“Pay is headed to his mimi’s. Ville is walking him. He’s fine. But he’s worried. What’s going on?”
“Jaina was kicking her stall when I got here,” Wy said softly, not taking her gaze off the stall door. “It was so unlike her I came right over. She was biting at her sides and in the ten minutes I was watching her, she got up and down like three times. I called Mal immediately.”
I grimaced and Crew nodded. “My thoughts exactly.”
“Has he given her pain meds?” I asked.
“Not yet,” Crew answered. “That’s nex—”
Mal walked out of the stall and held out the stethoscope. “I hear gut sounds. I think. I’m just… can you check?”
Crew went to grab the stethoscope, but I intervened. “How about I listen? I’m kind of good at it. Then I can give the boss a direct report.”
Mal handed it over, but he looked confused. I let Crew explain as I stepped into the stall. Jaina was laying down, but she wasn’t all stretched out or rolling violently, so I wasn’t as worried as I’d been a minute ago. Clearly she didn’t feel well, but if she was calm then it probably wasn’t that bad.
All it took was a quick click of the tongue and Jaina got to her feet but as soon as she did, she kicked at her stomach with a back leg. I made soothing sounds as I settled the stethoscope inmy ears and made my way around her, listening to the different quadrants. I spent a little longer than I normally would have, just to make sure.
I was smiling when I exited the stall. “Definitely gut sounds. She’s a little gurgley but my guess, if she were a people and not an equine, is trapped gas. Has she pooped?”
“There was a fairly fresh pile in the stall,” Wy said. “I cleaned it up in case she started rolling.”
“Good. Banamine and watch her. But I’d bet money that once she relaxes a little, she’ll fart and feel a ton better.”
Mal looked relieved and glanced at Wy, but she was already headed to the tack room for the pain meds. “I’m relieved. Thanks for double checking. That’s what I thought too, but it’s hard not to worry more when it’s your own.”
“Of course. And, you know, I won’t be offended or anything if you call the vet anyway.” I made my eyes wide hoping for a smile out of Mal. It only sort of worked, but I was taking the win.
“I’m going to.” Mal’s smile grew a little. “At the very least to put him on standby. But now I’m not as worried about him heading right out here.”
Wy returned with the syringe and Mal took it, entering Jaina’s stall again. I took two steps toward the barn door, then stopped and spun. Crew raised a brow, but I ignored him and strode to where the two-way radios were charging. I picked one up.
“EH to Base.”
A few seconds later, Payton’s voice came through the walkie. “Go for base. Over.”
“Jaina is doing just fine. Your daddy is giving her some medicine to make her feel better but I checked her out and listened to her gut and you don’t need to worry right now. Okay? Over.”
The radio crackled to life, I heard Payton sigh, and then it clicked off again. A second later, he was back. “Thanks,Uncle Emery. Tell Daddy and Dad that Mimi is making special breakfast. She said…what was it again?”
Mom’s tinkling laugh came through and she must have taken the two-way from Payton. “Stress makes everyone hungry. I’m making Mal’s favorite quiche. It’ll be ready and waiting. Over.”
I glanced across the aisle and saw Crew hugging the stuffing out of Mal. As if he sensed my stare, Mal lifted his head and gave me a wave of acknowledgement.
“They’ll be up when they’re ready. Over and out.”
I set the two-way back on its base and headed out with only a wave to the couple. They didn’t seem to notice, but that was fine. Good dead done, I made my way back to the ATV. I had my own day to get ready for, though I still had hours before my shift started at the clinic, and I wanted to thank Ville again for helping out. He didn’t have to. No one would have thought less of him. But he had a big heart and a gooey center, so of course he hadn’t hesitated.
Maybe we could find a secluded corner and I could thank him on my knees.
Chapter 7
Ville
Iwasn’t huge on horses in general. They were majestic animals and all that, but they were also prey animals with brains the size of a pea who spooked at their own farts and got sick or broken if someone looked at them wrong.
Now, that wasn’t to say I couldn’t ride one, because I could, and I respected the hell out of the Harringtons and what they did here. It just wasn’t something I was enthusiastic about.
All that said, as I stared at my map and my notes on a separate notepad, I was pretty sure I was nearly done with the initial planning.
