This morning I rode through the woods with my two dogs. It was delightfully cool after several days of oppressive heat. Coming up over the ridge, I saw a young buck standing in the dappled morning sunlight. His antlers were just velvety nubs. He looked so young.

The buck stood impressively still, frozen in place to the point where he barely looked like he was breathing. My two dogs didn’t notice him at all and he gave no sign of fear. Freedom saw him, as did I. Freedom didn’t care; a deer is so commonplace to him it barely warrants a glance.

I whistled up the dogs to keep them with me as we rode down the trail and left that young buck to enjoy the day.