The boys were back to chasing each other. They called it tag, but it looked like they were just having fun running about the yard. They were obviously feeling energetic after having a nap and good food in their bellies.
Frey was watching them. I could tell that he wanted to play with them, but I had my hand on his mane, demanding that he stay beside me. Frey loved to play chase with me, but I was a lot bigger than Carlo and Frances. If he were to run after them, it might frighten them. Frey had absolutely no idea how big he was, and although he was agile, he couldn’t help weighing an enormous amount. One tumble with him and the boys would be pancakes or get an accident kick in the head.
“Sorry, Frey. They’re just too small to play with you.”
His ears did a flip flop as if listening, but his eyes stayed fastened on the activities of the boys. He pawed his hoof once in protest, but I sent a resounding, “No.”
The officer frowned. “What’s wrong with the horse now?”
“His name is Frey, and there’s nothing wrong with him.” I lowered my head and calmed myself down. The man hadn’t meant to insult Frey. He was just not a horse person. I sighed, then relented and explained.
“Frey doesn’t understand that he’s a fully grown stallion. He thinks he’s still a colt and he wants to play with the boys. Seeing them running around having fun makes him want to join in, but he can’t. They’re just too little to play chase with him.”
“Are you telling me that your horse chases you sometimes just for fun?” Mrs. Penn asked, fanning her face. “If that horse started running after me, I’d be jumping up on a table or something. He’s a big guy!”
She’d glanced over at the picnic table next to the house. It looked a little rickety. I wasn’t sure it would hold her weight, but I just smiled.
“The moment you stopped running, so would Frey. It’s not like he’d be trying to catch you. He just likes the fun of it.”
I think a mosquito made a dive at the man’s face. He slapped at it, then said, “It’s time to go inside before the bugs eat us up.”
Nobody else was getting attacked, but I shrugged, hugged Frey good night, and gathered the boys.