Lou hummed to himself as he got dressed. It took him a good seven minutes, and he finished by smiling at himself in the mirror as he plopped his cabbie cap on his head. Out to his horse he went, wishing Maddie a good day as he headed through the kitchen, as well as thanking her for doing the dishes and again for making breakfast. Kip gave a snort and shuffled her feet as he came into the barn and Lou muttered an old folk tale to her as he saddled her up and harnessed her to the cab. Stories always calmed her, or maybe it was just the sound of his voice; either way, she calmed down and stood still for him. At six-fifty-seven on the dot, Lou drove the cab out the door and into the cold winter's day, smiling at the pleasantries of his life.