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the corral. Dannie's mood had brightened considerably since she'd been home. Her father and his fiancé both noticed it. Nate had noticed something else too, though he didn't speak it. She seemed to be walking better today. Yesterday they held Dannie's hands in front of her for balance. Today they were at her side. Martha Edmonton followed closely behind them.
    Nate saw Morning Star approach the enclosure in front of them. He waited for their arrival. 
    "Good morning, Star," Dannie said as they drew near.
    The horse reacted immediately, shaking out his mane and nickering.
    Cindy looked at the horse then down at Dannie. She knew horses to be loyal to their owners. She had seen this type of reaction many times before. What she found a bit puzzling, however, was how quickly this horse had developed a relationship with Dannie. And another thing, technically Dannie didn't own Morning Star. She was pretty certain no one did.
    "Lift me up," Dannie said when they were at the barricade.
    Nate climbed up and straddled the makeshift wooden seat at the fence's apex. Cindy lifted Dannie up and he sat her down next to him, his hand grasping her upper arm. Cindy soon joined them.
    Morning Star moved closer to Dannie. His head reached her chest. The horse nuzzled her. Not much, just a gentle touch. Dannie laughed.
    "He tickled me."
    She rubbed the horse's forehead as she did the day before. Morning Star stood perfectly still while she did so. 
    "You like that, boy?" Dannie asked.
    The horse moved his head up and down.
    "Are you seeing this Nate? Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"
    "I'm seeing it," Nate responded. "Dannie, ask Morning Star something else."
    "Okay. Hey Morning Star, am I your friend?"
    The horse's head rose and lowered several times. 
    Maybe he's a show horse, trained to react to certain word or voice cadences. Maybe he escaped from a circus. Nate thought these things as Dannie laughed and petted the horse, her horse from the looks of things. 
    "He knows what I'm saying, doesn't he?" Dannie asked to nobody in particular.
    "Yes he does," Cindy replied.
    Nurse Edmonton, who had raised herself onto the fence's first slat and now appeared to be gripping the top rail for dear life, looked over the proceedings. Morning Star looked her way and snorted.
    "Oh my," she said.

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    Morning Star proved to be quite the entertainer. While all four watched, the horse pranced around the corral's perimeter, occasionally rising on his hind legs and walking a few steps in this manner.
    The horse's actions solidified Nate's show horse theory. The others, Martha Edmonton included, found the act a marvelous joy. They applauded with every trick (the nurse had to lean forward to do this).
    Nate looked down at Dannie. She smiled and laughed as her eyes followed the horse's every move. When was the last time he'd seen his daughter this happy? Over the last few months he'd talked to many doctors, and they had all said the same thing. Sorry, Mister Walker, your child has a rare disease, it's proven fatal in all known cases. He never told Dannie, no one had, but she knew. He was certain she knew she would die.
    He couldn't afford self pity. He lived each day for Dannie. He lived each day just to see his daughter smile.
    Morning Star had concluded his show and now stood once more in front of Dannie, his most ardent admirer. 
    "Good show boy," she said as she patted his head.
    "She shouldn't be too long in the sun," the nurse said from her still somewhat precarious perch. She had nearly fallen twice while applauding Morning Star's antics. Now it seemed she had again found her nurse mode.
    "Could I ride him one day?" Dannie turned to her father. "Can I?"
    Nate looked at Cindy, who shrugged.
    "We'll see," he said.
    "I want to sit on the porch in the shade where I can watch him. Can I?"
    Nate now turned to Martha who gave him a I guess so lift of her shoulders.
    "I don't suppose it would hurt for a little while," she said. 
    "Getting with the program,