Warfield’s Jarret (2)

Jarret is a young man who pays great attention to detail in every job he does, even the smallest ones, and he does not like to be idle. Now he is curious about the stranger who has arrived at the Meadows. The man is an animal painter who will create portraits of the horses. Harry remembers how he once had his portrait painted with the horse Richard Singleton. The artist Troye had done it, surprisingly including the horse’s jockey and trainer in the painting.

Dr. Warfield introduces Scott to Harry and Jarret, and they look at the new foal. Scott examines the little horse, moving carefully and behaving correctly with both mare and foal. Dr. Warfield names the foal Darley.

Later in the day, Scott is preparing to paint a horse named Glacier. Jarret is meticulously picking the field when Scott engages him in conversation, asking what Glacier is like. Jarret is hesitant to talk to Scott, but the artist really wants his opinion about the horse’s soul, so Jarret gives it, explaining that Glacier is a “fly one” who is quiet but smart. Scott and Jarret also discuss why men like racehorses so much. The horses, Scott says, mirror the men themselves, their desire for good breeding, courage, victory, and greatness.

Scott and Jarret also discuss slavery and freedom, and Scott wonders why enslaved horse trainers do not just ride off to freedom. Jarret is irritated by Scott’s ignorance, and Scott apologizes and tells the boy that Dr. Warfield plans to give Darley to Harry as his wages. Scott also offers to paint a portrait of Darley for Jarret if Jarret will help him with the horses. Jarret is amazed by Scott’s skills with colors and brushes and the way he builds a painting and brings Glacier to life on the canvas.

Jess (2)

Jess drives up to Woods Hole and enjoys the scenery at the beach. She gets coffee and reflects on the mixture of “sea dogs and scientists” in the area. Then she meets Tom Custler at the Marine Research Facility and is amazed by the whale skull and its immensity and age. Jess packs the skull carefully into her truck and then goes to lunch with Tom. The two discuss the ocean and the endangered species within it. Jess ponders the “Pilgrim Whale” on her drive back and thinks about how humans can be “so creative and so destructive at the same time.”

Horace calls again, and Jess finds the notation for the desired horse skeleton. It is up in the attic at the Natural History Museum, and Jess agrees to meet the researcher and show it to her.

Theo (3)

Theo has finished his second article and takes his dog, Clancy, for a run. He sees his neighbor and remembers the horse painting. Theo hurries to help the neighbor with her shopping cart and is angered by her alarm at his kindness. He does not show that anger, but she does not thank him.

Later that day, Theo bikes over to the magazine office, taking the painting with him. His editor, Lior, is Israeli and Ethiopian, and Theo hopes that the man might become a friend. Theo explains his idea for a story about the painting, and Lior offers to contact Conservation. Theo should research at the American Art Museum, Lior adds, and Theo goes right over, checking the painting in the Natural History Museum cloak room.

Theo studies horse scenes and notices some paintings by Edward Troye. He is surprised by Troye’s inclusion of Black, probably enslaved, jockeys and trainers. One...