Jody nickered softly and rubbed his chin against Samuel's shoulder as they stepped into Isaac Hostetler's farrier shop.
Samuel chuckled and scratched the old gelding between the ears.
"I think somebody knows where he is."
From across the shop Isaac smiled without looking up from the horseshoe he was shaping.
"Horses always know."
The forge glowed warmly in one corner while finished horseshoes hung neatly by size along the wall. Hoof knives, nippers, rasps, clinchers, and hammers rested exactly where years of habit expected them to be. The smell of coal smoke mixed with warm horse and fresh leather filled the shop.
Isaac walked over to Jody and gently ran his hand down the horse's neck.
"You've been working hard."
Jody lowered his head as though agreeing.
Isaac lifted the left front hoof and settled it comfortably between his knees.
Using a hoof pick, he carefully removed packed dirt, tiny stones, and bits of dried mud from around the frog.
A young apprentice watched every movement.
"Why do you always clean it first?"
Isaac smiled.
"Because a horse shouldn't have to stand on yesterday's work."
The apprentice nodded thoughtfully.
Next came the curved hoof knife.
With practiced strokes Isaac pared away only the dead, chalky sole and trimmed the frog just enough to keep it healthy.
"You never cut living hoof," he explained quietly.
"The horse already knows what it wants to keep."
He reached for the heavy nippers.
Small pieces of hoof wall fell to the floor until the foot stood level with the healthy sole.
Finally he drew the rasp across the bottom in long, smooth strokes.
The apprentice asked,
"How do you know when you've done enough?"
Isaac held the hoof out for him to see.
"The hoof tells you."
Buck Rogers stepped inside just then.
"Morning, Isaac."
"Morning, Buck."
Buck looked at Jody.
"The loggers are wondering how soon they can have him back."
Isaac set the hoof gently on the ground and watched Jody walk a slow circle across the shop.
The old gelding stepped squarely.
No limp.
No hesitation.
Isaac nodded with approval.
"He could go back this afternoon."
Buck smiled.
"That's good news."
Isaac held up one finger.
"But he isn't."
Buck laughed.
"I should've known there was a 'but.'"
Isaac folded his arms.
"Jody pulled a glass factory halfway across Kentucky."
The apprentices chuckled.
"He earned two days."
Buck nodded.
"I can't argue with that."
Isaac smiled.
"A good horse will work until he drops."
He scratched Jody gently behind the ears.
"My job is making sure he never has to."
Samuel watched quietly.
"I've noticed every craftsman in this settlement seems to prevent problems before they happen."
Isaac nodded.
"That's cheaper."
Everyone laughed.
The apprentice picked up one of the worn shoes Isaac had just removed.
"It doesn't look completely worn out."
Isaac turned it over in his hands.
"It isn't."
The boy looked puzzled.
"Then why replace it?"
Isaac carried it to the workbench.
"Because if I wait until it's worn out..."
He handed it back.
"...I'm already too late."
Samuel smiled.
"That's wisdom."
Isaac shook his head.
"No."
He looked toward Jody.
"That's horse sense."
The shop filled with quiet laughter.
Another apprentice carried over a glowing horseshoe fresh from the forge.
Isaac placed it briefly against the hoof.
A wisp of smoke curled upward.
The familiar smell of hot horn filled the shop.
Samuel watched curiously.
"I've always wondered if that hurts."
Isaac smiled.
"It would if the hoof could feel it."
He tapped his own fingernail.
"Does trimming your fingernails hurt?"
Samuel shook his head.
"Neither does this."
He shaped the shoe one last time on the anvil before nailing it carefully into place.
Each nail emerged neatly through the hoof wall exactly where Isaac expected.
He bent the points over, clipped them smooth, and rasped the wall until everything felt as though it had grown there naturally.
Jody stamped the hoof once.
Then stood quietly.
Isaac smiled.
"Go ahead."
Buck led Jody a few steps.
The old gelding walked with an easy, confident stride.
Buck turned back.
"I think he approves."
Isaac grinned.
"Horses are honest."
He wiped his hands on his leather apron.
"If something hurts..."
"They'll tell you."
Samuel finished the last of his coffee and set the tin cup on the workbench.
"I'd better let you get back to your work."
Isaac nodded toward the open shop door.
"There'll be another horse along directly."
Samuel tipped his hat.
"I imagine there will."
Isaac smiled.
"There'll be more work tomorrow."
Samuel laughed.
"And there's no law against work."
The apprentices chuckled as Samuel and Buck stepped back into the lane.
Behind them the ring of Isaac's hammer echoed from the anvil.
Ahead, another shop door stood open, another craft waiting to be discovered.
Samuel smiled.
There was always another neighbor to visit.