Emily Mayfield, part 5: The Horse

When Emily’s brother George was nine, he asked his parents for a horse. On a horse, George knew, he could run like the wind. He and the horse could compete in all sorts of athletic events, and he would be as capable as any of the other boys.

Robert was quick to respond favorably to George’s request for a horse, much to Suzanna’s surprise. Robert had bought the farm for Suzanna, so she could live in a quiet, peaceful place where she could have her flowers. He has never been around animals, but he has always been fascinated by horses. He feels some kind of spiritual attachment to horses, the way they move and their grace and power. When George asks for a horse, the request triggers a long-held longing in Robert that he has never spoken out loud. Now he can act on that secret longing, and be a good father for doing so. Robert is delighted. He buys George a mare and brings her home utterly without any planning or warning. Or food. Or shelter. Or fencing.

Suzanna is more than surprised. Suzanna is blindsided. Here is this mare, this excited little boy, and this incredibly proud-of-himself father. What to do? Suzanna gets a length of clothesline rope and ties the mare to the clothesline pole. Then she scrubs out her mop bucket, fills it with water, and places it next to the clothesline pole so the mare can’t knock it over. There is grass (lawn) for the mare to graze on, water for her to drink, and a tether that will keep her from getting lost or hurt during the night. George wanted to sleep outside with his horse. Robert wanted to sleep outside with his son and the horse. Just to keep the boy safe, of course.

Six-year-old Alex and two-year-old Emily are also clamoring to sleep outside with the horse. What to do? Suzanna has all the guys gather sheets and blankets. They spread a HUGE pallet on the lawn, about ten feet beyond the reach of the horse’s tether, and the entire Mayfield clan sleeps under the stars and under the smell of the new horse.

That night is the earliest memory of Emily's life. It is mainly a memory of smells, the fresh grass and the horse and Emily’s mother’s body. But there are sounds with this memory as well, the soft snorts the horse made during the night and the whispers of Suzanna and Robert when they thought the children were asleep. And the stars, bright sparkles against a pitch black sky. To this day, Emily welcomes a clear, moonless night sky with a sense of peace and safety.

(continued)