… Kentucky Derby post – featuring Mingo, the horse in HEART OF BARKNESS.

“What about him?” Bernie said.

“Mingo?” said the wrangler. “I don’t think Mingo would be right. He can be a mite headstrong with strangers.”

Bernie moved over to Mingo’s stall and – and stroked Mingo’s forehead? If that empty space between those two ridiculously widely spaced eyes – kind of insane-looking eyes in Mingo’s case – was indeed the forehead? This was not a good development, and was followed by several more, starting with the wrangler leading Mingo out to the front of the barn and taking a bridle off the wall.

“How about I handle that?” Bernie said. The wrangler, her sunglasses now perched on her head, gazed at Bernie. I got the feeling she didn’t like him. So why not bag this whole thing, do it some other time, or even better not at all?