At first, nothing seemed out of place. The days passed the way they always had—slow, steady, predictable. Jolene adjusted to the changes, taking things a little easier, while Ricky handled more around the farm. And Keola… was still Keola. Calm. Obedient. Unchanged.
Horses were known to be sensitive creatures. They picked up on tone, movement—even moods people didn’t realize they were showing. And Keola had always seemed a little more in tune than most. Whenever Jolene stepped into the field, Keola would drift toward her—not rushed, not restless. Just… present. Watching. Staying close.
Jolene didn’t think much of it. It felt natural. Even comforting. “There you are,” she’d murmur, reaching out as Keola stopped beside her. “See?” Ricky said once with a smile. “She knows.” Jolene laughed it off.
At the time, it felt harmless. Just a quiet shift. A small change. But slowly… almost too slowly to notice at first… that closeness started to feel different.