I remembered that I was hungry. "So, what is there around for a horse to eat? And drink!"
"Whoops. I forgot." Karyn attached a lead rope to the halter. "Come on."
I nibbled on the rope. "Is this really necessary?"
Karyn giggled as she lead me to a stall. "Sorry, but it's just what you do, you know?" She patted my head but did take everything off of me once I was in the stall. "There's a water trough there, and I'll fill that bin with grain for you."
I snorted in a very equine fashion. "That doesn't sound very tasty. How long do you expect me to stay like this with that kind of menu?"
"Well... how about one more ride later on, then we can explore the house together?" Karyn wheedled.
"Oh, okay." I grumped and put my ears back. "One more ride."
Karyn smiled and hugged my neck. "Thanks, Jon." She patted my nose and walked out, at least having the consideration to not shut the stable door like I really was some horse. I did pause to wonder why there was a door with a latch, though -- was that just part of a stable, or was Karyn going to need to be able to latch the door someday? I found myself drinking out of the water trough while distracting by my thoughts. By the time I finished satisfying my thirst, Karyn had returned and filled my feed bin -- I could even smell some delicious apple slices mixed in!
"Menu's not so bad after all?" Karyn asked with a giggle as I started chowing down.
I just snorted again, but the feed and apples did taste darned good, and I was hungry. I barely paid attention as Karyn wondered off again to poke through the other rooms in the stable. I only noticed her return when I heard her giggling and realizing that I was... using the facilities just like a horse would. I would have blushed if I could, but could only lay my ears back and duck my head. "Sorry. I wasn't thinking," I mutttered.
"It's what horses do, you big stallion you." That only made me more embarassed and she giggled harder. "It's okay. Cleaning stables is part of taking care of horses. No big deal."
I shifted my weight from foot to foot uneasily. Karyn seemed a little too comfortable in thinking of me as her horse, but I wasn't exactly sure I minded it too much... yet, anyways. I got distracted as she dropped a fresh apple in my feed bin and got the equipment to clean up after me. I felt like I had no modesty around her anymore, but she seemed to accept it cheerfully.
Well, it was just another ride, and then we'd see what the house contained. What could be the harm?
