes looked calmer. It was as though the very fact that he had been able to share his thoughts and fears had already helped him in some way.
    ‘And your legs are definitely looking better too,’ Ellie murmured happily, glancing at his tendons. Going into the stable, she ran a hand down them. The poulticing had done them good and they felt harder and cooler to the touch. Spirit nuzzled her back as she knelt beside him. Smiling, she rubbed his neck. Then she waited, emptying her mind.
    Gradually she felt Spirit’s thoughts come to her. He showed her a picture of his stable door with the bale string she had fixed and she felt an intense feeling of relief. Thank you .
    That’s OK. I just want to help , she told him.
    A thrill ran through her as she realized she was talking to him again, really talking. She thought back to the