Gallop

Elise stopped inside the barn aisle. She blinked, letting her eyes adjust. It was Thursday, her riding lesson day.

“Hi Elise!” Dana smiled and clipped cross-ties onto the halter of a small chestnut gelding.

Elise rubbed her eyes and shook her arms. Stiff kneed, she walked down the aisle toward her instructor. The horse standing in the aisle was light brown. The horse was not Cameo. Cameo was red-brown with a black mane and tail. She had a white blaze and four black stockings. She had white socks on her front legs. “Cameo died?”