Peeking

It was hot even in the stable this autumn day. Although the breeze played around the buildings, the heat was still evident. Kei was in the mare’s stables and mucking out stalls with Joe and Ben. They talked vividly with each other in between griping about the heat. They had eighteen more boxes to muck out before they would finish.

It took a while but, finally, the job was done and Kei was now driving the wheelbarrow to the manure pile outside the stables. She tipped it of its contents before glancing up towards the road. Her face lit up in a surprised smile, for there was C.L and Cher Ami standing at the farm’s entrance. Kei approached them with a relaxed stage, careful to not waste the energy. Once there, she nodded politely to Cher Ami; who answered with a nod of her own. Kei was charmed when she saw a couple of extra legs behind the black mare. She crouched to her knees to see. Peeking under Cher Ami's stomach was a little black head with large black eyes, carefully observing.

C.L looked at Kei and then at the foal who took cover behind its mother's stout body.
"Oh, she's wonderful," whispered Kei lovingly as she looked at the filly who looked back. "When was she born?"
"Last night," replied C.L.
"Does she have a name yet?" The little filly stretched out her little nose under the stomach of Cher Ami and gently sniffed the air.
It was Cher Ami who answered, "Verveine," she purred proudly, chewing on the bit in her mouth.
"Verveine…" Kei tasted the name on her lips, "A very pretty name, Cher Ami. Very suitable for your daughter.”
Cher Ami nodded quietly.

"Kei!"
Kei turned around towards the stables when she heard her name called out. At the building’s entrance was Joe. "We have to start grooming the horses!" she cried.
Kei threw a last glance at Verveine before she got up. She smiled gently and turned around to go when C.L called for her attention.
"Kei. Do you want to spend the night out with us tonight?” He looked at her intently while Cher Ami impatiently stamped an energetic piaffe. Kei smiled at them.
"It would be an experience," she said cheerfully, then turned around to return to the stables.
"We’ll meet on the road, then," concluded C.L, before letting Cher Ami move off. The mare, who would have exploded and burst away in top speed, simply started carefully so the small Verveine could easily follow the pace. They trotted slowly up the road and disappeared out of sight.

Kei passed Joe at the stable door before heading into the attic to get the grooming things. Joe followed.
When they reached the stairs Joe said carefully, "How are things going between you two?"
Kei turned around on the stairs, smiling in embarrassment, "Fine..." She continued to the neat tack room.
Joe picked up brushes while she talked on, "Just fine?"
"How so?" asked Kei, holding a brush in midair for a moment.
"Well, I just wondered," Joe said gently. "I'm just worried about you."
"No need for that," said Kei, thinking quietly to herself that Joe’s fears really were unnecessary. She was the most safe when she was with C.L.
"Sebastian seems to like you, you know..."
Kei gawked at Joe, startled by what her friend had said.
"Sebastian! He loves us all equally... As friends do.” Kei stated, she continued to grab stuff.
"Don’t judge me, Kei, but there are so many others out there that would suit you better. I just want what’s best for you."
"Thanks, but no thanks, Joe. I'm glad you bother about me, but in this case, you don’t need to worry. I know what I am doing."
Joe sighed heavily, "I hope you do.”

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Yay! The next part of the story!
Wow, this story has been on vacation for a while, huh? Since March. But now it is back and rolling

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Tools & Info
Refference: No ref
Estimated time: About 1 hour
Tools: Wacom bamboo tablet & Photoshop CS
Layers: About 10 layers
Editor of Text:
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