Kuschlig und weich

It had been pouring all day. The sky was heavy and gray, the horses standing close together on the paddocks. One of those days when you don’t even want to step outside. Since I still had paperwork to finish, I stayed indoors. That evening, Jamie came in.

Jamie: “It looks really bad out there. I just changed quickly — I have to head back out.”

Gillian: “I’m coming with you.”

When we stepped outside, I saw the chaos the rain had caused.

Gillian: “Oh my God! The whole yard is flooded. We have to do something before it runs into the stable.”

Jamie: “Come on, we need to get down there!”

While I ran toward the stable, Jamie checked the upper gates. From the road, masses of water were already streaming down toward the ranch.

Jamie: [thought bubble] “That’s turning into a river. We need to move the horses from the paddocks to higher ground — and seal the stable.”

We stacked countless sandbags in front of the main stable door to keep the water out.

Gillian: “Should we put more in front of it, or do you think that’s enough?”

Jamie: “I think it’ll hold. Let’s get the horses from the paddocks. We’ll move them to the round pen — it’s higher.”

After bringing all the horses up, Jamie said:

Jamie: “They’re safe here. The water won’t rise that high. Let’s stay in the stable tonight so we can keep an eye on everything.”

Gillian: “You’re right.”

Because the sandbags blocked the main entrance, we had to use the side door.

Gillian: “I hope everything holds. I keep thinking we forgot something.”

Jamie: “I think we’re good. Let’s change into something dry first. I’ll check again later.”

We changed and made ourselves comfortable on the hay bales in the feed room.

Gillian: “I’m freezing. I wish I were in my cozy, soft bed right now.”

Jamie: “I may be just a human… but I can be cozier and softer than any bed.”

The next morning, we stepped outside the stable, unsure what we would find.

Gillian: “Isn’t this crazy? The sun is shining and everything’s almost dry. It’s like nothing even happened last night.”

Jamie: “Yeah. Like the rain never existed. But something did happen… I was officially classified as ‘cozy and soft’ — and I’m not going to forget that.”

And somehow… neither would I.