First published 2026
She and her husband share their lives with their dog, and children never factor into her plans. Then their dog dies. Around the same time, she discovers that pregnancy is no longer possible for her, even if she changed her mind. These losses draw her thoughts back to horses from her past. When she finds a mare that needs part-time care, the arrangement seems perfect. Two days a week of responsibility without total commitment. She brushes the mare's coat and fills her feed bucket. She climbs into the saddle and feels the animal's power beneath her. What begins as simple caretaking transforms into something much deeper. Her feelings for this creature intensify beyond reason. She must face the complexity of loving something that never grew inside her body, something that will never truly be hers to keep.
Genres: literary-fiction, domestic-fiction, family-life, contemporary, 21st-century
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, grief
Period: 21st-century
Hardcover
Content warnings: infertility, pregnancy-loss