“It’s good to meet you, Mera,” Şahin said with a laugh at her bridled energy. Foals were so lively. It was refreshing to have her company, even if it was only for a short time. When the filly took off at a run the Nez Perce moved into a jog for a few steps before slowing down to a walk again. She was not so far away that he couldn’t see her. He was further reassured when she turned and came racing back to him. The filly reminded him of his own children, long grown, with those big clear eyes and the quivering stance of a child still prepared to play.

His musing was cut short by a ringing voice, and he flipped his ears toward the noise as a mare came thundering toward the pair of them. Mera –Esmerelda, as the mare who could only be her dam had called her— did not look guilty. Şahin stepped to one side to give the mother more room, aware that mares with foals were more aggressive toward strange stallions and not wanting to give the bay roan any reason to lunge at him. He watched as Mera was scolded, wincing at her high squeal before turning his ears to the sides and staring blandly into the distance.

Şahin cocked an ear at the mare as she addressed him directly and turned his head toward her. “Oh, she was no trouble at all,” he said, and the smile that bloomed on his muzzle added light to his dark eyes. “In fact, she was just on her way back to see you when I found her,” he continued, with a quick wink at Mera as he invited the filly to join him in his little lie. “I just came along for the companionship. It’s pretty empty in Paradise, and I can only handle so much of my own company at a time. I’m Şahin, by the way, and you are..?”