Chapter 11

“And you’re almost certainly wondering why somebody who’s here, scraping along on a little farm, has a horse like that, aren’t you?”

“Well, he’s a sight better than my own, we’ll put it that way,” Johnathan said, admittedly quite curious.

“He’s my inheritance,” he said, “So to speak. I had him, and enough money to buy a little place. I could have sold him, and had the money for a larger farm, or to start a city shop or something, but…I don’t really like cities. And there’s just me to work the place, and I wouldn’t have had a horse! So small is better. Fortunately his dignity isn’t offended by pulling a plow. But I should get back to work, and I’m sure you have lots to do.”

“Yeah.”

“Maybe I’ll take you up on that offer this evening,” he said, and smiled. His face was very unlike Fionn’s, being squarer in the chin and not nearly so fair-skinned, but his smile was warm, and Johnathan found himself smiling warmly back.