Hollywood Zenith

" Here, hold him; happy birthday Grey!" Samuel presented him with his horse. Grey was lost for words; it was clear as sky that Samuel knew about his dreams and hobbies as he would often mention them to him.

Often time, he would talk about horses. They were one of the common animals in his favorite stories, he had visited several ranches, but it was never the same. When the night came, he had to leave the place and be expectant about his next visit.

"What's his name?" He asked, sneaking his hand closer to the reigns.

" King, he is still a child, so be careful with him." Samuel was keeping a close watch if anything were to happen.

" Oh." Greyson managed to put his hand on the horse. Sensing no danger, he moved toward the horse's head and began to pet him.

" Isn't he sweet? The trainer told me that he was gentle."

" Yeah." Grey was still immersed in observing his new friend.

" What are you doing? Come closer; don't you want to meet them too?" Samuel called to the other kids.

" I think I am fine here." Anya refused him instantly. The scene of the earlier horse rampaging was still fresh in her mind.

" I will go." Wynonna unexpectedly came forward first.

" What? Wait! I am coming with you!" Kenneth followed suit. He was the older brother and couldn't let her face this challenge alone. Besides, he trusted Samuel a lot.

" Basmus?"

" I will wait here with Anya." He said with a complicated smile.

Samuel didn't want to push them. The kids who came forward first greeted King, an even rarer breed than Sjor. King was from a species called the Irish thoroughbred.

It was said that when an Irish thoroughbred mare gave birth to a baby horse, there was a silent expectation. A jiffy of hope that this horse would be the one whose very physical makeup could give them an edge over their peers regarding stamina and speed.

This is one of the horse breeds designed and perfected over the last 250 years, specifically for that one horse that can beat the world.

As his name suggested, they were the kings of the horse kingdom regarding elegance, endurance, and speed.

After meeting King, the kids became a bit bolder. Wynonna took a liking to a mare called Snowball. A grey Andalusian Horse who was among one of the most beautiful and loyal horse breeds with a huge heart.

Kenneth went with Buckeye, a tiny dusty white Arabian Horse. These horses were known for their endurance, as they could survive harsh desert environments.

The fascinating thing about them was that White Arabian horses born dark must grow light in color before they are ready to test their skills. Black surfaces are ideal for absorbing heat effectively, becoming deadly in the scorching sun, hence, the change.

" See, they are harmless if you treat them kindly. Basmus, won't you pat them too?" Samuel asked, seeing the other kids enjoying themselves. He didn't want Basmus to be traumatized by this experience.

" I want to, but-" Basmus was very curious about how it would feel, but it was hard.

" This is Pepper. I promise she will not bite." Samuel brought the petite horse to him. Basmus decided to give it a try. Pepper was a pretty horse with a caramel color base with dark chocolate hair swaying with each step.

She was from the Quarter Horse breed; they were the most popular breed in the world, with millions of Quarter Horses around the globe.

Quarter Horses were known for their versatility and could compete in any discipline a rider wished to pursue. They had notoriously calm temperaments that made them a natural choice for rookie riders and horse owners, as they quickly won hearts and built riders' skills and confidence.

" It is straightforward, right? Charlie, look after the kids for a while." Samuel asked Charlie and his subordinates. There were two other horses, Moxie and Phoenix; Samuel wished he could convince Anya to join.

" Anya, come. I have something to show you."

" I already said I don't want to play with stupid horses! I don't like them!" Anya didn't know what he was planning, but it involved these creatures.

" Are you that scared? I thought you were not scared of anything?"

" Who says I am scared?"

" So, why are you not coming with me?"

" Humph, fine."

Samuel took her inside the container; the two other horses were holed up in the corner. They were all black with large white spots on them, and their hair was quite long, covering their whole face and feet. Both looked identical, except the spots were in different places.

" These are Moxie and Phoenix. They are sisters who unfortunately lost their mother at a young age. I went to Wyoming especially to acquire them." Samuel leaned down and patted their heads.

They sensed his warm head and approached him to demand more touch. They were very meek, probably scared after the long flight. The rest of the horses came out voluntarily, but they were the only ones who opted to stay inside the container.

" Don't be scared. They are perfect kids." Samuel urged Anya.

Even though she was scared, she couldn't deny that they looked more like furballs than ponies she had seen outside. She felt their soft hair as her hand quickly sank into them.

"Very few of them are left, and everyone is a treasure. They are beautiful, fast, powerful, and have everything and more you look for in a perfect horse. Gypsies love when you touch them; they are extremely friendly and bondable."

" I-is that so? They don't seem like the bad kind."

" Let's take them outside and introduce them to others. Why don't you take Phoenix? I will take Moxie."

Anya did as he told her, and they brought them outside. With more light, she could finally witness how gorgeous they looked. She also consoled them voluntarily when they were reluctant to enter a foreign environment.

Seeing kids enjoying and playing with horses made Samuel smile. He took out his phone and took several pictures of them to show them to the family later.

That's when he was reminded of the message that Penny had sent him. It seemed like he had to head out in the evening to find out what was wrong with Adele.