Horse Harems

February. Day 32. It's going to be more difficult to remember what number day I'm on now. Good job I've been numbering them in the subtitles, or I'd be scuppered (JB).

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I dedicate this story to Thavien Yliaster.

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"Are you serious?" Hank laughed, incredulously. "I'm taking your mare to a stud farm and I have to ask for Horse Harems?" Hank snorted again. "You've got to be having me on, for sure!" Hank eyed up his partner Charles "Chuck" Stanton for that telltale twinkle in his eye but there was no humour in the gaze that met his.

"Hank," Chuck stated, looking his friend dead in the eye. "Do not go in there and act the clown because Horse, well, he takes no prisoners, you get me?"

Hank thought that this was probably a lot of fuss about nothing.

As if he could read his mind, Chuck said, "And don't think that this is just some exaggerated town talk, Hank."

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Horse Harems hated Johnny Cash. His "A Boy Named Sue" had been the inspiration for his father calling him "Horse"- to build his character. His father had also found it funny in light of the fact that Horse would inherit his stud business.

Horse was of solid stature, like a Clydesdale among men, so rarely did he have to defend himself from scathing personal attack. His appearance was usually enough to stop any comments but he'd perfected his threatening glare anyway.

Ladies liked Horse too, the origin of his name intriguing and his tall, broad frame drawing them to him like butterflies to nectar. He hoped he tasted as sweet.

Chuck's statement was what Horse liked to call "Horseshit"- it stank and it made things grow, like rumours. Horse hadn't hurt anyone in his life.

People had an idea of him and he did not disabuse them of it. He was shrewd and astute behind his mask, the mask given to him the day his father chose his first name.

Despite the ladies, he was lonely. Sometimes he wished for more.

Camaraderie. He was an affable sort by nature. He'd had to learn to be otherwise.

The guy with the mare, Hank. Deep laughter lines; quick wit. Horse liked him and he could handle a mare. But Hank was skittish, giving Horse the old side-eye, trying to get a read on him.

And Horse never let that mask slip for anyone.

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366 words

As per my dedication at the beginning, you have Thavien Yliaster to thank for this offering, the idea for it springing from a comments' thread on my story:

Thavien is a very accomplished writer who writes in many forms but as the comments' thread will prove, he is a master of haiku and he's pretty good with senryu as well, especially when using it to make a point:

You can check out his page here:

And here's a link to stories up until the 28th January:

Thanks for stopping by! If you have read this, please do drop a comment as I love responding to my readers!

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