hug them, pet
them, heal them, but ride them?
I think not.
I gave major props to those jockeys for
being brave enough to sit on the back of one every day.
I walked until I finally came to the
opposite end of the stable. When I looked to the last stall on my
right, I saw a red marker taped outside the door and I knew the
horse with Lyme disease was inside. I couldn’t see her from where I
stood, so I moved to get a closer look.
“Hey there! I see you found our sick girl,”
I heard Shane call out from behind and I nearly jumped out of my
skin.
“Oh my goodness, you scared the crap out of
me,” I breathed, facing him now, and I rested my hand on my upper
chest in effort to slow down my heart rate, but it was useless.
Looking at Shane made it worse.
He wore dark jeans with a black leather
belt, a black polo shirt, and black leather boots that, if I wasn’t
mistaken, looked just like motorcycle boots. His sandy blonde,
medium length hair was brushed back, off his face, to the sides and
appeared to be the natural flow, not styled that way
intentionally.
“Yes, I found her. How long did you say
she’s been here?” I asked in a breathy voice that couldn’t be
helped.
He smiled knowingly.
“A little over a month now. Her name is
Starla. Her owner brought her here because he was having a
difficult time keeping up with her grooming and it was obvious
after I put her through the standard examination. No horse gets
through those doors,” he pointed to the entry, “Without a clean
bill of health and she was covered in ticks. In any case, a few
weeks ago one of the stable boys, Jordan, reported that Starla was
having a difficult time walking. If I didn’t already know her
history, I’d have thought it was simple arteritis, or that her body
was adjusting to the new living conditions, but I did know. She’s
positive for Lyme disease. Poor girl,” he responded, and by the
time he finished, we were both stood at Starla’s stall looking
through the grill on the top half of the wooden, two-piece
door.
She was a beautiful horse with a solid dark
brown body and black mane and tail. She wouldn’t look at us though.
She didn’t appear energetic, not even curious. She looked sad,
miserable and probably in pain. I could feel her pain. I could
almost. I wanted to pet her, but she didn’t know me yet.
“Have you started her antibiotics yet?” I
asked Shane and I felt the moment his eyes hit my face.
“Of course. I’ve no idea how long treatment
will take, but her owner isn’t a bad man. He was just too busy to
care for her properly. He wants her treated for as long as
needed.”
“I’d like to visit with her while I’m here.
If you don’t mind, I’d love to give her the antibiotics. I know you
asked if I’d be interested in helping your practice, and… well…
Tony and I are not in a good place at the moment so I’d rather not
ask him.”
“I know who you are, Trish,” he said and I
faced him. “Larry told me about your previous relationship with
Tony, and to be honest with you, I’m a little surprised you feel
like you have to ask him for permission at all.”
I stiffened at his brutal honesty.
“I don’t ask for permission from anyone, for
anything. You might know about my ancient history with Tony, but
you obviously have no idea why I’m here now. If you did, you
wouldn’t have said something so absurd. Believe me when I say that
I’m not here because he wants me here… I don’t even want to be
here.”
“I apologize and you’re right. I have no
idea why you’re here… I admit I assumed at first, but when I saw
Bobbie Jo leave the other morning and you were still here, I knew
my assumption was wrong. Anyway, it’s none of my business and I
shouldn’t have said anything.” He looked so genuine that I felt bad
for snapping at him.
“It’s all right,” I said.
“Look, I haven’t had breakfast yet. How
about I take you to grab something to eat in town to make up for
being an arse?
them, heal them, but ride them?
I think not.
I gave major props to those jockeys for
being brave enough to sit on the back of one every day.
I walked until I finally came to the
opposite end of the stable. When I looked to the last stall on my
right, I saw a red marker taped outside the door and I knew the
horse with Lyme disease was inside. I couldn’t see her from where I
stood, so I moved to get a closer look.
“Hey there! I see you found our sick girl,”
I heard Shane call out from behind and I nearly jumped out of my
skin.
“Oh my goodness, you scared the crap out of
me,” I breathed, facing him now, and I rested my hand on my upper
chest in effort to slow down my heart rate, but it was useless.
Looking at Shane made it worse.
He wore dark jeans with a black leather
belt, a black polo shirt, and black leather boots that, if I wasn’t
mistaken, looked just like motorcycle boots. His sandy blonde,
medium length hair was brushed back, off his face, to the sides and
appeared to be the natural flow, not styled that way
intentionally.
“Yes, I found her. How long did you say
she’s been here?” I asked in a breathy voice that couldn’t be
helped.
He smiled knowingly.
“A little over a month now. Her name is
Starla. Her owner brought her here because he was having a
difficult time keeping up with her grooming and it was obvious
after I put her through the standard examination. No horse gets
through those doors,” he pointed to the entry, “Without a clean
bill of health and she was covered in ticks. In any case, a few
weeks ago one of the stable boys, Jordan, reported that Starla was
having a difficult time walking. If I didn’t already know her
history, I’d have thought it was simple arteritis, or that her body
was adjusting to the new living conditions, but I did know. She’s
positive for Lyme disease. Poor girl,” he responded, and by the
time he finished, we were both stood at Starla’s stall looking
through the grill on the top half of the wooden, two-piece
door.
She was a beautiful horse with a solid dark
brown body and black mane and tail. She wouldn’t look at us though.
She didn’t appear energetic, not even curious. She looked sad,
miserable and probably in pain. I could feel her pain. I could
almost. I wanted to pet her, but she didn’t know me yet.
“Have you started her antibiotics yet?” I
asked Shane and I felt the moment his eyes hit my face.
“Of course. I’ve no idea how long treatment
will take, but her owner isn’t a bad man. He was just too busy to
care for her properly. He wants her treated for as long as
needed.”
“I’d like to visit with her while I’m here.
If you don’t mind, I’d love to give her the antibiotics. I know you
asked if I’d be interested in helping your practice, and… well…
Tony and I are not in a good place at the moment so I’d rather not
ask him.”
“I know who you are, Trish,” he said and I
faced him. “Larry told me about your previous relationship with
Tony, and to be honest with you, I’m a little surprised you feel
like you have to ask him for permission at all.”
I stiffened at his brutal honesty.
“I don’t ask for permission from anyone, for
anything. You might know about my ancient history with Tony, but
you obviously have no idea why I’m here now. If you did, you
wouldn’t have said something so absurd. Believe me when I say that
I’m not here because he wants me here… I don’t even want to be
here.”
“I apologize and you’re right. I have no
idea why you’re here… I admit I assumed at first, but when I saw
Bobbie Jo leave the other morning and you were still here, I knew
my assumption was wrong. Anyway, it’s none of my business and I
shouldn’t have said anything.” He looked so genuine that I felt bad
for snapping at him.
“It’s all right,” I said.
“Look, I haven’t had breakfast yet. How
about I take you to grab something to eat in town to make up for
being an arse?
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